Posted on Nov 28, 2016
SPC Supply Specialist (S4)
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During mock boards I have been hammered when they ask "when to salute indoors?". "Well why did you salute just now?!" I cannot find an answer in writing. I KNOW that this is what we do, boards, commander, indoor ceremonies, etc. However I cannot find any documentation in regulation showing that this is correct and it is driving me crazy. Asking for help locally has not produced results.
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CSM Chuck Stafford
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Check out FM 7-21.13 The Soldier's Guide - Sep 11
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SPC Supply Specialist (S4)
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CSM Stafford, Thank you for the additional reference, I have personally never seen this FM, and it is filled with a lot of good information that I will use in the future, however chapter 4, paragraph 14 states that:
4-14.
Salutes are not required when:
• Indoors, unless reporting to an officer or when on duty as a guard.

Is there any other reference you know of that might contain occasions to salute indoors?
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CSM Chuck Stafford
CSM Chuck Stafford
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SPC (Join to see) - The cited paragraph should suffice, but to paraphrase the third bullet of the same paragraph -- When in doubt, whip it out; ie salute. You really can't go wrong being courteous and respectful.
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Sgt Joseph Baker
Sgt Joseph Baker
>1 y
I served from 1984 to 1990 in the Marine Corps. At that time, we never saluted when not wearing a cover on our head, period. There were only two times we wore our cover indoors: 1) You are in a disciplinary proceeding, salute required; 2) was if you were on duty, being signified by the wearing of a duty belt, saluting was not required. We never saluted an enlisted person of whatever rank, that even including a board of enlisted persons such as a promotion board; though you might come to attention upon presenting yourself to the board. When reporting to an officer indoors, without cover, you came to attention.
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SFC (Other / Not listed)
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When you report, you are reporting to the President (Commander) of the board. The President is usually a senior NCO acting on behalf of the unit commander as his representative. So when you report, you are saluting the commander via his representative.
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SPC Supply Specialist (S4)
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100% agree with you, and that was my response answer to the board when they asked "Well you just saluted the board!". However they were not pleased with that answer. The answers they wanted were printed off ArmyStudyGuide.com and were:
When reporting to your commander
When reporting to a pay officer
When reporting to a military board
At an indoor ceremony
At sentry duty indoors

And I know those answers are correct because I have been in long enough to know whats right and how we operate. However black and white regulation states "Only when reporting to a superior officer", and makes no provisions for boards or ceremonies. So I am left wondering where or if these answers are written down in regulation or not.
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SFC Communications Chief (S6)
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cookie cutter answers from army study guide are horrible. 1. when was the last time anyone reported to a pay officer? 2. an indoor ceremony that is treated as outdoor. there are plenty of indoor ceremonies you don't salute out.
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SPC Supply Specialist (S4)
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I am aware SGT, The MOI Actually stated the words "Do not use Armystudyguide.com and focus your efforts on the actual regulations listed." However during the mock board my local NCO's resorted to army study guide. Which led me to pose the question in the first place, since the regulation does not match up with the answers expected. Even the current regulation does not reflect most of the army study guide which led me to search for the correct one.
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CPT Richard Riley
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As much as it pains me to state this, it's just common sense. I'm not trying to be flippant, just honest.
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SPC Supply Specialist (S4)
SPC (Join to see)
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Sir, 1SG,

I understand that it is common sense and as stated above I have no issues with saluting itself. I am simply trying to find the actual black and white book answer to the question. I am still rather inexperienced at 4 years in, however the military gives us references and materials showing what to do and what not to do for just about anything. Black and white states that I only salute when reporting to a superior officer indoors, obviously for occasions such as boards and ceremonies it is common sense to do so as required. But where does it state that it is allowed or authorized, as going per 600-25, we would be technically wrong for saluting indoors at boards and ceremonies.
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CPT Richard Riley
CPT Richard Riley
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I see your logic in your approach. I'm not sure you'll find what you seek specifically written out, but I applaud your effort to search for that answer.
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1SG Al Brown
1SG Al Brown
>1 y
You have the regulation answer, but you are trying to read more into it. A lot of times, a general order or instruction can be just that. The key word is "report" to a Commissioned Officer. If you hear the words from a superior that state "report to LT/CPT/MAJ/COL _______ now, you will immediately do so and properly render a hand salute indoors, outdoors or where ever you are standing, unless prohibited by a combat deployment policy. Ask your chain of command to drill you on all the contingencies. Keep reading. You're the next leader.
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CW3 Chuck Huddleston
CW3 Chuck Huddleston
5 y
1SG Al Brown - Reporting for pay....Ahhh yes, the good old days. That is good unless you were the one that had to go to finance the day before to actually count out the money. It was time consuming and you HAD to have the number come out right.
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