military rank

I'm not familiar with anything military so from the previous
discussion am I right in thinking that once someone retires from
service they keep their rank and title? For example if you were Col.
Smith while serving would you still be called Col. Smith when retired
or does your rank retire with you and you're known as Mr. Smith?

Karen

On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 20:42:23 -0000
"raribear" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I'm not familiar with anything military so from the previous
> discussion am I right in thinking that once someone retires from
> service they keep their rank and title? For example if you were Col.
> Smith while serving would you still be called Col. Smith when retired
> or does your rank retire with you and you're known as Mr. Smith?
>

Well in the UK I believe you are entitled to keep the title when you
retire from the services as an officer at a certain rank - hence the
Major in 'Fawlty Towers'.

Not sure at which rank this becomes effective - possibly Captain or
Major, and the equivalent in the other services.

I expect something similar applies in the US and other countries.

I think the rule is that when you are no longer in the military you no longer
called by your rank. There is an exception. This is for high ranking
officers. Now you don't see people being called Lt. Smith or Capt. Brown when they
get out(this was all explained that while Captain Peacock on Are You Being
Served has continued to use his rank he should not be doing so an it is a
snobbish affectation on his part. But in the case of officers of at least the rank
of General and possibly Colonels it is allowed and is done as a sign of
respect for their service. I think however it is a case of what the person perfers
be be addressed as. I have a retired General in the family and he is just
called by his name with out the rank.

James K.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

living near the town of Alamogordo, NM which is not
only home to Holloman AFB, but a huge number of
retired military (mostly AF) personnel, it is
allowable for Lt. Col. and above to still use the
rank, followed by the word retired. Lt. Col. Wm.
Franklin (retired) ... usually in print rather than
when vocally addressed. Case in point, there is a
retired Lt. Col. in town who has this designation on
his checks. it's probable that the people who use the
title when addressing him are old friends (and they'd
say "Col. Franklin!" or something similar when seeing
him or introducing him to others and then drop this
throughout the rest of the conversation). It used to
be common to refer to high ranking non coms by their
title after they retired, but only in formal
situations or by old friends.

In sweet Straker's case, there is the confusion of him
being "retired" but still active and I agree, it's
probably more like the Captain of a ship who's true
rank is something else, but as commander of the ship,
he/she (pirates had female captains! ... whups,
tangent!) is Captain. (come to think of it, sometimes
when being introduced, it's "rank" so-and-so, Captain
of the USS Whatsit. (yes, i know, there is no USS
Whatsit .. LOL)

Mostly, I think we have tvland confusion with the
writers going "it's sci fi, no one's gonna worry if we
get the ranks right. make it sound good." of course,
consistency from week to week would be nice. *chuckle*

Pam: Thanks for the vote of confidence. *blush*

dragon




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