Will they let you into the military if your NAME is "General"?

Question

I imagine it would cause a lot of confusion if you joined the army and your first or last name was "General" or "Colonel", especially on the clerical level. For instance, how would they address you if your birth name was "Brigadier General"? What would they put on all the paperwork? How long before thre was a snafu and someone actually mistook your for a real General?

Answer 1

In the late 1950s there was a Marine recruit at Parris Island whose given name was "Major General". He did O.K. and graduated, despite being the source of confusion and irritation among the training staff. In a similar vein, I served with the 3rd Marine Division and there was a Marine lawyer at the headquarters whose rank and name were Major Minor.

Answer 2

I served with a guy whose last name was Major. It was funny when ever he made a call stuff got done fast. Of course he was a SGT so when he said this is SGT Major everyone dropped everything and did what he said, even E-6, and E-7. Best was scaring cherries saying SGT Major is coming up clean this place up.

Answer 3

I'm guessing you haven't read Catch-22 (the best book in the whole world :) ) because there is a character who is a Major and his last name is Major. He was promoted to Major his first day because of an error in an IBM machine. His full name, with rank, is Major Major Major Major.

Answer 4

I knew a person that served in WW2 that had the real name of Colonel

Answer 5

No one believes me, but I actually served with a woman named Kathy Major. She got promoted to Sergeant Major Major.

My hubby believes me tho, he was there too. No matter how many people we tell the story to no one believes us. Funniest thing tho.

I can imagine basic training with her. PVT MAJOR? Is that a new rank?

Answer 6

You would then be called Airman General. There are plenty of people with names like Sargent, Major, or what ever.

Answer 7

That's hard to say. However, that being said, I once filled out a job application, and one of the questions was "Sex". I put "Yes". The next question was "Military Experience". I put down "I once got laid by a first lieutenant".

Answer 8

yea you can join the military - in basic training you normally get a nickname anyways - and your rank is by symbol not name - there will be no issues - there is a doctor in texas named "Dr. Doctor" do you think medical school should have denied him??

Answer 9

The name on your uniform is your last. If your last name is "general" , "admiral", "sargeant", etc. You will get a nickname and it will stick with you your entire career. Be it short or long.

Answer 10

I've worked with someone who had the last name of Major. I haven't seen anyone higher than that though (namewise)