Posted on Oct 11, 2020
How do new officers avoid giving their first salute to a random passing by serviceman?
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When new officers are commissioned, I've heard it's a tradition to give their first salute (and a silver dollar coin) to a special someone of choice. How do they avoid having to render this salute when walking past other enlisted serviceman? The 'ole duck and dodge? (/s)
Or is "first salute" just metaphorical, and not the actual first salute rendered as an officer?
Or is "first salute" just metaphorical, and not the actual first salute rendered as an officer?
Officers
Commission
2d Lt
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 24
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(Join to see) It's usually a part of the ceremony where you return your first salute to one of the NCOs that trained you or to someone that is an NCO that mentored you. I had four. One for our primary NCO trainer in my ROTC BN. The other three were my Dad and two uncles, Non Commissioned Officers from the 1960s that helped me develop.
You should never approach a situation based on avoidance unless it's a contagious disease, NBC, or a minefield.
You should never approach a situation based on avoidance unless it's a contagious disease, NBC, or a minefield.
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LTC Jason Mackay
(Join to see) - you've got a lot of ground to cover before then. Focus on some 50 and 100m targets first. Good Luck. https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/new-officers-listen-up
New Officers, Listen Up. | RallyPoint
As a newly Commissioned Officer, or as a Cadet aspiring to become an Officer, you may be asking yourself many questions as you get closer to leading your first Platoon. How will I rise to the challenge? How should I “come in”? The first thing you need to adjust is your mindset. Unless you have prior enlisted experience, you have to adjust to the fact that you will not be leading peer Cadets. Cadets are great and wonderful people. They are...
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SFC Terry Wilcox
LTC Jason Mackay - I had what we called a "Butter Bar" arrive in my unit in Korea. I was the Dining Facility Manager (commonly known as the Mess Sergeant). Having just won the 2nd ID's Best Dinging Facility Award for the second Quarter - this young officer walked in flashing his brand new bar announcing HE WAS IN CHARGE! I reported politely and professionally and corrected him - No Sir - I'm in charge - I need you to sign forms and pull inspections and that's it - SIR! He stormed out to the First Sergeant - who announced him to the Captain - who in turn told him to sign forms I give him - pull a few inspections and LEAVE THE MESS SERGEANT ALONE! The first and last time we had a mis-understanding. I took him through MY Dining Facility - explained how we managed to keep our sanitation to such a high degree - Explained how the menu and budget was managed - how I managed to keep my field equipment at such a high degree of maintenance and readiness. My subordinates thought I was crazy for educating the Lieutenant to such a degree - I told them I need to have someone know enough to keep me on my toes - It helped me earn the Best Dining Facility for all of Korea and be nominated for the Connelly Award - And my SFC Stripe. I was due to rotate back to CONUS and declined staying for the Connelly Competition - My wife was having trouble with our 4 sons on Fort Hood, Texas - I had to go home. Cool story though - The LT and I managed to work well together, all WE needed was to have Respect for each other's responsibilities and skills.
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CPT (Join to see)
Folks don't realize your subordinates will give you all the rope you need to hang yourself, and before you go pissing them off you better have a plan to do their job for them, or replace them.
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