How to Address an Adjutant General

For more on when a person appears to have two titles, see Two Titles.

How to Address an Adjutant General?

How do you address a letter to the Adjutant General of a state’s National Guard Force?  He is appointed by the Governor of the State. He has the military rank of ‘Major General’
Is he:
—-—-General (Surname)?
—-—-Adjutant General (Surname)?
—-—-Another form of address?
—-—-—-—-— PT

Dear PT,
An adjutant is an administrative assistant, principal aide, staff or executive officer to a commanding officer. An adjutant general is a principal staff officer of a commanding officer of a major military unit.

The first and second rules of forms of address are:
—-#1) Address by rank
—-#2) Identify by office

—-So, the formula is on the envelope and the letter’s address block:
——–(Rank) (Full Name) + (Identify the office held)

—-And in conversation:
——–(Rank) (Surname)

 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

You’ve stated he has rank of ‘Major General’ and holds the office of ‘Adjutant General’ – and using the formula for armed services personnel:

—-Official Envelope:
——–Major General (Full Name), (Post-nominal of the state National Guard)
—-—-Adjutant General
—-—-(State) National Guard Headquarters (or whatever)
—-—-(Address)

—-Salutation:
—-—-Dear General (Surname):

The form above is correct: (Full Rank) on the envelope and letter’s address block, and (Basic Rank) in the salutation. If this sort of question comes up often, my book has more info.

— Robert Hickey How to Address an Adjutant General

 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1)  At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2)  If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)  Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3)  If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”