Military DUers: When did "Sir, yes, Sir" replace the simpler "Yes, Sir" in BT?

[derby378]

I'm just curious. It would seem that some measure of simplicity would be needed in the buildup and reinforcement of military discipline, but I could, of course, be wrong.

[jody]

1. Each service has its own tradition. n/t

[cloudbase]

2. I didn't have to do that with

Signalman Chief Cowan at RTC Great Lakes, but the Marine recruits in Full Metal Jacket had to do that.

[pocoloco]

3. "Sir, Yes Sir" and if it wasn't loud enough you'd be saying it again!!

MCRD, San Diego 1964

[Fumesucker]

10. MCRD Parris Island 1969

Same thing..

And we got to practice on Drill Instructors since we almost never saw any officers.

[timtom]

20. MCRD Parris Island 1962

We were instructed to refer to the Drill Instructors as "Sir" or "The Drill Instructor", as in

"Sir! Private So-and-so requests permission to speak to the Drill instructor!"

"Speak!"

"Sir! Private So-and-so requests permission to make a head call."

"Turn to! Get it done!"

"Aye aye, sir!"

I do not recall ever saying, "Sir, Yes sir!"

I know things changed radically during and after the Vietnam pillage.

[Sweet Pea]

4. Never used it once

Nor did I ever hear that in 23 years of active and reserve Naval service.

[usaftmo]

5. We were told that whenever speaking,

Sir/Ma'am must be the first and last thing mentioned.

Each service does things differently, plus things change over the course of time

Active duty Air Force 1991-present

[catnhatnh]

6. Dunno...

...in Ft Dix in '72 a simple "Yes Drill Seargeant" shouted with ample sincerity and volume was eventually perfectly acceptable given several repetitions.....refering to the gentleman as "Sir" generally brought a rebuke as they were of the opinion that "I'm not an Officer (insert expletive) I'm a Drill Seargent, I work for a living!"....and that's the way it was....weapon/gun dichotomies also generated interesting discussions and events.

[derby378]

9. I've heard that's a not-uncommon Army practice

I like that whole "I work for a living" vibe - shows a certain unspoken camaraderie with the buck privates while still maintaining a position of authority and experience.

[Nickster]

7. In my military career, it was always "Yes, Sir" or "Yes, Ma'am". I got the impression that

Sir, Yes, Sir was more of a Marine thing.

[jerryme1]

23. I agree. It might even be a Hollywood thing.

[pscot]

8. The Army was chickenshit

but not that chickenshit. Draftees, guardsmen? We would have fallen out of formation laughing.

[catnhatnh]

11. Whoa Dude....the army WAS chickenshit.....

but no one figured it out 'til AFTER basic....and before that wasn't no one laughing....

[pscot]

12. You're right about basic

but by AIT everybody had figured it out.

[catnhatnh]

13. True shit....

...My AIT was OJT at the last VOLAR base-think condo army-mess halls that did mexican, beer machines in the barracks, and color tv's in the squad bays....But Geez Almighty, didn't that first summer (for me) suck???

[Bigmack]

14. Because.. you fucking maggot...

"The first word out of that filthy sewer in the center of your ugly face is SIR! Now let me hear it! I can't heeeeear you!" and on... and on....

(Can't get an image of Lee Ermey to load, but you know what he looks like as Gunny Hartman.)

Hence... "Sir, yes Sir."

[derby378]

17. Ah, yes...who could forget the Gunny?

So many unforgettable gems from that one movie he did with Kubrick:

"Get your fat ass up there, Private Pyle! Oh, that's right, Private Pyle - don't make any fucking effort to get over the fucking obstacle, Private Pyle! If God had wanted you up there, He would have miracled your ass up there by now, wouldn't He?"

I visit his website every now and then. He sometimes sells talking "motivational" Ermey dolls on his site in various forms of military dress. One doll (now unavailable unless you get lucky on eBay) was what he called the "Extra Salty" version. Wheeee!

[bow-tie]

15. Never heard that

in the Army.

[lonestarnot]

16. It was that way when I was there.

:shrug:

[Squatch]

18. "Sir, yes sir" always came across to me as ass-kissing.

And I hate ass kissers.

[MindPilot]

19. I think it's a Marine boot camp thing

In the Navy, it was the classic AYE AYE, SIR! After boot a more informal aye, sir / ma'am and only for officers.

Many a man has received the following lecture the first day aboard ship: "I am not a fucking 'SIR' sailor; my name is 'CHIEF'",

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. We had to shout that nonsense in boot camp in 1961

And, if we didn't shout it loud enough to please knuckle-dragging DI's they'd (literally) beat the shit out of us.

[Aristus]

22. Which way to address the Drill Sergeants also differed from post to post.

At Fort Leonard Wood where I did Basic Training, the recruits were required only to refer to the drill instructors as "Sergeant". When I attended Tanker School at Fort Knox, we had to give them the full "Drill Sergeant."