[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] ajw34307 [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] lukeanatr [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] ajw34307 [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] lukeanatr female officers are being called sir[/quote] You do realise that this is a term also applied to female officers in real life, right? Drill Instructors especially are referred to as 'sir' regardless of gender.[/quote]Why?[/quote] It's a show of mutual respect, it removes any kind of gender barrier and gives the 'we're all equally in this together' impression, it's shorter, and when you respond to a DI you say "sir, yes sir!" rather than "ma'am, yes ma'am".[/quote] Technically speaking, you are supposed to refer to female superiors as "ma'am". Male superiors are to be referred to as "sir".