When addressing an NCO, what is the standard initial greeting?

• A. Good morning Sergeant
• B. Hello Sergeant
• C. Good afternoon Sergeant
• D. Good evening Sergeant

Answer: (A)

In military etiquette, you greet an NCO with a formal, time-appropriate phrase followed by their rank. For the morning, the proper way to start is “Good morning, Sergeant.” This shows respect, uses a standard courtesy greeting, and includes the appropriate rank.

Saying “Hello, Sergeant” is less formal and lacks the time cue that signals you’re observing proper protocol. The other two options—“Good afternoon” and “Good evening”—are correct only for those times of day, not in the morning. So when the greeting occurs in the morning, “Good morning, Sergeant” is the standard choice.