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Question as in title.

More specifically, could a Imperial Guard commissioned officer (say a Major or Lieutenant General) also be referred to as a "guardsman/guardswoman" or does the term more apply to non-commissioned or enlisted personnel (like privates/troopers/signallers etc)

I think it applies to officers, but could be overly casual depending on the context.

In the US Air Force, they still call women Airman.

So it's probably just guardsman or Astra Militaruman.

Adding an additional syllable, or Emperor forbid a whole additional word, would cause extraneous lengthening of Imperial requisition and logistics forms in the form of additional ink and parchment. Suggestion of this callous wasting of Imperial resources warrants immediate activation of the Rocks aren't Free protocol.

https://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Rocks_Are_Not_Free!

I always viewed the term as being used rather like an alternative to saying "soldier"

So depending on context it could refer to a specific rank or to the general concept of a person within the Guard itself as a "fighting person".

Of course lets not forget that the Guard is also a specific fighting force and that on a planet you'd have the PDF (which might have its own name); local fighting forces and on top of that the Guard itself. So Guardsman is just the Guard version of soldier to give a generic term, whilst also telling them apart from those in different military groups.

I suspect if you use the gendered version of Guard (sman/swoman), it would depend on the culture of that regiments homeworld.

Orkeosaurus wrote:I think it applies to officers, but could be overly casual depending on the context.

The_Real_Chris wrote:I suspect if you use the gendered version of Guard (sman/swoman), it would depend on the culture of that regiments homeworld.

These both seem reasonable.

It is also going to depend on who is using the term. A Space Marine can probably refer to almost any Guard rank as "Guardsman/woman" without repercussion, short of the very highest ranked commanders like Lords Militant, Warmasters etc, especially a Marine officer. Inquisitors are a law unto themselves and probably do it when it suits them. Whereas a basic trooper generally isn't going to be calling their officer in any way that doesn't respect their rank outside of the handful of regiments with flatter hierarchies like Catachans, and would stick to only calling fellows of the same or lower ranks guardsman/woman.

That said, the general impression I get is that guardsman/woman refers to the enlisted soldiery, but not so much the Guard officer ranks.

I get the impression some people replying to the thread think OP is asking about whether people use a gendered version of the term, but my understanding is that that's not what OP was asking about at all.

Rather, my understanding is that they were just asking whether the term would be used to refer to higher-ranked individuals.

I think Orkeosaurus got it in one. It would technically be applicable but might be overly formal. If you're a company commander, you'd probably expect to be referred to as such unless someone really wanted to emphasize your experience as a common soldier rather than as a commander specifically.

In the same way that calling your canoness "sister" is technically accurate, but you'd probably refer to her as "canoness" or something similar.

 Wyldhunt wrote:
I think Orkeosaurus got it in one. It would technically be applicable but might be overly formal. If you're a company commander, you'd probably expect to be referred to as such unless someone really wanted to emphasize your experience as a common soldier rather than as a commander specifically.

Overly formal? It gives me the opposite impression, more likely to be used to other or belittle Guard officers by different organisations or higher ranks. If a General calls a Colonel "Guardsman", I suspect the Colonel is about to get a dressing down. Likewise a Space Marine would probably be trying to highlight they are separate to the Imperial Guard, perhaps reminding that they do not fall under the same hierarchy.

I suppose it could be considered formal from civilians unaware of ranks, but again it would probably be considered a slight by, say, a noble who is expected to be familiar with rank structures (and more importantly the title and therefore prestige associated with the rank).

 Haighus wrote:

 Wyldhunt wrote:
I think Orkeosaurus got it in one. It would technically be applicable but might be overly formal. If you're a company commander, you'd probably expect to be referred to as such unless someone really wanted to emphasize your experience as a common soldier rather than as a commander specifically.

Overly formal? It gives me the opposite impression, more likely to be used to other or belittle Guard officers by different organisations or higher ranks. If a General calls a Colonel "Guardsman", I suspect the Colonel is about to get a dressing down. Likewise a Space Marine would probably be trying to highlight they are separate to the Imperial Guard, perhaps reminding that they do not fall under the same hierarchy.

I suppose it could be considered formal from civilians unaware of ranks, but again it would probably be considered a slight by, say, a noble who is expected to be familiar with rank structures (and more importantly the title and therefore prestige associated with the rank).

Oh yes. If we are simply talking about rank, then it would be improper to refer to an officer as a Guardsman even if they are technically part of the Imperial Guard. Anyone who is involved in the rank structure would definitely be expected to refer to them by their proper rank. Unless a commanding officer is about to demote someone back down to private.

Doesn't Art. IG 3645/67k said disrespect to officer in words or actions is punishable by death?
I mean, yeah, some a noble guy could refer colonel as a guardsman, but... You know if the Imperial guards are on the planet it's mean thei either garrison or there is martial law. So a noble have a close call to be flogged or shot for such words.
And from many novels we knew that it's a common practice when a PREPARED space marine communicate with an IG force, and we can see they refer them by their actual rank.

Rank and power between different groups in the Imperium is never a clear cut relationship that can be generalised - its always highly situational.

In some instances the Guard on a world might hold all sway without opposition; in other cases they are bound to obey the local nobility.

I think the Eisenhower books are great at showing this as you have an Inquisitor - someone who on paper is basically the right arm of the Emperor. Able to command whatever they require and desire. And yet in reality their power is far more varied, complex and open to the situation at hand.

If you're 1 inquisitor on the fringe of the Imperium; the local powers that be 'might' listen to you and might backstab you. They might not respect your office or might cower and grovel. Even if you bring a fleet of ships with you; you still might not get all the support that, on paper, you are technically required ot receive.

The Imperium is full of traditions, oaths, honour, betrayal, corruption (non chaos and chaos). It's full of rules that are bent and ignored; which are followed to the letter no matter how insane.