Posted on Nov 4, 2016
Let's upend things. Is there any situation where officers salute enlisted first?
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If your initial answer is 'no wai! Ossifers NEVER salute enlisted first!!'....step back and reassess. Alternatively, step back and learn. Because there's at least TWO situations where this happens, that I can think of in my old age.
Rank
Customs and Courtesies
Officers
Enlisted
Saluting
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 317
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CPT Carey Mitchell
PO1 (Join to see) - You are saluting the Medal. Even as a vet for 40 years, I still salute a funeral procession.
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LTC Margaret Ohms
Capt (Join to see) - I will also be saluting the Soldier. The Soldier is the one who did the heroic act along with the support of their team. The medal just got pressed in a machine.
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CPT Carey Mitchell
LTC Margaret Ohms - If I were wearing 4 stars and an E1 with the Medal approached I would salute in an instant. I saw a COL salute Walter (Joe) Marm when he was a 1LT. Joe couldn't have cared less about being saluted.
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I used to give the old head fake arm jerk to get officers to salute first. Does that count?
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PO1 Cliff Heath
I just missed you I reported on-board JAN79-AUG82, I do have 1 of the extra Cruise Books from 78 WESTPAC. i was V-3 DIV. Bay-rat. respect to "BLOOD, SWEAT AND STEAM"
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SSgt W. Aaron Gregory
PO1 Cliff Heath - Unless the ensign or 2nd Lieutenant is a mustang. Try that shit then.
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COL Jon Lopey
Joseph: Good one! I almost saluted a Marine on Camp Pendleton who turned out to be a private (E-1). I was at the separations center and he was wearing dress greens and he had three stacks of Viet Nam ribbons (including the Air Medal) and he was wearing wings. I aborted the salute when I failed to see brass and noticed a hash mark! He was a decorated hero but obviously ran afoul of the UCMJ and was being discharged as a private E-1. COL L
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Sgt William Straub Jr.
PO1 Cliff Heath - My uncle was a LtCmdr involved with the installation of the Nuclear Power Plants. I was on the Enterprise for it's commissioning in Nov 61 as I remember, I was just 12. At the time it was CVAN-65. Jump ahead 40+ years, my son Stephen was stationed on her in 2002-2004 as I remember. Family history. My uncle took me on a tour of the ship the day before the commissioning and when we were on the bridge, I got tired and jumped on this nice looking chair. I thought he was going to have a stroke, "Get the hell out of the Captains' chair". I didn't realize.
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Third situation: A salute is a greeting, that's really all it is (although a formal one). If an officer passes an enlisted carrying something with both hands, and the enlisted says "Good Morning, Sir" or the equivalent, they are greeting you, and you owe them a salute. It is rude to ignore the greeting, and mean-spirited to demand they put down their load and salute you.
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SSG Bob Teachout
In some units I was in, we were to add in our unit motto - ie "Proud to Serve", Sir -- (240th QM Bn, Ft Lee, VA)
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