User:Gadget850/US Military Style Guide

Ranks
Ranks should use the Associated Press Stylebook useage for military titles:

US Navy and US Coast Guard

 * ¹Also Hospitalman, Fireman, Airman or Constructionman

Rank useage

 * Capitals
 * Capitalize ranks only when used as a formal title before the name:


 * Capt. Scarlet arrived today.
 * Subsequent use
 * Do not use the rank on further instances of the name.


 * Capt. Scarlet arrived today. Scarlet will be returning next week.
 * Full spell
 * Spell out the rank when it is substituted for a name.


 * The captain will inspect the unit tomorrow.
 * Plurals
 * Add s to the principal element in the title:


 * Capts. Scarlet and Green
 * Sgts. Major Blue and Yellow (sergeant is the principle element)
 * Retired
 * Do not use Ret., instead use the full word before the rank. Do not use retired if deceased.  Use former if the member did not actually retire.


 * We saw retired Capt. Scarlet.

Service names and members

 * Service names
 * Capitalize US military service names in long or short form:


 * The US Army has many soldiers.
 * The Army has a lot of tanks.
 * Member names
 * Capitalize US military service members:


 * Marine
 * Coast Guardsman
 * Do not capitalize:


 * soldier
 * sailor
 * airman

Military units

 * Spell out the unit designation in full on the first use. Use Arabic numbers and capitalize key words:
 * 1st Infantry Division
 * C Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment
 * B Company, 4th Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment
 * C Battery, 1st Battalion, 9th Artillery Regiment
 * Operational Detachment Alpha 563, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group
 * On subsequent use, where another unit is not mentioned, the division or the battalion may be used.
 * Proper use of

Terms

 * West Point
 * The proper name is U.S. Military Academy; West Point is acceptable as a second reference.