He's basically a marine, and a marine on board a ship is there at the service of the command crew of a vessel until put ashore. Normal rules of rank are usually put on hold where there is only a level or so between them. Malcolm is head of security, so the Maco reports directly to him despite the lower rank. When not assigned to the ship, Malcolm would indeed have to call him sir and respect his superior rank. Any marine on a ship will defer to the command structure of the ship, even a marine general will refer to a ships captain as sir. Though a degree of respect for the superior rank is generally given and the sir is more of a courtesy than a submission of authority! The Captain and his senior officers control the ship and a Marine is not part of that chain of command.
BrianBeuken I think a better explanation would be that Star Fleet isn't Military, it is basically like NASA. So even though in a military capacity, the Major out ranks him, he has no rank when it comes to Star Fleet. But your answer did help me realize that. (Am I right? Is Star Fleet at this point non military?)
He's the chief tactical officer (or whatever it's called), I suspect it's a similar situation with O'brien where his experience and position are not influenced by ranking members of other military branches.
Keep your helmets on around alien eggs.
So much content removed between scenes - no clue what was going on.
Why does the Maco commander keep calling Malcom "sir"? He is a major, he is a full grade higher in rank. Makes no sense
He's basically a marine, and a marine on board a ship is there at the service of the command crew of a vessel until put ashore. Normal rules of rank are usually put on hold where there is only a level or so between them. Malcolm is head of security, so the Maco reports directly to him despite the lower rank. When not assigned to the ship, Malcolm would indeed have to call him sir and respect his superior rank.
Any marine on a ship will defer to the command structure of the ship, even a marine general will refer to a ships captain as sir. Though a degree of respect for the superior rank is generally given and the sir is more of a courtesy than a submission of authority! The Captain and his senior officers control the ship and a Marine is not part of that chain of command.
BrianBeuken I think a better explanation would be that Star Fleet isn't Military, it is basically like NASA. So even though in a military capacity, the Major out ranks him, he has no rank when it comes to Star Fleet. But your answer did help me realize that. (Am I right? Is Star Fleet at this point non military?)
He's the chief tactical officer (or whatever it's called), I suspect it's a similar situation with O'brien where his experience and position are not influenced by ranking members of other military branches.