View Full Version : "Gunny"...appropriate for recruiter?
Hartford
07-28-09, 08:50 PM
My recruiter was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant a few weeks back and now when I talk to him I say Gunnery Sergeant ___ ________, however his last name is 3 syllables so it takes forever to just say his name. Other poolee's typically just say "Gunny ______" but I don't know if that's something that's appropriate or not. I know it's a nickname but is it too "friendly" and not enough respect or does it not matter?
Thanks Poolees.
- Poolee Hartford
From what I have heard from Marines the term "Gunny" is a not a nickname, but an honorary name, used when talking to a Gunnery Sergeant, that shows respect for his time and dedication to the Corps. I have also heard of some Gunnery Sergeants who don't like being called "Gunny" because they feel undermined because they work hard and it was not easy to achieve that rank thus they feel it is not fair for others to take an easy way out when addressing them. The way I look at it is I call them Gunnery Sergeant at all times, that way if they feel like its over doing it, they will let me know to just keep it at "Gunny". If they don't say anything, then they probably appreciate me calling them by their official rank. Also, I have heard that during boot camp it would be suicide to call a Gunnery Sergeant a "Gunny".
Our main recruiter was recently promoted to Gunnery Sergeant as well. We were informed to never call him Gunny, as we are not Marines and don't rate it yet. The only ones I hear call him Gunny are the Staff Sergeants. Be safe and use the full rank. Out of respect and safety, hehe.
Hartford
07-28-09, 09:37 PM
Can Marines post in this forum too now or is it still only Poolees?
I'm going to keep saying Gunnery Sergeant for now until he tells me to use Gunny. He is my main recruiter (first recruiter I talked to at the RSS) but have a more professional relationship with him than some of the other recruiters who tend to let loose more around the poolees while he is typically rather serious.
We have a Gunnery Sergeant in our office too. At first I called him Gunnery Sergeant, but everyone else (recruiters and poolees) call him Gunny, and he doesn't seem to object, so I call him Gunny as well. This Marine, however, is a pretty relaxed about these sort of things so I would definitely defer to Gunnery Sergeant when addressing other Gunnery Sergeants.
HammerOfJustice
07-28-09, 10:09 PM
Out of respect, unless I was informed otherwise I would always refer to a Gunnery Sergeant by their full rank.
Recruiters who are Gunnery Sergeants may choose to allow their poolees to refer to them as Gunny; that's their prerogative.
Cressler
07-28-09, 10:43 PM
It depends recruiter to recruiter I call our GySgt. Gunny becuase thats what he perfers to be called by though if I just ran into another GySgt. I'd never call them Gunny unless I was told it was alright to do so.
cmixcoatl
07-28-09, 10:53 PM
There are two Gunnery Sergeants in my old RSS who address themselves as Gunny over the phone and in person, so everyone there calls them Gunny. On the other hand, I ALWAYS refer to the Gunnery Sergeant in my OSO's office as Gunnery Sergeant, since I've never heard anyone call him gunny, besides the Capt.
Go with the flow of things and you will be fine.
We had a Gunnery Sergeant at our office who just left... he preffered to be called Gunny by poolees, and 'Guns' by Marines. That being said, we have another one that preffers to be called by his full Rank and name.
Ask him what he preffers, it isn't that hard.
MarinesFTW
07-28-09, 11:13 PM
I always called ours by the full rank, only the Marines called him Gunny, and a few dumb *** poolee's who learned there lesson so afterword. Also wat JSam is a very good idea. It wont hurt to ask, you might have to push, but pain only lasts so long!
Sgt Leprechaun
07-28-09, 11:44 PM
If HE says it's ok to call him "Gunny", then it's ok. If not, use the correct, full term. Other Marines will likely call him 'Gunny', but rate that, because they are Marines.
I would just ask him, because everyone has different views on the subject. Everyone at my RS called our Gunnery Sergeant just Gunny, and he was fine with it, but now he's in Okinowa.
PooleeHunt
07-31-09, 03:54 PM
A common speaking slang is to say it more like gun-ree sar'nt. Its shorter, flows better, and acceptable. Lots of Marines I know say sergeant like that, especially with First Sergeants. Also, I would probably just ask, he won't care you're a Poolee and you have had no instruction, I doubt you'll get anything worse than the answer to your question. Better to ask then go around pretending you know the answer.
Dist Expert 26
08-08-09, 09:02 PM
Everyone at my RSS calls our Gysgt 'gunny'. In fact the only people who address him by his full rank are privates and pfc's fresh from boot camp.
Everyone at my RSS calls our Gysgt 'gunny'. In fact the only people who address him by his full rank are privates and pfc's fresh from boot camp.
Because they were taught at boot camp to show respect to the rank. As a Poolee should as well. Just because "everybody's doing it" doesn't mean you shouldn't show the respect and address him with his full rank. We should try and begin to act like Marines.. since we aspire to become one.
Just MY OPINION, though.
Dist Expert 26
08-08-09, 09:09 PM
Because they were taught at boot camp to show respect to the rank. As a Poolee should as well. Just because "everybody's doing it" doesn't mean you shouldn't show the respect and address him with his full rank. We should try and begin to act like Marines.. since we aspire to become one.
Just MY OPINION, though.
When I first talked to him he introduced himself as 'Gunny Kit' (short for Kitzinger). Our RSS is pretty laid back though.
Cressler
08-08-09, 09:33 PM
Yes but if he perfers Gunny then call him by that if or when i reach GySgt. I would have no problem with people calling me Gunny but then again thats me it's all about personal preferance depends what he likes i think Gunny just sounds sweet haha
The one GySgt. at the other station that is like a part of our RSS but they have there own building idk? but I don't think he still owns a uniform i've seen like like 20 times and is NEVER in any sort of uniform the Sgt.'s make fun of him all the time haha Random story :D
Capital M
08-09-09, 09:51 AM
Yes but if he perfers Gunny then call him by that if or when i reach GySgt. I would have no problem with people calling me Gunny but then again thats me it's all about personal preferance depends what he likes i think Gunny just sounds sweet haha
You may change your mind after 13 years of service. You'll be 30 years, old, possibly some combat experience, and may not want some lowly 17 and 18 year old poolees calling you an honorable title that you've earned. Sure "gunny" sounds sweet to us, but we have no idea what it takes to achieve that position.
General Consensus- It all depends on your RS and RSS.
My SSgt, is really laid back. Never once asked me to say sirs, or even rank, when we talked. But when I went up to my RS for the interview before MEPS, the SNCOIC instantly corrected that, telling me to refer to all Marines as sir, or ma'am. So during our Pool functions, it's yes sir, no sir. No ranks unless we are addressing them.
Dist Expert 26
08-09-09, 03:38 PM
You may change your mind after 13 years of service. You'll be 30 years, old, possibly some combat experience, and may not want some lowly 17 and 18 year old poolees calling you an honorable title that you've earned. Sure "gunny" sounds sweet to us, but we have no idea what it takes to achieve that position.
General Consensus- It all depends on your RS and RSS.
My SSgt, is really laid back. Never once asked me to say sirs, or even rank, when we talked. But when I went up to my RS for the interview before MEPS, the SNCOIC instantly corrected that, telling me to refer to all Marines as sir, or ma'am. So during our Pool functions, it's yes sir, no sir. No ranks unless we are addressing them.
All of the recruiters tell us not to call them 'sir' because they work for a living ;)
Capital M
08-09-09, 03:49 PM
All of the recruiters tell us not to call them 'sir' because they work for a living ;)
That's exactly how my recruiter feels I think, but the SNCOIC at our office is just getting trained now (yeah, my pre-screen interview was actually done by a Master Gunnery Sergeant while he watched, scary) So he's set on gettings ready in for RT in the best possible way. No complaints, I like the formality.
Cressler
08-09-09, 05:02 PM
Yeah the Cheif ? i don't know his full rank but he's the head of the navy office but he always comes and talks with us one of the other poolee's called him sir and he got yelled at and told he works for a living don't call him sir lol