why are people in the US Navy sometimes called Mister instead of Sir?

Answer 1

Warrant officers are called mister.

Answer 2

Mister would be a term of address used like this "Mister Jones, make your heading....." Subordinates would still address an officer as "Sir". Most of the time, you would hear "Mister" when a senior officer is addressing a subordinate officer.

In the Army, a warrant officer may be addressed as "Mister" but by custom almost never is. Instead, he/she is addressed as "Chief" because every warrant officer above the first rate (WO-1) is a Chief Warrant Officer. Even W0-1's are called Chief even though technically they are not yet a Chief Warrant Officer.

Answer 3

The only people called "Mister" in the US Navy or any US Military Branch carry the rank of Warrant Officer!!!

Answer 4

This is a British Navy custom that carried over to our Navy. It is to be used in the Introduction of commissioned Naval Officers LCDR (04) and below instead of their actual rank in the title. Mr. Jones / Lieutenant Jones... As far as the Chief Warrant Officers in other services I can't speak. The Navy doesn't have W1's. Because Navy E7's are called "Chief" Navy CWO's are called Chief Warrant or more commonly just "Warrant"

Answer 5

Navy and most sea-service junior officers (Ensign [ENS, O-1], Lieutenant Junior Grade [LTJG, O-2], Lieutenant [LT, O-3 ] and Lieutenant Commander [LCDR, O-4]) are typically, correctly addressed as "Mister". This also applies to Coast Guard, PHS and NOAA (details below). This is a long-standing nautical tradition. Junior officer ranks have changed during the life of the US Navy -- between the Continental Navy and today. These officers wear a 'plain-billed combination cover'. Generally, the response, "Yes/no sir" is correct. The sea services also use and accept, "Aye, aye (a substitute for yes), sir".

Senior officers are correctly addressed as "Commander (CDR [O-5])" or "Captain (CAPT [O-6])". These officers wear a single row of 'braid' on a combination cover. To be exactly correct the correct response to these officers is, "Yes/no -- or aye, aye -- CDR or CAPT" are correct (depending on who is present and speaking).

Flag officers (0-7 -- 0-10) are correctly addressed as "Admiral" in the sea services, or "General" in Army, Air Force or Marine Corps. These officers wear double rows of 'braid' on a combination covers. "Yes/no -- aye, aye -- Admiral or General" are correct for these officers.

Junior officer specialists, Chaplains, Doctors, etc. can correctly be addressed as such. When these specialists are promoted to senior officer/flag grades they are most correctly addressed by their rank, as above.

Warrant Officers in all services are also addressed as "Mister". The courtesy title of "Chief" is accepted and correct. Warrant officers of all services wear a 'plain-billed'
combination cover. Verbal responses to these officers parallel those for junior officers.

Note that Navy or other selected sea service (Coast Guard, Public Health Service or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) captains ranks are correctly abbreviated as CAPT. These officers are O-6's and wear "eagles" as do full colonels in the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps.

The Marine Corps adds some confusion because they are a 'sea service' but their rank and device structure is like that of the Army and Air Force.

Captains in the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps ranks are correctly abbreviated as CPT. These officers are O-3's and wear "railroad tracks" as do LT's in the Navy, Coast Guard, PHS and NOAA.

There's a substantial difference between the responsibilities of an O-3 CPT and an O-6 CAPT. This protocol on the abbreviations attempts to indicate this difference (longer abbreviation, greater responsibility).

Answer 6

I'm pretty sure that females in the Navy, officer or warrant officer, aren't called Mister. I know I wouuld be pretty offended if someone called me that.

Answer 7

No officer in the US Military is called SIR...as in SIR JOHNSON. Sir is normally a British title used to address Lords and Knights.
The use of SIR is normally used when responding...as in AYE,AYE, SIR, or YES/NO SIR. Officers are addressed by their rank and last name e.g. LT. WILSON, COLONEL PULLER, OR by MISTER JOHNSON. I have never addressed a Naval/USMC officer by MISTER. If an officer is addressed by a SENIOR officer by MISTER, it usually isn't a good thing. It'd be like mom calling you by your FULL name...first, middle and last.
(USN, retired)

Answer 8

Warrant Officers and Junior Officers. They can still be called Sir or ma'am, but when addressing them BY NAME it is Mr or Mrs.

Answer 9

The term "Mister" is a proper form of address for all officers below the rank of Lieutenant Commander, regardless of their actual rank title.

Answer 10

Mr. is the title given to Warrant officers in any branch of the service.