Hello.....can someone please tell me what the correct title is behind my name? I completed 4 years active duty as a corpsman. I retired as HMC after 16 qualifying years in active reserves. I believe its HMC USNR, but I think that means I'm still active reserves, which I'm not. thanks.....Kathy D.

Kathy,

Good question. I'll offer up my opinion on this: HMC, USN Ret

The way I'm looking at it, you served your twenty in the Navy.

O.K Chief, here's the real awnser: You now civilian (Sir), keep your highest rank attained and the "complete" title of Chief Hospital Corpsman regardless of wether you were in the reserve's. Gunny's wrong.

Signed, AE3
-Popeye know's all- it's in the library of congress

Thanks for both responses. I know it's not HMC,USN as that would indicate I am still active duty. And I doubt it's HMC USNR as that would indicate I am still active reserves. Gunny, I think you're right in adding the "Ret" part, but what you stated looks like I retired from active duty.....Like all good chiefs, I'll do a little more research and let you know.

In any case, I have now been assigned another title.....VPNNM which stands for VeryProudNavyNukeMom. My one and only child was born on a Navy drill weekend, and most recently graduated from the Navy Nuclear Power program as a nuclear qualified ET3. Yes, I am very proud of him. He keeps me on my toes with the Navy. It sure has changed a lot since I joined during the Viet Nam era.
Kathy, VPNNM
.

Kathy

Wow! been that long? How have you been? Congrats to you and your son for his graduation at the nuke school!

As for my two year old response....just proves that the internet truely is a time vault.

I stand by my answer as you served your twenty. Use HMC USNR Ret.

Geez, leave out a R and it comes back to haunt you.

I call myself, and it has never been questioned even by official authorities: John Doe, MAJ, US Army Ret. So, you can call yourself Mary Doe, HMC USN Ret. The history of your service in the Reserves or active duty is unimportant, as long as you qualify.

As Mastertanker said all I use is:

John L. Smith
SFC, USA
Ret.

You have the answer to your question now, don't sweat the small stuff.

Glad to see you back.

A couple of my friends (retired reservists) use-

GySgt, USMCR (Ret)

I'm pretty sure using HMC, USNR (Ret) would be the proper title.