Anyone saluted the wrong rank working on a Joint Base?

2014-07-09T14:13:49-04:00

Out of curiosity how many members have saluted the wrong rank working on a Joint Base or Assignment. With me working on JBAB (Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling) it has happened a couple times. I find it hard to recognize the Navy ranks sometimes at a distance. And found myself saluting a Chief. I have always followed the rule "when in doubt whip it out". Most just laugh and we carry on about our day. Would love to hear some stories.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 2:15 PM

2014-07-09T14:15:04-04:00

Mostly just 2LTs not saluting 1LTs!!! Ain't that right CPT Private RallyPoint Member ?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 9 at 2014 3:32 PM

2014-07-09T15:32:12-04:00

Guilty as charged - damn that Navy PO rank!

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 9 at 2014 4:03 PM

2014-07-09T16:03:06-04:00

What an awesome question and heck yeah I have! Oh and if I get called a LT one more time I am going to do bodily harm! Just kidding no violence in my system!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 4:09 PM

2014-07-09T16:09:01-04:00

Back when we first changed over to berets, I was with 1-4 Cav. Our unit insignia had gold on the sides coming straight down and blue in the middle. From a distance it looked like CPT rank on the beret. I can't tell you how many times I got saluted while wearing that.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 9 at 2014 4:45 PM

2014-07-09T16:45:58-04:00

Just figuring out the Navy's officer ranks requires a switch in mindset ... you mean I have to figure out the enlisted ranks as well!?

That's probably why they they've been beating us in football these past 12 years ... we're too confused by those dang rank insignia and it shows on the field.

Response by SSG Mark Ives made Jul 9 at 2014 5:56 PM

2014-07-09T17:56:13-04:00

Never had any dealings with Navy officers when I was in, but foreign service officers, that was a different story. While at Ft Sill, we had German, British, French (& a lot of other nations) officers attending Arty related schools. Lucky for us, they gave them Army equivilent rank to attach to their uniform!

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Jul 9 at 2014 6:31 PM

2014-07-09T18:31:15-04:00

Only with the Navy/Coast Guard ranks....... Everyone else is NORMAL.......LOL

I mean how can a Lieutenant be a Captain and a Captain be a Colonel? And I have no clue what the difference is between a Rear Admiral or Vice Admiral is. With the Surname of Rear and Vice, I would suppose they are in charge of morale in the Rear/Base areas? Making sure the Burger King is open after 2200?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 9 at 2014 6:45 PM

2014-07-09T18:45:46-04:00

No confusion whatsoever I'm a Sailor brought up, in and through the system that causes the rest of you Heartache. 3 yrs in DC and I can sympathize with Rank Dilemas. Working with the Royal Navy wasn't too bad since it is the same Sleeve Decorations.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 9 at 2014 6:55 PM

2014-07-09T18:55:42-04:00

Now as far as Good Sea Story involving Rank. In some job fields in the Navy there is very fast advancement, others not so much. I was in Pensacola for my 3rd Technical School. TACINTEL as a very senior E-6 (I wear gold all up and down my sleeve). Come out of the Chow Hall with a toothpick in my mouth thinking nothing of it. Out the corner of my eye catch sight of a Chief E-7 In the distance Barrelling towards me full bore. About to jump my case about something. He was coming up from the rear so he couldn't see my sleeve. When he pulls up in front of my his bravado disappeard very quickly. You see he was in a very quick advancement field. He was a Nuke with barely over 8 yrs, 2 red stripes. He was very polite in correcting my error. "Petty Officer I know you come from the Fleet but this is a School Command and we want to get these youngsters off on the right foot" "Gotcha Chief not a problem".

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 7:37 PM

2014-07-09T19:37:43-04:00

Try walking around an AF base as a warrant officer. They are the only service without them and unless you happen to be on a joint AF base (I was one of only about 30 Army guys on the base) they sure as hell have no idea what a few dots on your head is supposed to mean. I would constantly get stares trying to figure out if they were supposed to salute or not but drive to the joint base 20 miles down the road and the SPs knew exactly what you were.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 9:06 PM

2014-07-09T21:06:55-04:00

For my last deployment I was at BAF. Hard to tell the Navy POs from the Full Birds when it's getting near dusk on Disney...

In ACUs LTC and SPC rank look remarkably alike until you're at about 6 paces and MAJ and 2LT rank are almost invisible until about the same distance.

Response by PO3 Ryan Nelson made Jul 9 at 2014 9:24 PM

2014-07-09T21:24:44-04:00

In 29palms CA there is a Marine com school. Marines since day one of boot camp know what a Navy Corpsman is. I can not count how many times as a third class petty officer I was saluted. How many full bird colonels are in their early 20's.

Response by 1SG Mike Case made Jul 9 at 2014 9:32 PM

2014-07-09T21:32:46-04:00

As I was always taught to salute the "shiny" rank, I was saluting every Navy guy I walked past. I was then informed the ones who wear the tan pants get saluted. After getting a few of the laughs, I stopped a SCPO and he squared me away. I mean they all got shiny stuff. After being here for a few months now, I have learned all the ranks and don't find myself saluting the wrong people. I have also learned that at a quick glance, SPC rank can look very similar to LTC rank. I have saluted a few SPC and they give me that WTF look. I just laugh it off and continue on my day.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 9:40 PM

2014-07-09T21:40:00-04:00

When I was a young Marine private it took a little while to get use to those Navy ranks. And I did make the mistake a couple times. But after a Chief jumps your ass you figure it out right quick. But it was a lot of fun watching folks from the Air Force and Army stumble all over them self saluting enlisted.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 9:45 PM

2014-07-09T21:45:21-04:00

Don't feel to bad Air Force folks don't know what to do around Warrant Officers. Since they don't have any. Nice question SPC!

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Jul 9 at 2014 10:35 PM

2014-07-09T22:35:36-04:00

Damn the navy and shiny stuff on the collars of their chiefs.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2014 11:26 PM

2014-07-09T23:26:42-04:00

When I was a CPO at the US Merchant Marine Academy my crew and I were saluted constantly be the Midshipman. Now that I am a CWO on a Navy base they all look at me like I am the first CWO they ever saw. The odd thing is there are quite a few CWOs on this base both USCG & USN.

Response by SGT Curtis Earl made Jul 10 at 2014 11:44 AM

2014-07-10T11:44:33-04:00

The Army School of Music is on Little Creek Naval Base in Norfolk Virginia. We walked around saluting Naval Chiefs all day. Shiny rank on a collar always gets saluted.

And we always referred to sailors as Petty Officer Such-n-such - which irritated them. Meanwhile the Marines would get furious if we forgot to all someone Lance Corporal versus Corporal.

One Master Gunnery Sergeant told me to call him 'Master Guns with a stress on the MASTER.' Hilarity ensued... but I don't think he was trying to be funny.

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Jul 10 at 2014 10:42 PM

2014-07-10T22:42:15-04:00

No offense, but as An Army Guy, I hate the Navy, why did you have to confuse the issue (ARMY, AIR FORCE, MARINES Colonel, NAVY, Captain, Really??? It was useful when I was on a Navy base as a SFC (E-7) on a Naval base, they started giving me grief, I said I was going to call the Captain, they fixed the problem, not knowing my CPT was an O-3

Response by PO1 Brian Turpen made Jul 12 at 2014 5:55 PM

2014-07-12T17:55:45-04:00

I was stationed at a NATO Base working with Supreme Allied Command. The confusion was amazing. I remember one time i walked upon a young Turkish service member wearing a star my mind tells me no way this kid is old enough to be higher than an e-5 so we stood there for about a minute both staring at each other thinking i was supposed to salute him and he was supposed to salute me. I am sure he was confused by the large bird and golden chevrons on my cover in the end we figured he was an E-4 and me being an E-6 we both saluted each other had a good laugh and carried on until i look back and see him run into my SCPO and the same thing happens again lol.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2014 7:26 PM

2014-08-06T19:26:33-04:00

Well Monday morning on board the Navy Yard while in NWU's (Blueberries, Aquaflage, Utilites) in the course of 15 min I had three Sailors salute me. I just return the salute and continue on. The third one realized it mid salute as he passed me, kept his salute up and said "Morning Senior!", "Morning Petty Officer"

Response by CMC Robert Young made Aug 6 at 2014 11:53 PM

2014-08-06T23:53:48-04:00

SPC Borders, I have not. Being reared in a thoroughly military family with uncles in the Air Force and Navy and my dad in the Army (God rest them all), I had a pretty good handle on who rates a salute and who does not. However, I am the beneficiary of a salute from another enlisted member on two occasions.

In the first an Army drill sergeant (a SFC no less) passed me on the sidewalk in my home town some 125 miles from the nearest ocean. I was wearing my Trops (warm weather dress). Guessing she had never seen a Coast Guard uniform. As she drew abreast of me, she snapped off a smart salute followed by a hardy "Good afternoon sir." I returned an equally smart salute and offered a very firm "Carry on". I then laughed all the way back to the car. I was a PO1 (E6) at the time. She had me by one stripe, but I'm the one who got the salute.

The second time I was walking down the sidewalk at Paris Island in my Winter Dress. The wife and I were on our way to see my stepson graduate from boot camp talking causally about how great it was to see him after three months when a Marine DI (E5) crossed my path with a smart salute (you got to love Marines) and a very military "By your leave sir." I returned a sharp salute and again in my most commanding voice offered "Carry on". In his defense, by this time in my career, I was a CPO (E7) waiting on my E8 advancement and had accrued enough chest candy to look like I should be dictator of a small South American country.

As he stepped off, my wife looked at me quizzically, and the conversation that followed went something like this

Her - "He wasn't supposed to do that".

Me - "I know"

Her - "You didn't correct him. He thinks you're an officer"

Me grinning - "I know"

Her - "Now you're just screwing with people. That's so wrong"

Me grinning - "I know"

"When it doubt, whip it out." The worst that could happen is you'll leave somebody laughing all the way to the car ;-)

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2014 1:18 AM

2014-08-09T01:18:38-04:00

I can not say I have saluted the wrong rank, but I have been saluted. I can kind of understand why, because the E4 thru E6 rank insignia for the US Navy kind of look like the O6 for all the services.
Sometime I will stop and help the other service members look at my rank insignia, so that they can see the difference. Other time I am in a hurry and just keep moving with my day.

Response by SGT Alicia Brenneis made Aug 9 at 2014 1:47 PM

2014-08-09T13:47:58-04:00

I was just talking about this the other day. Bagrum was a salute zone and we were always getting yelled at because we would visit for re-supply and forget to salute. When we were there I could not tell you how many Navy PVTs I saluted after dark! The first thing you see is the bird. I would get so mad once I got close enough to realize who I saluted. I would be like... "really! Your just goanna let us salute you and not say anything?" Eventually we gave up on trying and just excepted getting yelled at.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2014 11:43 PM

2014-08-09T23:43:08-04:00

when I was onboard Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) I got saluted all the time. I was stationed there for 5 years and I felt like a General!
I am a huge believer in customs and courtesies, and if I am on a base belonging to another service I know the ranks!!! I can say, I know the rank insignia of every service top to bottom.
I know that it's tough knowing the difference between a Navy CPO and an officer, but, if you know your other service ranks there should never be a problem.

Response by Sgt Jack Lynch made Aug 11 at 2014 1:51 PM

2014-08-11T13:51:11-04:00

Haha I remember in HIGHSCHOOL ROTC prior to joining the Marines, when we would go on base for a trip and had our shiny "cadet" rank on our collar- we were often saluted, especially by PFC's and young LCpl's.

Response by SGT Chris Birkinbine made Aug 11 at 2014 1:57 PM

2014-08-11T13:57:21-04:00

I graduated AIT and within a couple months found my self deployed to Iraq, and saluting every damn Navy enlisted, or Navy corpsman I saw.

I just kept thinking to my self how young some of these colonels were... and how damn many of them there were.

My only excuse was I was an E-2, and after several puzzled looks and laughter, a Navy officer set me straight. All worth a good laugh now. Stupid Navy eagle...haha

Response by Cpl Matthew Wall made Aug 13 at 2014 2:46 PM

2014-08-13T14:46:09-04:00

I have saluted more Navy Chiefs then I know what to do with. They all look the same with shiny brass. We were always taught salute the brass, but they all wear it and I felt stupid every time I did it.

Response by PO3 David Miller made Aug 13 at 2014 7:59 PM

2014-08-13T19:59:51-04:00

Never had a problem. All branch officer collar devices are the same. I look for the brass, etc, and salute that way.

As far as the Navy everyone, easy way to tell. Here is the breakdown:
In our NWU's- enlisted have silver name tags, chiefs and officers have gold.

In our SU's- enlisted is khaki top/black bottoms. Chiefs and officers will be all khaki.

In dress uniform- officers will have the collar boards everyone has mentioned.

Yes, chief is normally the hardest from a distance, but look for the chief anchor.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2014 7:47 PM

2014-08-16T19:47:03-04:00

When I was still in flight status and wore my flight suit on a daily basis, I would get saluted quite often. That flight suit is pretty tricky.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2014 11:29 AM

2014-08-20T11:29:23-04:00

Yes I sure have. I work at Joint Base San Antonio - Fort Sam Houston. About 2 weeks ago I saluted a Navy E-5. I know when i see a bird-shaped object in the Army, I render a salute and give the greeting of the day. I came back from TDY, and there were Navy personnel working in my building. I'm thinking I was doing the right thing, but it ended up being a mistake(that I was willing to take, instead of mistakingly walking past a possible O-6). He laughed it off and gave me a small "class" about Navy rank structure. After lunch, I printed a Army and Navy rank structure paper, and posted it on the bulltin board for all to see.

Response by SPC(P) Thomas Beliveau made Oct 19 at 2014 4:24 AM

2014-10-19T04:24:23-04:00

As a SPC in a joint environment, not only have the navy ranks become the bane of my existence, I have also been on the receiving end of a variety of salutes and courtesies that I had no business recieving. I have been saluted by an airman leading a flight, (caused me to turn around to see who was behind me and left a very confused SPC in their wake), been called a 1Sgt (!) by a group of airmen (no idea about this one), had to tell a bunch of new marines that they do not stand at parade rest for people of my rank no matter what the circumstance, and most recently after giving a CPO a "Morning, Chief" got a response of a salute and a "Oh, good morning sir" which once again led to a quick salute and much confusion from me. In these situations, I was caught off guard and the people mostly moved out before I could say anything. What should I do in these situations?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2014 2:27 PM

2014-10-19T14:27:23-04:00

I was stationed at a joint base for 6 months where I had Navy and Marine instructors. I never saluted an enlisted Soldier when I was there. The hardest part was trying to distinguish the senior Marine ranks. It felt like unless you were two feet away and staring intently, you'd get it wrong.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 18 at 2015 8:28 PM

2015-12-18T20:28:11-05:00

I'm sure I probably have but I don't remember. Having a Senior Moment. Bet the chief was more than happy to let you know that it wasn't necessary since his "Parents were Married" LOL! Ah Fond Memories of my Time as Master at Arms Commander Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Washington, DC. My Office was at the Navy Yard but I spent a great deal of time over at Anacostia and was in Air Force Housing at Bolling.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2016 2:49 PM

2016-12-09T14:49:45-05:00

Hey I went to basic at 30, so when I was at Ft. Lost in the woods for AIT and it was cold, they would see this older guy walking down the side walk in his dress greens and trench coat with glasses and salute before they could see my rank all the time.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Dec 22 at 2016 11:23 AM

2016-12-22T11:23:07-05:00

I was at a Joint service Chaplain conference in DC and a Navy Chaplain who looked old enough to be my dad started chatting with me. I had no idea of his rank, but I was very respectful. Good thing: turns out he was the Navy Chief of Chaplains, two-stars!

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Dec 29 at 2019 12:57 AM

2019-12-29T00:57:25-05:00

Never had that problem and I didn't find it hard learning the rank insignia for all Officers, Warrant Officers and enlisted of all branches of the US Armed Forces. That includes, Army, Navy, Marines and also the Coast Guard. I have taught classes even in Military Customs and courtesy and had learned much of that information I later taught before even entering the service as a Cadet at a Military Academy. The changes over time were not hard to adapt to although even today I still remember every detail on a rank insignia chart from all branches that was posted on a wall at that Military Academy.

Response by LTC David Brown made Dec 29 at 2019 4:16 AM

2019-12-29T04:16:31-05:00

I was found n Bosnia at Tulsa Airbase. Finance office was where NATO headquarters were located in “Salute Alley “ as it was called. Going there was a nightmare. American service members along with NATO officers and enlisted from other countries. I know I screwed up a few times but nobody called me on it!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2019 4:18 AM

2019-12-29T04:18:29-05:00

If you've never saluted a Navy E4, have you even been in a joint environment?

Response by MSgt Gary Hinkelman made Apr 15 at 2021 12:42 PM

2021-04-15T12:42:52-04:00

While I get the meaning of your question. Why is it embarrassing if you salute someone who is not an officer? Every person - - enlisted, officer, civilian, a veteran can salute anyone when they want. There is not any rule saying that I can't salute anyone. When it doubt whip it out.

As a retired USAF member, I have saluted a few civilians, and yes they were veterans. Yet, again, we can salute anyone at any time.

We might need a refresher on the history and purpose of saluting...

Response by Sgt Alex Casqueira made Jun 7 at 2021 11:27 PM

2021-06-07T23:27:08-04:00

I don't think there is a Marine alive today who hasn't on accident saluted a corpsman at least once because they wear that shiny petty officer shit on their collar. Lol. Like a raccoon seeing something shiny, better get a laugh from a corpsman then an ass chewing from a Major or something. Or a battalion gunner like I did once. Only time I didn't follow the salute the shiny thing rule and it blew up in my face. Aren't there like only 26 battalion gunners in the USMC!?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 8 at 2021 8:24 AM

2021-06-08T08:24:15-04:00

Damn Navy Chiefs with their golden ranks...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2021 10:20 AM

2021-06-08T10:20:41-04:00

Hell I was 32 when I joined, at Ft. Leonardwood wearing Class A uniform, I got saluted by privates even though I was just a PFC myself. I guess when in doubt salute.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Jun 8 at 2021 3:01 PM

2021-06-08T15:01:56-04:00

Different for me, but I was prior service when I joined the Army. At Ft. Dix, myself and another prior service and fellow Nam Vet, were LITERALLY sent home and told to call the DS each Sunday evening and he'd tell us when we had to be there for the mandatory stuff -- weapons qualification, PT Test, Grenade & Bayonet, etc. We were only there four times after being sent home, including for graduation.
We both wore Class A's (Dress Greens at the time) and MARINES used to salute us both at the Bus Station there, and at the one in Philly. They confused our enlisted "gold" US and MOS symbols, PLUS we both had combat ribbons. It was a bit embarrassing as well as funny, but we both decided to return their salutes as we should have. Didn't want to embarrass them by saying we were only E-4's. LOL

Response by SR Kenneth Beck made Jun 8 at 2021 7:01 PM

2021-06-08T19:01:54-04:00

As an enlisted man it was easy; salute anything moving. If it was stationary, paint it.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 9 at 2021 12:57 AM

2021-06-09T00:57:23-04:00

SSG Steven Borders As a Brown Shoe Soldier, I do fret about y’all! We din’t have such problems in the “Old Army”! Soldiers, and others, recognized my rank and status ! LTC Private RallyPoint Member LTC Stephen C. LTC Stephen F. SFC William Farrell

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2021 1:10 AM

2021-06-09T01:10:11-04:00

While working as an observer controller trainer at Canadian Forces base Wainwright, I would often confuse a Canadian major with a warrant officer.. a warrant officer is an equivalent to an E7 Sergeant First Class. SFC William Farrell SMSgt Lawrence McCarter 1SG John Millan CSM Charles Hayden SFC Michael Hasbun PO1 William "Chip" Nagel

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2021 1:00 PM

2021-08-02T13:00:01-04:00

I've had a Major salute me as a PFC while wearing a slick gortex. Then he started patting my chest saying " I swore that there was a Lt. Col rank there.....????" We laughed about it and I walked away. Then while on the Kuwaiti naval base the Kuwaitis would always think that our NCOs and lower enlistees were officers. I even had a group of Kuwaitis going to attention while I walked by as a Specialist. Since I don't speak a lick of Arabic I just told them to carry on in English and they seemed to understand. Basically most understand that you were respectful and figured no harm done.

Response by PO2 Steven Michaeli made Aug 8 at 2021 1:04 PM

2021-08-08T13:04:25-04:00

As an FMF Corpsman that was Marine Corps regs, I would wear my PO rank on the epaulettes of the tanker jacket and other sailors would salute me all the time.

Response by 1SG Richard Gurbisz made Aug 8 at 2021 1:32 PM

2021-08-08T13:32:38-04:00

When I was on a JSDF base in Japan as a SSG, the ranks were confusing, so we wound up saluting each other daily

Response by SrA Mike Dethlefs made Aug 8 at 2021 4:37 PM

2021-08-08T16:37:41-04:00

I had that happen in reverse. I was stationed on an Army post (Hunter AAF), and here's me a lowly A1C heading off to work when I passed a couple of Army Sergeants. As I approached, they stood at attention, saluted, and said "good morning, sir!".
I was taken aback for a second, looked around for the officer I thought might be behind me. When I didn't see one I returned the salute and said "good morning", and continued on to work. Interesting way to start the day.

Response by SSgt Linda Staley-Blayton made Aug 8 at 2021 7:52 PM

2021-08-08T19:52:31-04:00

We were told in AF boot camp, “If it moves salute it, if it don’t piss on it”.

Response by PO2 Jason Brooks made Aug 8 at 2021 8:43 PM

2021-08-08T20:43:09-04:00

Happened on JBA and when deployed to PSAB or AFG

Response by SFC William Linnell made Aug 9 at 2021 8:20 AM

2021-08-09T08:20:35-04:00

OMG!!! Officers and their egos. I can only speak at being on Bagram AB, Manas, Saudi. But Bagram was the worse. You couldn't walk 10 ft without having to salute. Tennis elbow?! Hell, I think we can claim "Salute Elbow and Shoulder". LOL So being there for visits for my Advisor Team, I made sure I walked with one of the CPT's on the team. Made it easier since he had to do all the saluting. I didn't. :)
J-bad main was just as bad. As an advisor embedded with the Afghan Border Police, our COC was a Marine COL out of Blackhorse. He gave us orders for relaxed facial hair cause we covered the whole Kunar, Nangahar Provinces and the Tora Bora region. And J-bad, (FOB Fenty) was our supply hub. Always getting stopped by someone about facial grooming and not saluting. One incident after being out for over a week, I was heading to the S-2 shed for intel briefings. I passed a butterbar who lost it cause I didn't salute him. So I did and said "Sniper Check Sir!!! He did this half ass salute and then I stopped him. I pointed out their security failures from where we were standing, that the enemy can see right into the camp and can see him perfectly. So I repeated, with salute, Sniper Check. He gave a quick and proper salute and hurried off. They tore down their HESCO walls for a stone wall that wasn't even high enough. One could see right down the main entry coming off the air field, to chow hall and other command buildings, one huge delight for the right sniper.

Now getting to NATO military. GOOD NIGHT!!! It was a nightmare trying to figure out those little clusters on their Soldiers as you approached them. Even harder since their rank was worn up on their shoulders. I even had difficulty sometimes with the 1SG and CSM ranks. Couldn't always tell their rank until you were right up on them. Stitching on those ranks sucked.

But you are correct SSG. When in doubt...Whip it out.
PS. Sorry for the long story.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2021 10:26 AM

2021-08-09T10:26:33-04:00

I was often soluted by lower-enlisted Navy Personnel when I was a SPC at Fort Sam Houston. I would just laugh, explain I was an E4, and be on my way.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Aug 9 at 2021 1:46 PM

2021-08-09T13:46:05-04:00

A navy "Chief" is an E7. Senior Chief is E8, and Master Chief is E9. How does anyone mistake Chief Petty Officer rank insignia for officer insignia while being close enough to salute? If you meant Chief Warrant Officer rank insignia, then you were correct saluting even if they didn't expect it.

Response by SFC Edward Ermey made Aug 9 at 2021 7:17 PM

2021-08-09T19:17:57-04:00

Not with anyone in the other branches of our military, I made it a point to learn all the rank's of enlisted and officer in each branch. But I did salute a British Sergeant Major mistakenly, due to my miss recognition of his rank on his shoulder. He said thanks and that he does not rate a salute.

Response by CPO David Toby made Aug 10 at 2021 1:53 AM

2021-08-10T01:53:45-04:00

I don't think I have saluted the wrong rank, but I have been saluted by others that thought I was an officer. (retired as CPO-E-7)
All members of Coast Guard wear a White Combination Cover, which confuses the Navy.
The 1st time it happened I was fresh out of boot camp, My 1st ship went to San Diego, I was walking the pier and a Navy PO1, saluted me, I thouht I missed an offier, and was stressing until I realized he was saluting me.
a 2nd time that sticks out, I was at a Navy School in VA as an PO2 (E-5) Was Telling a Navy Chief about it, he didn't believe me, I put on uniform to wear Combo Covers and we walked around base. Received Several Salutes, he was embarrassed for the Navy.

Happened a lot of other times, over my 20 yrs, I'd educate those that did, and move on.

Response by Lt Col George C. made Aug 11 at 2021 7:31 PM

2021-08-11T19:31:14-04:00

While attending a DoD level school as a 1st Lt, my new roommate introduced himself as, "Lieutenant Colonel Bowe". I thought he looked a little young to be a Lt Col but it turned out his real first name was "Colonel" and he was a 1LT in the Army. Go figure. Out of over 300 students attending this course, we also had a "Sergeant Major Flassor". Of course he was an Army E5 whose first name was "Major".

As for other services' ranks, my Father was a Marine E8 so I grew up on Marine and Navy bases. I was saluting Marine and Naval officers by the time I was eight years old. Not a lot if differences between Army and Air Force ranks, so no problem there. My biggest problem was when the Air Force went to universal leather name and rank patches on BDU's in the early 90's. Sometimes you had to get pretty close to someone walking in the opposite direction before you could see their rank clearly.

Response by LCpl Robert Burke made Aug 14 at 2021 4:44 PM

2021-08-14T16:44:35-04:00

Graduation day Parris Island a couple of us 18 year old grads were hanging around waiting to be told our next move. One of our platoon guys was about 24/25 and slightly overweight with a naturally bald head and chubby cheeks. He must have been saluted a dozen times that day, not just buy boots but anyone who came along. Needless to say he ate it up and we busted chops all day.

Response by MSG Lance Kelly made Aug 15 at 2021 1:23 PM

2021-08-15T13:23:45-04:00

Wrong rank in basic training. I was returning from sick call and had my hands full when I see our First Sergeant approaching. I wanted to be on top of my game so I shifted my items in my hand and gave a salute as he was passing. I gave the greeting and must have called him sir. His response was something like, "I'm the First Sergeant dumbass." Thre things we don't forget that we would like to not remember.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2021 3:31 PM

2021-08-16T15:31:25-04:00

When I served in Schweinfurt Germany, I was a part of 1/4 Cav and our Distictive Unit Insignia looked like captains bars. It had a blue center piece with silver bars on the outside. As a PFC in BDUs, I received many a salute from all ranks, they’d look down and see PFC rank on my collar and usually grumble as they walked on by.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2021 9:34 AM

2021-08-17T09:34:26-04:00

I once saluted a Japan Air Self Defense Force staff sergeant at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
We all all ended up laughing.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2021 9:36 AM

2021-08-17T09:36:32-04:00

I saluted a Japan Air Self-Defense Force staff sergeant at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
We all laughed.

Response by SPC Timothy Coleman made Aug 17 at 2021 9:37 AM

2021-08-17T09:37:34-04:00

There is no such thing as saluting the wrong rank. Only Failing to salute and Officer as Courtesy and custom requires. I had a Lieutenant who insisted on wearing subdued rank, and he complained that us Specialists (E-4) failed to recognize his rank and salute him at the proper distance. We were too slow and to close. So, us Specialists, for the next two months, saluted each other in passing, especially in his presence. We never did receive any grief over this.

Response by PO2 David Thompson made Aug 17 at 2021 10:02 AM

2021-08-17T10:02:18-04:00

No but when I was at Bagram as a third class with the big ass crow above my one chevron I got saluted daily by army and Air Force lol

Response by Lt Col John Grimes made Aug 18 at 2021 3:09 PM

2021-08-18T15:09:24-04:00

Saluting is the custom in the military to show respect - or to just say good morning. Military officers expect to be greeted with a salute - a sign of respect and a formal way of saying "good day". Enlisted guys can be salute but they don't expect it - if confused, just salute and give whomever you are saluting a verbal "hello" or "Good Day." Nice!!!

Response by PO3 Stephen Moltenbrey made Aug 28 at 2021 11:33 AM

2021-08-28T11:33:24-04:00

LOL. Spent 9 years in the USCG. was deployed to Grenada with Urgent Fury. Worked under the opcon of 101st and 82nd. Our collar devices ( E-4and up) all have gold on them. Drew quick looks and a few salutes until they got used to us.

Response by Cpl Raymond Wiltshire made Sep 6 at 2021 1:29 AM

2021-09-06T01:29:35-04:00

Quantico was my first duty station. I was an E1 when I reported. When I first reported I was saluted constantly, and it took me a while to figure out that if people did not see stripes on the arm they just assumed there were bars on the collar.

Response by SSgt Patrick Kinzig made Sep 10 at 2021 7:10 AM

2021-09-10T07:10:55-04:00

My last duty station In Oklahoma City the Navy came in with the Orion and we Saluted the he'll out of them. Also in the early 80's the Air Force came out with a sweater and the ranks were on the shoulder pad area(Everybody Saluted Everybody)

Response by SGT E.W. Grover made Sep 12 at 2021 11:42 AM

2021-09-12T11:42:23-04:00

Buaha! My first duty station was joint. I only made that mistake twice. To two different senior chiefs. I got my mind right after that

Response by Lt Col Kathleen Murphy made Sep 12 at 2021 11:46 PM

2021-09-12T23:46:45-04:00

Navy ranks are confusing. Going to work in the dark during Desert Storm on Patch Barracks in the winter, we all just saluted every approaching muffled figure. However..at OTS, we were cautioned to err on the side of discretion..all while keeping eyes front. This resulted in me one time saluting a German Shepherd sitting up in the passenger seat of a Volkswagen driven by a teenager...but the car had that blue rimmed sticker. I mumbled to my self, probably not for the first time that day, "silly ass military bullshit" and pressed on.

Response by SSG Tim Ingle made Sep 13 at 2021 3:10 AM

2021-09-13T03:10:18-04:00

When I wore fatigues in the 80s. (Army) I would get saluted on Air Force bases. Our unit crest was worn on our head gear. It was nice and shiney.

Response by Capt Harlan Carvey made Sep 14 at 2021 9:44 AM

2021-09-14T09:44:59-04:00

I get it. I grew up in the Navy, and assisted my Marines with Navy ranks back in the early '90s, as they prepped for meritorious promotion boards. I told one Marine, "...a Rear Admiral is not the same thing as a 'butt pirate'...", and as it turned out, they got that question during the board and answered it correctly, all while laughing. Achievement unlocked...

Back in '91 while working aboard Mainside Quantico, I saluted 2ndLts (I was a 1stLt). At the time, there were a lot of 2ndLts working on mainside, either awaiting TBS or waiting to move on to their next school, and they'd drive around the base with the officer sticker on their windshield, but also with a glare on the windshield so you couldn't see inside the vehicle. More than once, I was caught by a 2ndLt driving a Maj or Col's vehicle, as well.

Response by CWO3 Robert Fong made Sep 14 at 2021 1:43 PM

2021-09-14T13:43:39-04:00

SSG, I may a bit old fashioned, but I defer to the history of the salute, stopping before the Middle Ages. A salute is when a member, regardless of rank, renders a salute to another member as a sign of recognition and courtesy. A Private will salute a Seaman, or a CPO might salute a Corporal. The salute is only required when an EM/NCO meets an officer, or a Junior grade officer in meeting his/her senior. Without a doubt, Coast Guard/Navy types go crazy retuning salutes to junior EM/NCOs. We can blame all this confusion on the Uniform Boards who never take things like this into consideration when they issue New and Improved uniforms. There is nothing wrong with being courteous to another member.

Response by CW5 Jack Gaudet made Sep 14 at 2021 3:35 PM

2021-09-14T15:35:15-04:00

When I was a WO1, I was in an exercise in Japan. We had multi service involved and one foggy dark morning, and individual and I came around the same corner almost running directly into each other. Both of quickly looked up and saw a silver bar in the dark. We saluted each other really quick giving the morning greeting and moved out. A few days later we ran into each other and recognized each other and talked about it. We laughed almost to crying. Not sure if that counts but……

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2021 4:50 PM

2021-09-14T16:50:06-04:00

Navy (and US Coast Guard) ranks are so convoluted. Why can't they be like the rest of the military branches. Even the Space Force choose the latter.

Response by Maj Maria Avellaneda made Sep 14 at 2021 10:28 PM

2021-09-14T22:28:11-04:00

When in doubt salut! Saluting is not a punishment; is a curtesy! Salut proudly and go on!

Response by PO2 Jim Driskell made Sep 15 at 2021 4:15 PM

2021-09-15T16:15:12-04:00

Been saluted, Coast Guard collar devices for BDUs are gold and silver, so got flipped off a lot.

Response by PO2 Jim Driskell made Sep 15 at 2021 4:15 PM

2021-09-15T16:15:53-04:00

Coast Guard collar devices on BDUs is gold and silver, so I got flipped off a lot

Response by SPC Ramon Feliciano made Sep 15 at 2021 5:35 PM

2021-09-15T17:35:53-04:00

When i was stationed in ft. Drum theres this unit that wears a standing polar besar always got it confused to a lt.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2021 6:03 PM

2021-09-15T18:03:24-04:00

Yes I have and was "semi-politely" corrected. It was a Navy Chief and that "damned" gold braid threw me off, since "only" offices have gold or silver braids on their head gear, or so I thought. I should have told him I was saluting the man, not the rank.

Response by CW5 Mark Smith made Sep 16 at 2021 10:56 AM

2021-09-16T10:56:49-04:00

As a young Marine private, I saluted a Marine L/Cpl. His rank was worn and shiny. I made his day!

Response by COL Charles Walts made Sep 16 at 2021 4:38 PM

2021-09-16T16:38:53-04:00

Back in 1962, as a private at Ft. MacArthur, California, a fellow private and I mistook the base Fire Marshall for a Navy admiral and rendered an outstanding salute.

Response by SSG Gary R Peek made Sep 17 at 2021 12:11 PM

2021-09-17T12:11:56-04:00

Thankfully there is someone else out there that has done that as well; ME.

Response by SPC Mike Schredl made Sep 17 at 2021 7:15 PM

2021-09-17T19:15:58-04:00

It wasn't on a joint base, but I received a lot of salutes in Iraq by accident. Turns out coming back in after a 25 year break in service means there are not a lot of graying 45-year old SPCs in the infantry being deployed. I finally asked someone what the deal was and he told me at a distance, most people assumed that at my age my sham shield must be a light colonel's oak leaf. (What's the corollary of "stolen valor", "stolen respect"?)

Response by SPC Mike Schredl made Sep 17 at 2021 7:21 PM

2021-09-17T19:21:23-04:00

It wasn't on a joint base, but I got quite a few mistaken salutes in Iraq. Turns out there are not a lot of graying 45-year olds coming back into the Infantry to deploy after a 20 year break in service. I finally asked someone, and he told me that at my age and at a distance, he assumed my sham shield must be a light colonel's oak leaf. (What's the corollary of "stolen valor", stolen respect"?)

Response by MSgt Brian Williams made Sep 20 at 2021 9:08 PM

2021-09-20T21:08:12-04:00

Always the Navy ranks. When I was an A1C I was assigned to NSA. We worked in a red seal door, which meant you needed to have a key to open the door (replaced by cypher locks now) or you had to knock. Knock at the door. I go to see who it is and it turns out it was a Naval officer. I told the guy he was looking for some Navy Captain is at the door for you. He jumps up and runs to the door shouting you left him in the hallway? He gets to the door and I hear him say LT was there a Captain with you? The LT says no just me. I said well shit he has on Captain's bars...

I did salute a Navy Chief once. Couldn't see the insignia so I followed the WIDWIO rule too. He laughed and said nah, that ain't me.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 22 at 2021 10:48 PM

2021-09-22T22:48:30-04:00

No but this specialist had a rank that looked like LTC rank on his cap. We had to do a double take because how can an 18 year old be a freaking LTC. Now that I think about it, he probably had a good time with that cap.

Response by SSG Gregg Mourizen made Sep 23 at 2021 11:58 PM

2021-09-23T23:58:23-04:00

More fun going international.
In Japan, it seemed like everyone saluted everybody.
It sure made things entertaining.

Response by Sgt James Baker made Oct 28 at 2021 11:00 PM

2021-10-28T23:00:08-04:00

Many many times that same thing happened to me when I was stationed at MCRDPI. And many, many times I kicked myself in the ass for doing it. But I was there to do it right or wrong and during that time in history, just being there had a lot to say.

Response by SPC Greg Abarr made Nov 17 at 2021 6:26 PM

2021-11-17T18:26:29-05:00

Not on a joint base but after returning from Nam in 70 I had to go into the MCRD marine base in San Diego.
I was in class A's that day and when I went on base the gate gaurds saluted me and of course I returned it.
I was an e-5 but I think they saw the flash on my beret and that is why the saluted.

Response by SGT Christopher Till made Nov 28 at 2021 5:19 AM

2021-11-28T05:19:39-05:00

All officer ranks are the same, no? What is issue recognizing them?

Response by SGT William Cooper made Dec 4 at 2021 2:04 PM

2021-12-04T14:04:48-05:00

When I was still a national guard years ago and we were wearing the brace with our unit insignia on it, I was the first 1/111th infantry And unit crest was Benjamin Franklin at a distance it looked like a lieutenant bar and we get saluted all the time.

Response by SPC Kenneth James made Dec 7 at 2021 9:25 PM

2021-12-07T21:25:58-05:00

I got lucky when we left for Honduras and Granada we were aboard a ship so we didn't have to salute I was aboard for 6 days and I couldn't tell you one ding dang rank lmao then I west point we had to stay on an airforce base they didn't salute anyone only had to walk around and do much of nothing just only our own but to the CW5Sam R Baker some of us knew what your rank was lol

Response by TSgt Mike Sharp made Dec 8 at 2021 10:11 AM

2021-12-08T10:11:14-05:00

As a very young airman (USAF) I had to go to Pensacola NAS for training. The eagle on a Navy uniform had me saluting everyone.

Response by SSG Neil Thon made Dec 8 at 2021 10:52 AM

2021-12-08T10:52:31-05:00

I can remember way back when I was in AIT, all of the schoolhouse cadre would always say “Warrants aren’t real officers” (tongue in cheek of course) I didn’t pick up on the sarcasm until one morning entering the schoolhouse a group of WO2 pilots walking past and everyone else in the gaggle saluting and giving the greeting of the day, and my smarta$$ proclaiming loudly “what are you guys doing, they are not real officers!!” The WO2’s started laughing and I felt like an idiot in front of everyone… my first experience with if everyone else in the platoon is doing it, keep your mouth shut and do the same, haha I still cringe when I think about that morning.

Response by SSG Raul Alaniz made Dec 8 at 2021 12:40 PM

2021-12-08T12:40:07-05:00

Funny you should mention it SSG Borders, I was a SP5 (In case people don't know that's a Specialist 5/ E-5 in the Army back then) stationed in Hawaii in the mid 80's, where all U.S. Military Branches are there, I was at the Pink Palace, Tripler Army Medical Center, I'm a Medic/O.R. Tech, I must have Saluted quite a few Navy and Air Force people when I first got there, mostly Navy, some just laughed and smiled and told me they were enlisted but Saluted right back, heck some Marines were saluting me cuz they thought I was and officer, I'd smiled and Saluted right back, you know SP5 rank, but I learned as time went by. I chuckle about it every now and then when I think about now, like you, I whipped out my best snappy Salute, just in case. Thanks for the memories.

Response by SFC Edward Sneed made Dec 8 at 2021 7:34 PM

2021-12-08T19:34:06-05:00

No, but as a private in AIT at the NTC in San Diego, the trainees there would salute us when we were in our Class As. Always thought that was weird, but then I remembered an old cartoon saying. . .If it don't walk, if it don't talk, salute it! A little backwards, but you get my drift! Guess the Navy worked that way! LOL

Response by Sgt Robert Clark made Dec 9 at 2021 7:16 PM

2021-12-09T19:16:07-05:00

At Al Udeid one day in 2010 I got saluted by two Air Force E-9s. The SCPO behind them, who frequented my smoke pit, laughed his head off. Air Force is used to rank on collars belonging to officers. I also got saluted by a Cpl when I was a LCpl in Yuma. Had aviators on and a Y harness coming back from the armory that covered my collars. I looked behind me and then we just laughed. In hindsight they proper thing to do was return it.

Response by SSG(P) Brian Kliesen made Dec 9 at 2021 7:56 PM

2021-12-09T19:56:46-05:00

As a very old Specialist (40+), I used to get saluted a lot. From a distance the Army E4 rank Insignia looks similar to that of a LTC, just a black blob. So I got saluted a lot when out and about garrison and in the field. To save time and the explanation, I would just salute back and keep moving. When the mistake was discovered, almost everyone was very cool about it and would laugh it off, always ending the conversation with 'and how old are you?'. Very rarely someone would make a big deal about it and I would have to listen to them for a while before getting back to work.

Response by SSgt Brian King made Dec 9 at 2021 8:29 PM

2021-12-09T20:29:22-05:00

On Howard AFB, Panama, those navy guys had so much bling on their hats, they would get me every time.

Response by CPL Chris Palmberg made Dec 10 at 2021 7:45 AM

2021-12-10T07:45:49-05:00

Two distinct times come to mind. As an Army Reservist I was assigned to a Reserve Center (1999) that was a quarter mile out the back gate of McConnell AFB. A couple of junior enlisted airmen saluted me enroute to their DFAC, mistaking my Specialist's "sham shield for LTC leaf, in part because there was black behind my rank on the BDU cap.
The second was when a brigade of MN ARNG infantrymen were preparing for a (2004) deployment to Iraq. The 3d Cavalry DUI, affixed on my beret, included a bugle standing on it's bell in gold. They saw it flash in the sun and thought I was a 2LT.

In the first instance, I turned around looking for who they were saluting. In the second, I sort of ducked and threw my hands up to shield myself from what was being "thrown" at me.
I've often wondered why this poses so much trouble for people. Although the Navy & Coast Guard use different nomenclature, all of the commissioned officers in our military branches use the same insignia for pay grades (O-4 is a gold leaf whether major or LT Commander.) Subdued sew-on is(or was) a little confusing with black and brown bars or leaves in the Army & blue or rust orange in the AF, but they're still bars & leaves.

Response by SSgt Christopher Stogdill made Dec 10 at 2021 3:15 PM

2021-12-10T15:15:06-05:00

In the early 90's I was a junior enlisted Airman working in a TACP on Ft Lewis. With the Ranger BN there and the fact we both had black berets I did get saluted at night if the lighting wasn't enough to distinguish that I wore a different flash & crest. Was especially bad when the powers that be decided we didn't need pewter(ish) crests and supplied us with bright & shiny chrome ones.....

Response by CW3 Charles Morris made Dec 10 at 2021 11:34 PM

2021-12-10T23:34:19-05:00

Now that Air Force gloves (pants pockets) are okay, it's only going to make it worse.

Response by Cpl Jeff Ruffing made Dec 11 at 2021 7:56 AM

2021-12-11T07:56:01-05:00

Hahahahaha! Hell yeah! How about saluting an Airline pilot? One of those things after boot camp. In an airport, went to get a cup of coffee, past and Airline pilot and reacted. Pilot was a bit puzzled. I was afterward.

Response by MAJ Steve Warnerski made Dec 11 at 2021 8:42 AM

2021-12-11T08:42:59-05:00

A salute is free...a chewing-out lasts a bit longer. :) When stationed near NATO HQ, as an Army Captain ( O3 ), I recvd a phone call from a gentleman who identified himself as Captain Smith, requesting help with a matter. I said "How ya doing, Buddy?" or something like that...and was met with cold silence. I quickly queried him "Are you an ARMY Captain or a NAVY Captain?" He replied "I am a US Naval Officer." I apologized, while thinking "Eff you, ya Swabbie." and proceeded to assist him. Effem if they take their rank so serious...

Response by SSG Don Maggart made Dec 11 at 2021 8:43 AM

2021-12-11T08:43:29-05:00

Salute it if it Shines, comes to Mind what's left...

Response by SSG Don Maggart made Dec 11 at 2021 8:47 AM

2021-12-11T08:47:04-05:00

I Salute te Person not the Uniform...

Response by MAJ Steve Warnerski made Dec 11 at 2021 8:56 AM

2021-12-11T08:56:47-05:00

Back in the day, pre-9/11, DoD stickers for cars were Blue (officers) and Red (Enlisted). My 161/2 year old son with sorta long hair borrowed my car (with a blue sticker) and he & a friend went to an installation with decent surfing. The gate guard saw the sticker, waved him on (didn't have to show ID), and saluted the car. My son, knowing salutes should be returned, saluted the guard. His friend burst out laughing, as I did also when told of it. (Life is too short to take things TOO seriously, right?)

Response by PO2 Danny Ward made Dec 11 at 2021 10:07 AM

2021-12-11T10:07:52-05:00

I was a Navy Petty Officer while serving on 2 different ships and more bases than I dare to try to remember for Naval Training Centers. Luckily, my dad was army and I learned those early on as he was also a civilian at Wright Patterson AFB, so those were taken care of. The Navy and Coast Guard are in a world of their own, yet we adapted from our mother county England. Officers are not the problem for me, it is the enlisted ranks.

Response by MSgt Bob Becker made Dec 11 at 2021 6:07 PM

2021-12-11T18:07:59-05:00

Army and Marine captains don't like being addressed an Lt.

Response by SFC Tracy Donahoo made Dec 11 at 2021 8:04 PM

2021-12-11T20:04:37-05:00

One of my units had a crest that looked like a silver oak leaf and when in classB uniform I was frequently saluted.

I always enjoyed that sheepish look on the junior officers face when they got closer and saw my stripes!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2021 12:54 PM

2021-12-12T12:54:28-05:00

At fort Gordon not only happened all time, it had Officers and NCO from other NATO countries doing training there too. It was crazy. I would see some NATO soldiers with rank that shines turns out it would be just a lower enlisted. Than when the Velcro patches came in use the SPC e-4 rank looks like a subdued LT corneal rank when they coming walking up to.

Response by PO1 RIchard Petty made Dec 12 at 2021 3:21 PM

2021-12-12T15:21:13-05:00

Not to long ago I was in at Tyndall AFB for supporting the Air Wing and Ships Company personnel for a missile shot and aerial gunnery as a civilian and went to have lunch with Ships Company Chief as he was walking in from his car he got saluted by lower enlisted Air Force personnel and I got a chuckle out of it and so did he. He says he it happens and the other thing I get confused is Air Force rank who is senior enlisted hard to tell and everybody calls them Sergeant once they make E5 up till E8 then they get called Chief once they make E9. The way I see it I will call you by what your rank is.

Response by SGT M C made Dec 13 at 2021 8:50 AM

2021-12-13T08:50:30-05:00

If it's Navy Brass of any country isn't the "Brass" your key as in the braid on the U. If not an Nco has the rank on the sleeve. Cammos on the other hand are a bit confusing unless you get close enough?

Response by SPC Roger Giffen made Dec 13 at 2021 10:50 AM

2021-12-13T10:50:39-05:00

One AF airman saluted me because of my unit crest. Green/gold star on my cap. I was just a lowly SP4

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2021 11:31 AM

2021-12-13T11:31:32-05:00

Heck I joined at age 30 as a PFC, at Ft. Leonardwood when I was in my Class A's I got saluted several times by privates.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 13 at 2021 11:45 AM

2021-12-13T11:45:09-05:00

YESSSSS! I once saluted someone in the Air Force mistaking them for an actual servicemember!
God...how embarrasing that day was....

Response by SrA John Monette made Dec 13 at 2021 11:59 AM

2021-12-13T11:59:17-05:00

When in doubt, whip it out! A salute, that is. Better to have a Chief Petty Officer tell you that you don't need to salute him than a brand new 2LT reaming you because you didn't.

Response by PO1 John Crafton made Dec 13 at 2021 12:48 PM

2021-12-13T12:48:25-05:00

I worked at a Navy base in San Diego as an instructor. At the time, I was an E6 (First Class Petty Officer, for those who think they want to know). For instructor duty, we'd wear our "Peanut Butters", which were basically khaki tops and black pants, with a garrison cap. The Navy collar and cap devices were shiny, and hard to recognize at a distance.

If you were in the Navy, the sight of the black pants would be an easy tell. See black pants? That's an E1-E6. Khaki pants? Now you have to look more closely.

Every once in a while, we'd have to go to MCRD (Marine Corps Recruit Depot) for vehicle tags and whatnot. Every single time, we'd get saluted. Not just by the boots, but even by some of the instructors. I always returned the salute, maybe with an unintentional smirk, and carried on.

Some of my co-instructors, though, would ask if I wanted to head over to MCRD on the way back from lunch (great food in San Diego) just so we could confuse some Marines. I figured that would be a good way of making those Marines eventually resent Navy enlisted folk. Not a good idea.

Response by Cpl Christopher Bishop made Dec 13 at 2021 1:19 PM

2021-12-13T13:19:35-05:00

Id rather be given shit for failing to render a salute at all, than for saluting a senior enlisted whom didn’t already know me personally. Of course those Navy dudes with “shine” on their enlisted rank insignia are often rather easy to spot.

Response by Sgt Stephen Brown made Dec 13 at 2021 1:59 PM

2021-12-13T13:59:46-05:00

Our first liberty out of boot boot camp in San Diego we were saluting everyone. Marine rank wasn’t so hard but the Navy was tough. Fun being out and laughs for all

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 13 at 2021 4:06 PM

2021-12-13T16:06:10-05:00

Never had a saluting problem. IMO the easiest visual confusion is Army Specialist and Army LTC. On battle uniform from 10 feet away both are a black spot in the middle of the chest. Also hard to distinguish between Navy Chief and Senior Chief from more than a few feet away except in Service Dress Winter Uniform.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Dec 13 at 2021 7:10 PM

2021-12-13T19:10:33-05:00

I once saluted a airline pilot when I was a PV1 on leave. He just smiled and returned my salute and told me it was not necessary in airports.

Response by SSgt Derick Brock made Dec 14 at 2021 2:48 AM

2021-12-14T02:48:27-05:00

Late to the party on this response, but I like the question. At language school at the Presidio in Monterey, all services and many ranks were represented. One morning two of us (USAF E2) were walking to class wearing sweaters with our rank pinned to epaulets when two marines of similar rank walking toward us saluted. We both saluted back and then realized that they thought WE were the officers. We made sure all the Marines in our classes knew that these two young men knew how to show respect!

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Dec 14 at 2021 10:55 PM

2021-12-14T22:55:05-05:00

Oh yes. I have saluted Navy Petty Officers (I think) and even fellow Army Specialists because it looked like LTC rank from a distance.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2021 8:00 PM

2021-12-16T20:00:04-05:00

SMH, I've saluted a P03 in Iraq and walked by thinking damn.....that's a young looking colonel

Response by SFC William Linnell made Dec 19 at 2021 10:49 AM

2021-12-19T10:49:35-05:00

Good funny story. My first duty station, Garlstedt, Germany, back in 85'. It was customary to put your BDU cap on the hat rack in the mess hall. As usual we were getting one of the main seasons there, Rain. So wearing my rain jacket, grabbed my hat and headed to the motorpool. Started getting all these Salutes. WTH?? Looked behind me to see if an Officer was behind me but nothing. So I just chalked it up to newbies. There it happened again. Why is a SPC me another SPC? Light bulb. I took off the hat and low and behold I hat a butterbar rank on. HAHAHAHAAAA. I took the rank off right quick. :)

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Dec 30 at 2021 7:13 PM

2021-12-30T19:13:23-05:00

That CPO looked like he was a General to this young Private - When in Doubt, Whip it Out! - Of course he certainly informed me in no uncertain terms that he wasn't a $%$*^! Officer.

Response by TSgt George Austin made Dec 31 at 2021 1:54 PM

2021-12-31T13:54:38-05:00

Joint bases are easy. Try NATO when the French bring a ship in. Looks like a ballet troupe.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2022 5:46 PM

2022-01-02T17:46:18-05:00

As a private just out of basic training, I once saluted an NCO in class Bs thinking his unit crest was officer rank. To his credit, he laughed it off.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2022 12:36 PM

2022-01-03T12:36:10-05:00

Not a salute, but as a young fresh-faced 21-year-old Cadet at the Coast Guard Academy, I had a port call in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The collar devices for First Class Cadets are a blue shield (which somewhat matches the blue of the Operational Dress Uniform), upon which there is a fouled anchor with a star at the top of it. Walking out of the Exchange, two petty officers walk out, look at me oddly, then say "Have a good morning, Senior Chief". I laughed it off; but given that most Senior Chiefs have been in the service longer than I had been alive at that point, I hoped it would be pretty obvious from my baby face that I wasn't an E-8; even if their insignia is also a (much larger) fouled anchor with a star.

Response by LCDR Alan Darr made Jan 4 at 2022 7:29 AM

2022-01-04T07:29:25-05:00

Was at a special ops effort in Hawaii, the Australians uniforms are so ornate--easy to misunderstand the saluting correctly. For U.S. junior enlisted---taught at boot camp to salute everything that walks--not taught before they go to next assignment appropriate saluting.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2022 7:45 AM

2022-01-06T07:45:33-05:00

i know foreign officers get a little annoyed when they don't get saluted.

Response by SSG Gregg Mourizen made Jan 8 at 2022 2:21 AM

2022-01-08T02:21:11-05:00

When I was an E-4, my Sham-Shield caught a lot of salutes from LT's and Catains, who thought it was a black oakleaf.'

Damned Petty Officers, always caught me. I would see that bird, way before I saw the stripes.

The worst time was after returning from Japan, where all the soldiers salute everybody.

Response by CDR Tom Davy made Jan 8 at 2022 8:26 AM

2022-01-08T08:26:25-05:00

There are worse things than saluting a Chief. When I was an E-6 Corpsman on an Army Post, people sometimes thought I was an officer as I had a caduceus on my left collar.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2022 4:21 PM

2022-01-10T16:21:46-05:00

I saluted the correct rank, but they chose to not return it. I think they were not used to getting salutes from US Army soldiers

Response by LTC Philip Marlowe made Jan 11 at 2022 9:32 PM

2022-01-11T21:32:17-05:00

It never failed my brother when in his Chief's uniform (all the gold - lol) was on base with me got saluted ALL the time! At my Change of Command, he and my CG were talking he mentioned to the CG, "I've got more gold than you". The CGs response was: "Oh yeah? Well, I have more STARS than YOU!" and they both laughed. When I was visiting my brother in Pearl Harbor, he and I were walking down the pier and I never saw so many sailors seem to have lost something when they got just with 'saluting' distance of me. I was an Army Captain at the time..... So many of them so my CPO brother didn't even try to make corrections...and in the end it didn't really matter and we both laughed. When we went to get a hair cut, I went to stand in line and a young sailor who had just sat down got up and offered me his chair....and a second young sailor got up and offered my brother his. I felt awkward about it, but according to my brother....not at ALL uncommon. As an officer in the Army 34 years, I never ever thought to cut or move to the head of a line - anywhere. But as we all know, each branch has its own customs and courtesies.

Response by LTC Kenenth Westcott made Jan 13 at 2022 1:34 AM

2022-01-13T01:34:38-05:00

When I was in basic in the AF in 65' that question came up and it was suggested if they had a whole lot of fancy stuff on the shoulders you would not go wrong . Then later on after I was commissioned it took a while to remember they were saluting me lmao

Response by SSG Jack Scott made Jan 13 at 2022 8:06 PM

2022-01-13T20:06:42-05:00

Guilty as charged Marine Cpl 1984 Pearl Harbor. Dang Master Chief with all that shinning stuff on his collar.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2022 1:59 PM

2022-01-18T13:59:25-05:00

Yes, but as a captain (O-3) I saluted the E-2 on purpose.

I was at a training base and made a stop at the post office. I was walking toward the post office door and I watched as the airman was coming out of the building, heads down, engrossed in a letter he was reading. I instantly knew he was going to miss the salute. Not a big deal to me, because he was so into the letter he was reading while walking.

While it wasn't a big deal to me, it was a big deal to all the other enlisted folks who were there at the post office, too. As I saw the situation unfolding, I scanned the area and saw many people who also saw this unfolding. I'd never seen so many wide-eyed folks wondering what the captain was going to do when this airman screwed up and didn't salute the officer. I didn't want to be a jerk about it, but I needed to do the right thing.

At that moment, I figured out the "right thing". As the airman moved within saluting range, I snapped to attention with my back to the post office wall, popped my sharpest salute, and in a command voice projected, "Good afternoon, SIR!" (After all, if he was not saluting me, he must outrank me.)

He looked up, looking a bit confused, and returned my salute. He kept on walking but still a bit unaware of what happened.

At that point I scanned the crowd and saw many smiles and a few thumbs up from the primarily enlisted audience.

While others will disagree with what I did that day, I've thought back to it many times during my career. I think about empathy. I think about kindness. Yeah, these are not two words often associated with the military. But, I was in the Air Force.

Could I have stopped the airman and corrected him? Yes.
Would it have made any difference to him? Probably not, other than the embarrassment.
Did I win goodwill with the rest of the audience that day? Absolutely.
Would I do it again the same way? Yes.

Response by PO2 Ronnie Chandler made Jan 18 at 2022 5:35 PM

2022-01-18T17:35:02-05:00

I once saluted a marine gunny and he laughed called me over shook my ha d explained the marine ranks and we went and had a drink together. Started school the next day and he was the Instructor. Great guy

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jan 19 at 2022 10:43 AM

2022-01-19T10:43:09-05:00

I didn't have to work on a joint base, just visit another service's base back in the day...the Army and Navy ranks of the enlisted often made me do a double take.

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made Jan 19 at 2022 12:40 PM

2022-01-19T12:40:24-05:00

When I got back from Nam I was stationed at Fort Hood Texas. My 201 file and finance records went to Fort Carson Colorado. It took about a month to get the records to Fort hood. All I had to wear was my class a uniform. It was in need of a good cleaning but I had no money to pay for it. While helping the supply sargent, he took pity on me and gave me several pairs of fatigues that had been taking up space. They were good clothes but didn't have my name on them yet. When returning from a stupid convocation telling us about Vietnam which I didn't need I was walking back to my unit when I passed a female Navy officer. I didn't salute. I did not know Navy rank. She started to chew me out. I apologised but that wasn't enough for that bitch. She took down my name from my uniform shirt which said Kowalski. I had enough of her bullshit and tolf her to shove it and worse things and ran away. I was in good shape then and knew that she could not catch me in a dress. I had just got back from Nom and had a real attitude problem and was not about to take any guff from a female, especially a navy one.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2022 5:00 PM

2022-01-19T17:00:12-05:00

Didn't salute or be saluted, but in 1971 our aircraft had to land at a Royal Canadian Air Force Base to await personnel from our base to arrive and commence repairs. As a AiC with two stripes they were continuously calling me Corporal. And no matter how many times I corrected them, they continued to do so. Later that 1st evening when both Canadian and US were heading to their form of an NCO Mess I lagged behind. A Canadian Sgt asked my Crew Chief where I was and again it was explained I wasn't a Corporal. That Sgt stated that as long as there were two stripes on my sleeve, I was welcome as a Corporal. Until we flew out two days later it was one of the best TDY's I have ever had!

Response by Cpl Craig Howard made Jan 24 at 2022 11:57 PM

2022-01-24T23:57:30-05:00

That Darn Navy! I was stationed in the Chiefs Mess for two weeks on a warm up cruise. Being in the Marine Air wing, I was used to my Staff NCO's, and now I had to remember the Ground side as well as the Chief ranks. At least there was no saluting as we were inside.

Response by SSG Dave Johnston made Jan 28 at 2022 7:52 PM

2022-01-28T19:52:47-05:00

Spend a year assigned to the Multinational Force and Observers, did that a number of times... Wasn't too confusing my last year in uniform,,, wandering around the DC area... I'd just pull the marbles out of my left pocket and salute with my right and ask,,, "Got yours"?

Response by PO1 Sam Deel made Jan 29 at 2022 12:18 AM

2022-01-29T00:18:26-05:00

Being a JRB Sailor, myself, I had a heck of a time with the Marine subdued Rank insignias. I would have to get close and stare for a bit to recognize them. Never caused any guff as that is exactly what they were designed to do.

As for the Navy, anything on top of the shoulders,epaulets (shoulder boards or embroidered tape) is an O. Seaman Apprentice (E-2) and up wear collar devices and embroidered tape insignias on certain Uniforms. Hash marks (Service stripes) are similar Time In Service marks as the other Branches. They are worn only on the lower left sleeve of Enlisted Dress Blue, Dress White, Dinner Dress Blue Jacket, and the Dinner Dress White Jacket.

This is what I remember from over a decade ago when the Blueberries (Blue Digitial BDUs) were issued. So many changes to the Uniforms since therm I can't keep up. It is like a dang fashion show.

Always Salute, when in doubt. My first time to ever see a Navy Warrant in person was in the ladder well to Medical at Great Lakes Boot. Needless to say, he could see the dumbfounded look as I fixated on figuring out what that collar device was. Luckily, I had already instinctively rendered a Salute. He ended up just having a laugh with me in the privacy of that ladder well.

Response by Capt Dana Mar made Feb 2 at 2022 9:38 AM

2022-02-02T09:38:20-05:00

I can recall Artillery school at Ft Sill. This was back when the Army was still wearing OD green uniforms. Someone coming towards us had more shiny stuff than a Christmas tree, and we were all trying to figure out what he was when he whipped out a salute to us! Problem solved. Now foreign officers, we never really did figure out how 3 birds or whatever translated in the rank structure.

Response by PFC Steven Kleiner made Feb 2 at 2022 9:38 AM

2022-02-02T09:38:24-05:00

I was stationed at Ft. Ord, so we were right by the Presidio and has all members of the armed service around. The Navy Ranks always tripped us up constantly.

Response by Capt Dana Mar made Feb 2 at 2022 9:41 AM

2022-02-02T09:41:37-05:00

Wow, I remember being part of the USMC class at artillery school, Ft Sill. The Army still wore OD green at that time, and someone was approaching us with more shiny stuff than a Christmas tree. We were trying to figure out what he was when he whipped out a salute to us, so problem solved. However, I never did figure out the foreign officer rank insignia. Diamonds and little quail or whatever they were still baffle me.

Response by SPC Chris Ison made Feb 2 at 2022 2:56 PM

2022-02-02T14:56:58-05:00

I do not know how in the fuck you can confuse a chiefs anchor with any officer insignia. They are the same across all branches bars, rail road tracks, oak leaves, eagles, and stars.

Response by SFC James High made Feb 3 at 2022 11:03 AM

2022-02-03T11:03:21-05:00

I have done it in my past also. I was at Edgewood Arsenal going through mechanic school and I saluted a foreign (Royal Thai Army) Soldier because he had 3 gold stars on each epaulet and I assumed he was an officer. Turned out he was a SSG. I felt a little silly but the Soldier thanked me for my respect and returned the salute and all was good. After all, regulations say you have to salute Officers , but you can salute anyone you care to. It is a military greeting and show of respect.

Response by SFC Dennis Yancy made Feb 3 at 2022 1:28 PM

2022-02-03T13:28:09-05:00

According to Military customs you can salute anyone, of any rank, at anytime. My funniest situation was when assigned to NATO on a custodial team working with a German unit. Had to go to a German Panzer kaserne to pick up comsec material. I was a E7 just coming off a 24hr shift. As I approached the door to Hqs a German private came out of nowhere, slammed to attention, and opened door. First was where in heck did you come from, second was had to be a officer behind me, and then WTF. Turns out German Army treats senior NCOs like we do officers.

Response by Melissa Didericksen Didericksen made Feb 3 at 2022 8:38 PM

2022-02-03T20:38:18-05:00

Yes i saluted a wrong rank. They just used m their hands in "a no" kind of way and were discreet as I was with others. I greatly appreciated that. It happened when I was in training basic or ait.

Response by SFC Richard Bensen made Feb 4 at 2022 7:58 PM

2022-02-04T19:58:57-05:00

The old rule applied when in doubt salute. That said, I was finishing up my Army career in West Berlin (Berlin Brigade) in 85 when in fatigues a fresh young 2nd Lt. who seemed lost at the time saluted me and said'' morning sir could you direct me to Brigade HQ ? ..or something in that order. Once he realized I was only a senior NCO he without missing a beat asked the question again. I gladly saluted him and gave him directions. Guess I should have been an officer...

Response by SFC Richard Bensen made Feb 4 at 2022 8:05 PM

2022-02-04T20:05:27-05:00

Response by MAJ John Davis made Feb 6 at 2022 11:08 AM

2022-02-06T11:08:43-05:00

Yes! I had fun trying to figure out European ranks when I was in NATO. As you say, we would laugh about it... and such mix-ups would even start conversations. And lead to friendships!

Response by Col Jonathan Brazee made Feb 7 at 2022 12:55 PM

2022-02-07T12:55:54-05:00

As a major, I initiated the salute to a Third Class Petty Officer. We both just laughed and went on our way.

Response by SPC Dan Kissling made Feb 8 at 2022 5:09 AM

2022-02-08T05:09:41-05:00

As a Specialist in The Army I've gotten saluted by Marines more times than I can count, especially at night when the black insignia looks a lot like a LTCOL lol. I've also gotten lock tight parade rest out of more E1-E3 Marines than I can remember after getting asked what my grade was lmao, and yes like a True Specialist I milked the parade rest thing quite a bit and don't feel bad in the least lol. Most if not all of my NCO's cracked a bit of a smile and laugh (after the fact) too haha

Response by CAPT Edward Schmitt made Feb 11 at 2022 6:27 AM

2022-02-11T06:27:08-05:00

Great question and comments. I grew up on AF bases (dad retired with 32 years as O6) and had no trouble understanding Officer ranks in all services and USAF enlisted ranks. I retired after 28+ years in Navy, found Navy enlisted ranks logical but always get confused with Army and Marine enlisted. However no matter the service a senior grizzled non com is ALWAYS obvious no matter the service

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Feb 14 at 2022 11:37 AM

2022-02-14T11:37:18-05:00

When I first attended USN Basic at Great Lakes, IL, the rule of thumb was, "If it moves, salute it, if it doesn't, paint it."

Later, attending Army Basic at Fort Sill, I found this wisdom to be sound.

Later still, OIF 1, everyone's in DBUs, that "cinnamon" colored Specialist insignia often looked like oak leaves if the light wasn't right.

Oh, well! Better to make an SPC laugh than to piss off a MAJ.

Response by CPL Raul Perez Jr made Feb 28 at 2022 1:22 PM

2022-02-28T13:22:50-05:00

I rather salute and be wrong, than not salute and get a talking to. Saluting is a sign of respect, give it to a fellow brother/sister.

Response by Sgt Ed Allen made Mar 1 at 2022 12:30 AM

2022-03-01T00:30:39-05:00

Just the opposite. While traveling to report for school at Quantico, I stopped to visit a longtime friend and his family. When the taxi I was in pulled up to the gate at Bolling AFB, the guard on the gate rendered a snappy salute to this Marine Private. He assumed that if there were no stripes on my sleeve that I must be an officer.

Response by SFC Bruce Chunn made Mar 11 at 2022 3:45 PM

2022-03-11T15:45:06-05:00

Once on German base, second time in the Middle East

Response by CMDCM Bev Brennan made Mar 11 at 2022 4:15 PM

2022-03-11T16:15:44-05:00

When I was stationed at NWC China Lake in 1981, I was the first female Chief ever assigned there. Salutes came often. I'd return the salute, then casually mention that it was ok, I worked for a living too. Usual reaction was "Where'd you come from?" "Hawaii - they let us be Chiefs over there". We'd have a laugh, talk story for a while, then meet at the club for happy hour.

Response by SPC Jerome Henehan made Mar 11 at 2022 5:06 PM

2022-03-11T17:06:10-05:00

Hell yes, stationed in Germany, at the time,
F.R.G. 88-91, German soldier approaches us. I did not know the rank of this soldier, (had flourishes) "When in doubt-whip it out) I saluted, he returned. I came to understand Germans don't nessessarily take it hard, knowing we don't know their fank structure well- sorry on my behalf. What keyed me was that this man was very tall. I just follwed the ole adage. " Go w/what you know"

Response by Sgt Russ Brayton made Mar 11 at 2022 11:46 PM

2022-03-11T23:46:47-05:00

The Marines don’t have their own doctors or medics so we use the Navy for that, too. It’s like coming out o the hospital and seeing shiny on the collar of someone walking up to the building. And only realizing too late it is a chief… on the other hand, the corpsmen are affectionately know as “Devil Docs”, as they are out in the field taking care of us Marines with their asses on the line, too.

Response by LTC Derek Berryhill made Mar 12 at 2022 9:53 AM

2022-03-12T09:53:49-05:00

I remember when I was a 1LT at Ft. Benning and I was walking with a SFC and a 2LT approached. The 2LT abruptly renders a salute to me, and the SFC looks at me and says, "is that normal?" I just started laughing and said, "NO!" Although, probably and technically correct, it just is not normal for a 2LT to salute a 1LT.... probably because it's only about 7-12 months TIG difference between the two.

Response by Maj William W. 'Bill' Price made Mar 12 at 2022 11:22 AM

2022-03-12T11:22:05-05:00

SSG Steven Borders I was always a when in doubt whip it out fan as well. Rendering a sign of respect is never wrong. Incorrect maybe, but never wrong.

Response by SSG Ronald Rollins made Mar 12 at 2022 10:47 PM

2022-03-12T22:47:42-05:00

I have done it more times than I care to admit. But better safe than sorry. And if you are wrong, something to smile or laugh about. Never had anyone get mad I made a mistake.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2022 10:35 AM

2022-03-13T10:35:55-04:00

I am also on JBAB and it get confusing as hell sometimes foe me as well.

Response by LCpl Joby Feccia made Mar 14 at 2022 12:14 AM

2022-03-14T00:14:32-04:00

I saluted an Air Force Chief. Master Sergeant.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2022 9:33 AM

2022-03-14T09:33:28-04:00

Being prior Army, I joined the Navy and went thru a 3 week 'OSVET" (other service veteran) course at Great Lakes, Il. Sent to the USS MIDWAY (CV-41)in Yokosuka, Japan, i knew hardly anything about the Navy. So I would constantly salute anyone wearing Khaki's for about the first month or so. Eventually got the hang of it.

Response by SGT Andrew Anderson made Mar 14 at 2022 6:49 PM

2022-03-14T18:49:31-04:00

I have a short story about being saluted that is kind of funny. Upon returning from Vietnam in 1967 I was assigned to the USAG Yakima Firing Center in Yakima Washington. I had been in the army since 1963 at that time. Unfortunately, I ran into a "little" trouble while I was stationed there and was busted from E4 to E2. After removing my rank, I was left with nothing on the sleeves of my dress uniform, with the exception of my combat patch, and of course, I had my two overseas bars and at the time one service hash mark, as well. I also had several ribbons and am a CIB recipient. Now with a lot of new service members during the Vietnam Era and many of them not sure of anything, when someone approached me walking down the street they would see no stripes, the ribbon rack, the CIB, etc and assumed, he's got all that stuff and no visible rank, it must be an officer and they would snap a sharp salute with a "good morning Sir"! Like a good soldier, I always returned their salutes. My time of being saluted was short-lived as I was promoted back to E3 as soon as I was eligible.

Response by TSgt Tommy Amparano made Mar 15 at 2022 2:32 PM

2022-03-15T14:32:54-04:00

It was a while back. I was going home sick. It was early morning and back then the sun was shining perfectly on some staff sergeants metal insignia on his lightweight blue jacket I saluted, but I was half out of it. That is my excuse and I am sticking it.
Another time I was on my town pass in basic training there was an OTS cadet. It was a uniform and I had no clue what rank it was, so I saluted. The guy waved me off and said, "no, it's okay you don't have to do that." I still did not know what was going on, but I went about my business.
I remember someone telling me we had to salute foreign officers. Sorry that is where I drew that line. Not dong that, unless I work with them everyday or something. Many of those uniforms make everyone look like a four-star general.
Oh and the other funny one was when I was with a bunch a friends in uniform and we came across a parked staff vehicle with O-6 plates one it. No one was sure if we were supposed to salute it or not.
Like I said that was a long time ago.

Response by TSgt Tommy Amparano made Mar 15 at 2022 2:40 PM

2022-03-15T14:40:17-04:00

I remember there were a lot of Navy people at Offutt AFB because of StratComm, I never really got their rank. I just looked for their arms if they had ring stripes around their forearm then I knew to salute them.
Most of my salute confusion happened within my own branch when I was just starting my career. I was going home sick one day. It was early morning and back then the sun was shining perfectly on some staff sergeants metal insignia on his lightweight blue jacket, back when we wore metal chevrons on our collar. I saluted, but was giving a look of bewilderment from that staff sergeant. I just said sorry and kept moving. I was pretty out of it, hence going home sick, that is my excuse and I am sticking it.
Another time I was on my town pass in basic training there was an OTS cadet. It was an Air Force uniform and I had no clue what rank it was, so I saluted. The guy waved me off and said, "no, it's okay you don't have to do that." I still did not know what was going on, but I went about my business.
Oh and the other funny one was when I was with a bunch a friends in uniform and we came across a parked staff vehicle with O-6 plates one it. No one was sure if we were supposed to salute it or not.
That was a long time ago.

Response by MSgt Robert Branscome made Mar 15 at 2022 4:54 PM

2022-03-15T16:54:47-04:00

I have saluted E-3's on my own base because I thought they were pilots in their jump suits.
I was an E-8 so do not feel badly.
It happens to all of us !!!!

Response by SPC MaRhonda Norman made Mar 16 at 2022 10:37 AM

2022-03-16T10:37:38-04:00

Omg! Lol

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 16 at 2022 6:40 PM

2022-03-16T18:40:36-04:00

You think a Joint Base is bad? Try a multi-national one. Oy!

I had one place that I just saluted everyone, to be safe. Got a few confused looks, but most just returned my salute. And I got saluted more than a couple times myself.

Response by PO2 Lawrence Janiec made Mar 17 at 2022 3:30 AM

2022-03-17T03:30:28-04:00

This wasn't on a joint base, but this is my "wrongful salute" story. When I was on my first ship, I was a volunteer for the Navy League Sea Cadets. As such, I was a Sea Cadet Ensign (O-1 is Ensign for you non-Navy people) and as such, I wore a modified uniform for it. I wore the regular Navy Ensign khaki (working) uniform, but I had giant patches on both arms showing (very clearly) Navy League Sea Cadets. As in, I wasn't a "real" officer. The Sea Cadets were expected to salute me, but not anyone active duty, and I was still expected to salute any/all actual officers while in this uniform. So my buddy and I were walking back form a Sea Cadet drill down the pier to the ship, and people would salute us as we walked past. We would return the salutes (you're always supposed to return a salute, even if given incorrectly, right?) with both of us saying, "Good afternoon. You do not have to salute us." (since the people saluting would say, "Good afternoon, sir.")

So it was often we would walk back to our command (we lived on the ship, after all) and get saluted by most people. When in doubt, whip it out, right? Or, as we teased the BMs... "If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move, paint it." Right? Anyway, so one day we're walking back and a trio of chiefs (CPOs - meaning E-7s) saluted us. We returned the salute, and Shawn leans over to me and was like... All three of those chiefs are in my division, dude! One of them works in the shop right next to mine!

Good times.

Response by SPC Brian Stephens made Mar 31 at 2022 12:19 PM

2022-03-31T12:19:27-04:00

Yes, but my post was never a joint base. I served in the days of BDUs and black boots. Our ranks were pinned to the collar points and the covers. Enlisted were supposed to have subdued black rank while warrants and officers could wear the shiny brass and silver ranks. There was a SSG from another unit I saluted several times because his rank insignia was old and literally every time I saw gold/brass on a collar point I saluted. He would laugh out loud and mock me. I wouldn't say anything but instead, I was seething. I would think, "M-f-er! Fix your effing rank, Sergeant! There is M-Nu across the street at the PX. Buy some. You are out of uniform!"

Response by Cpl Gunner Stout made Apr 17 at 2022 4:43 PM

2022-04-17T16:43:11-04:00

Another invite to an 8 year old topic - sheesh - but OK, my response is from 50 years ago - out of Marine boot I was sent to a Navy base in Tennessee for MOS training. I learned in boot if there was silver or gold on the collar, I saluted it. CPOs had a ball cussing me out. After a few of those I got the wrong message, and failing to salute the next Marine Major I encountered got me reamed again.
All non-academic knowledge comes in suppository form. I never claimed to be smart, just trainable.

Response by Cpl Ian Kuhn made Apr 22 at 2022 12:19 PM

2022-04-22T12:19:16-04:00

Oh hell yeah. I used to hate walking anywhere NEAR medical at Camp Lejeune because of the Navy Personnel. Half their enlisted rank is shiny it seemed and on a bright day all you see is the gleam....only to finally walk by them and realized that they're like an E-2.

Response by PO1 Don Uhrig made Apr 23 at 2022 7:59 PM

2022-04-23T19:59:11-04:00

I was stationed on Camp Hialeah in South Korea for 16 months. I was the only Navy person there. When wearing my working blues (black dress pants, long sleeve shirt - ala the Johnny Cash look) I would also wear my black Eisenhower jacket with my chrome 1st Class Petty Officer rank pins on the collar along with a black garrison cap with same rank pin. All the junior Army enlisted would mistake me for an officer and salute. But you know the rule - when in doubt, salute.

Response by SPC Robert Hendrickson made Apr 23 at 2022 10:31 PM

2022-04-23T22:31:19-04:00

well definitely don't carry things, as in your right hand especially if you are on or near a HQ base/post etc. .. with all the seniors/leaders are there esp. if on official business .. a lower ranked S.M. will be saluting a lot .. example .. enlisted saluting officers constantly .. and make sure if foreign officers are there to remember their respective rans/grades esp. the officers

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2022 10:41 AM

2022-04-25T10:41:26-04:00

Yes, I have, multiple times. Or the opposite - I have to get soooo close to distinguish the rank and then rush to salute. As an Army NCO, I find myself staring at people's chests more often than not trying to figure out what their rank is. Often it is Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force personnel I have the most difficulty with. Marine Corps is easier for me. Of course, with the Army it is hit or miss because some CAMO and duty uniforms make it hard to distinguish rank at a distance - which is, the point, I guess, so a sniper doesn't take you out.

Response by Sgt Ed Allen made Apr 26 at 2022 1:59 PM

2022-04-26T13:59:55-04:00

How many have been saluted when wearing a non-military uniform?
I used to be part of a Christian scouting organization called Royal Rangers. As a leader, our rank insignia was very much like the military. Just different colors.
Examples:
Single blue bar was Lt Commander.
Double blue bars was Commander.
Double white bars was Sr. Commander
We even had Oak Leaf and Eagles for persons who were responsible for large areas or even regions.

While riding my bike back to base I had to stop at the MP Hut at the front gate. When I walked in, the Sgt gave me a very nice salute and was very puzzled when I showed him my ID Card. On it was my USMC rank of Lance Corporal. Based on the service patch for "Royal Rangers", he thought that I was probably with the British services.

After it was explained he got a good chuckle from it and I moved on.

Response by SGT Christopher Till made Jun 11 at 2022 6:46 AM

2022-06-11T06:46:32-04:00

Hey ssgt, maybe just a little violence? I mean it is the army not the air force after all

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2022 1:57 AM

2022-06-26T01:57:58-04:00

Lol, Ive been saluted many times. Realistically my insignia looks like a cluster of gold anyways. Also, i have 100% saluted other navy guys on accident, including some ancient looking third class at like 4 in the morning lol

Response by PO2 Dave Chandler made Jun 29 at 2022 9:59 AM

2022-06-29T09:59:25-04:00

Comment, I would have much rather saluted an NCO than not salute an Officer. My reasoning was respect, no matter what that individual probably out ranked me and they had signed the "dotted line" and taken the same oath as I did. Respect may not be as popular as it once was, however with my upbringing it was the only option.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2022 7:08 AM

2022-07-03T07:08:32-04:00

Catching a hop out of NAS Dallas (long before it was closed) to NAS NOLA, I was an Army Captain. I was put on a small Navy executive aircraft with three Navy Captains who were headed to a Reserve function. I sat down and greeted them, Captain, Captain, Captain.

Response by MSG Kevin Elliott made Jul 10 at 2022 10:01 PM

2022-07-10T22:01:43-04:00

I have not, but when I attended my son's Basic Training Graduation at Lackland Air Force Base, I wore my Class A's. Yes, it was a while ago. As we walked back to his dorm after the Graduation, I kept getting saluted. Granted, I was a Master Sergeant/E-8, 20 years in service, Infantry, so I had on lots of things they had never seen.
I asked my Brigade Command Sergeant Major, prior to leaving for the graduation, if he would give me a CSM and unit coin to give to my son's TI. He thought that was a great idea and gave them to me to present to the TI. Good times.

Response by CSM William Payne made Jul 11 at 2022 8:05 AM

2022-07-11T08:05:57-04:00

I grew up in a military family, dad was a Navy Lifer, one brother a Marine, second in the Navy, me in the Army, niece in the Air Force, so I could at least tell enclosed from officers, if not rank or rate.

It’s the foreign nation ranks that always got me. Being at Benning and seeing international Solders at the old School of Americas, now the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, you would have lower enlisted with stars or epaulettes on their uniforms . . . WTH!

One year while training at Benning, the first sergeant of the BCT company we were working with walked out of the orderly room to check on the morning training. This individual was Puerto Rican and it seemed has favorite English phraseology was profanity. After being gone for a short time he returned to the orderly room cussing his head off. He began lecturing his drill sergeants for not enforcing the standards of Customs and Courtesies, because everywhere he went, trainees were saluting him. Then one of the drill sergeants pointed at his head gear. On his way out the door he had inadvertently grabbed the trainings officer’s hat. When he saw it, he just stated laughing and said f%^K them.

Response by SSG Cliff Richardson made Jul 12 at 2022 3:00 PM

2022-07-12T15:00:06-04:00

When I branch transfered from Marines to Army, my first duty station was Ft. Riley Ks. they did me a favor and had the replacement station me with HHC 2 BDE so I could learn about the Army! When I arrived on post, I had no idea what a unit crest was, and in those days 1980 they wore the crest on the hat above the rank, so naurally I thought they were some kind of officer, and ended up saluting privates with no rank, all over the place, some Cpl. who decided to mess with me, started dogging me out, he was from the replacement company. When I told him that I had just arrived on post and this was the first day in the Arlmy, he started in on lme! Then he went to the records, found about the Marines, and started testing me on all weapons, breaking them down reasssembly in the test time, just looking for a was to get me!! When I passed all his tests he decided to question command about me even just being there, wanted to send me home, but the brakes slalmmed on him, when command questioned me about the harrasment, I stated that I needed a teacher for this transition to work, and this CPL. I felt would lmake a fine teacher, then it was my turn!!! We met in Ft. Polk La. years later, and laughed about the whole thing, turned out to be a pretty nice guy in the end.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2022 1:23 PM

2022-07-13T13:23:31-04:00

I saluted a lot of CPOs while in flight school at Pensacola. They have giant eagles in the rank, they wear it on the collar like Navy officers, and hell, they're even wearing a different uniform than the junior enlisted.

Response by SGM Randolph Watkins made Jul 13 at 2022 5:36 PM

2022-07-13T17:36:19-04:00

I’m sure I have, don’t temper it, At Fort Bragg during Desert Shield I could be walking down the street and troops kept saluting me, a sergeant major. I always returned the salute. Finally a permanent party for an explanation. He told me to look at the photo of the post commander at the entrance to the PX. We could have been twins

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2022 12:32 PM

2022-07-14T12:32:32-04:00

I saluted a Coast Gaurd senior NCO at Fort Sam near the radiology school house as a private. I remember him chuckling and saying “not me, but thanks”

Response by CPL T.A. Nelson made Jul 19 at 2022 12:40 PM

2022-07-19T12:40:14-04:00

I believe you should be okay. Most other Armed Forces understand when you mistake a rank. Just look it up and do better next time. When in doubt whip it out still applies...

Response by SPC Daniel Dresen made Aug 10 at 2022 11:42 PM

2022-08-10T23:42:10-04:00

Nope, my dad was navy so I was well aware of naval ranks. Unless you see bars, leaves, or birds without anchors... keep it holstered. While the titles differ, warrant and commissioned ranks are visually the same across the board. The big problem that occurs in the army is playing the "is this person a LTC or SPC when it is subdued rank. I've seen many NCOs mistake a LTC as a SPC and vice versa

Response by TSgt Michael Brandt made Aug 11 at 2022 6:02 PM

2022-08-11T18:02:41-04:00

Maelstrom Air Force Base we were tasked with picking up garbage I was walking through our overflow parking lot picking up nails I had a fist full of nails in my right hand happened to look up and one of our lieutenants was walking towards me I saluted her with my left hand she looked at me saluted back and just smiled and kept walking

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2022 9:39 AM

2022-08-13T09:39:07-04:00

LoL... The rule of thumb...."if it shines it gets a sniper check"

Response by SGT Keith Boettcher made Aug 13 at 2022 11:19 PM

2022-08-13T23:19:14-04:00

Guess I was one of the lucky ones. I served in the AF, Navy, and Army in my military career. I did have fun with a Navy Lt one day standing at an intersection waiting for the light to change. We looked at each other and I saw his Lt bars and said good afternoon Cpt. He responded with I’m a Lt. I said well you’re wearing the wrong rank. He said it excuse me. I said in the Army rail tracks are Cpt. bars. He got all flustered and looked at my uniform and tags and said oh you’re in the Army. I said yes sir. He said that explains everything. Laugh Out Loud. Light changed and we crossed the street and I said have a good day sure. He said you too petty officer. Laugh Out Loud.

Response by Capt Christian D. Orr made Aug 15 at 2022 12:41 AM

2022-08-15T00:41:23-04:00

When the Army first started going over to “berets for all” back in circa 2001, it was way too damn easy to mistake Army soldiers’ metallic unit crests for officers’ rank insignia until I got within spitting distance.

Response by CMDCM Jimmie Brooks made Aug 15 at 2022 6:36 PM

2022-08-15T18:36:23-04:00

I am a retired Navy Master Chief, so my garrison cap and collar devices are the Navy CPO device with two silver stars at the top of the device. While serving as the Command Master Chief, Commander Naval Forces Korea (COMNAVFORKOREA), Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, ROK, my wife and I were walking to the PX. As two young Army enlisted approached me, they rendered the hand salute, so I returned it. As they went past me, I heard one ask the other one, "What was he?" To which his fellow soldier responded, "I don't know, but he had two stars."

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Aug 15 at 2022 7:03 PM

2022-08-15T19:03:24-04:00

It happens, dont sweat it. Move on

Response by TSgt J.L. Brown Jr made Aug 16 at 2022 1:25 AM

2022-08-16T01:25:49-04:00

I was stationed at misawa air base Japan, army air force navy marines, if they had collar brass I saluted. I'm sure I crossed it a time or two. But you see the metal or braids, I always threw up the salute, better save than sorry.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Aug 16 at 2022 1:21 PM

2022-08-16T13:21:34-04:00

I did know all the US service ranks anyway but sometimes someone in a foreign service uniform maybe I wasn't sure, better to salute when it's not required than miss one that should have been saluted. As We were taught, if in doubt salute, besides its still a show of respect between fighting men and woman both giving and returning a salute.

Another place a salute is ok it as a greeting to a woman not in the military as opposed to a civilian tipping their hat which should never be done with military headgear. That practice I guess as fallen by the wayside like many polite greetings but it's still ok.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2022 1:44 PM

2022-08-16T13:44:44-04:00

All the time!

Response by CAPT Thomas Vaughn made Aug 16 at 2022 6:56 PM

2022-08-16T18:56:55-04:00

My biggest gaffe was calling a Sr Chief “sir”. Politeness is always the best policy (and I reminded: “don’t call me sir I work for a living”)

Response by PO3 Sean Carr made Aug 16 at 2022 9:20 PM

2022-08-16T21:20:47-04:00

As a Seabee, I wore the old OD Green uniform. I was also a Petty Officer 3rd Class. I stopped at Fort Meade to go to the commissary after work. No soft cover, but a hard hat with my crow and 1 chevron. Keep in mind this is a joi t base at the time, due to NSA on post. I was saluted 3 times in less than 50 yards in the parking lot, one was a Major, who hoped I was "ready for the long lines sir". Still brings a smile to my face.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Aug 16 at 2022 10:16 PM

2022-08-16T22:16:30-04:00

"Don't Let It Linger,
Give'm The Finger".

Response by PFC Matt Ochmanski made Aug 16 at 2022 10:30 PM

2022-08-16T22:30:30-04:00

Honestly, I think everyone has done it a few times in their careers. I did it in the sandbox to a Navy Corpsman, after laughing it off! We chatted for a bit and it turns out we went to the same high school around the same time period! He graduated 2 years before me! Every time we saw each other we laughed our asses off! Still laugh about to this day! I hope you guys get a kick out of this one! lol

Response by PO1 Steven Siepp made Aug 16 at 2022 10:33 PM

2022-08-16T22:33:43-04:00

Being enlisted I don't believe I ever miss saluted an Officer except when working with NATO.
I did however make the mistake ONCE when I was an PO3 calling the Marine Corp TOP just Gunny.
only Once. ;)

Response by SSgt Michael Bowen made Aug 18 at 2022 4:56 PM

2022-08-18T16:56:28-04:00

My early days yes . different uniforms with brass and silver confused me at distance . When in doubt whip it out .LOL

Response by MSgt Brian Williams made Aug 19 at 2022 11:19 AM

2022-08-19T11:19:49-04:00

The Navy ranks of course. Saluted a CPO. He said, I'm no gentleman. We laughed and moved on. Then there was the time i thought a Navy Lt was a Captain. i was working at NSA and a "Captain" knocked on our red seal door. When I went to tell the person he was there to see that there was some Navy "Captain" at the door for him. He jumped up, asked me why I didn't tell him to come inside, and ran to the door looking for the O-6 Captain. He asked the LT where's the Captain. The LT was confused. Always the Navy.

Response by SSG William Leedom made Aug 19 at 2022 11:55 AM

2022-08-19T11:55:11-04:00

I know how you feel!!! Years ago before I retired I was visiting my little sister at Norfolk and had some pissy butter bar Navy Ensign??? Ask me if they salute officers in the Army,I’m a Special Forces SSG I’ve been in for 10 years i reply “ yes sir,when we see them” what I really wanted to say was “ yes sir….if they deserve one” but kept my smart thoughts to myself…later,like you I spotted a CPO….I think….no rank on his pretty tan uniform just SHINY pips on his collor I salute,he laughed and explained “ don’t do that shit,I work for a living” then explained to me about how to spot them…..l figure it’s like the Air Force….more the stripes the longer he’s been in…..

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2022 12:48 AM

2022-08-20T00:48:48-04:00

Lord have mercy, I saluted a dot. Yes, a dot. I coulda shoved myself into a full water buffalo and closed the lid. 1st and last time it happened. ( to self) IDIOT!

Response by PO1 Richard Cormier made Aug 20 at 2022 12:38 PM

2022-08-20T12:38:33-04:00

Was stationed at Ft. Devens, MA in 1978. The army wore shoulder boards so was a bitch for me to see ranks. I was saluted many times in utilities due to the E4 Crow on my cap. An Army Warrant stopped by where I was sitting and asked "How many salutes did you get today?". I was like "Sir?" He was a former Navy enlisted and knew the army had problems with Navy ranks. We laughed and I asked him how to tell from a distance an Army Officer from enlisted as all wore shoulder boards. He told me to check the stripe on their pants. Never thought to check pants for rank.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 21 at 2022 2:20 AM

2022-08-21T02:20:15-04:00

This only happened one time when I was first assigned to MEPS

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Aug 21 at 2022 11:33 AM

2022-08-21T11:33:23-04:00

Cadets in my Detachment were sent to the "Third Lieutenant Program." While there, the wore their Cadet uniforms, with their Cadet rank. Some of the Cadets were Cadet Majors; this was signified by shoulder boards which, you guessed it, looked an awful lot like Lt Commander in the Navy. And, yes, one of them was sent to an installation with Navy personnel. That Cadet got some salutes, and some interesting looks.

Response by SPC Gary Symons made Aug 21 at 2022 4:15 PM

2022-08-21T16:15:09-04:00

In 1967 I went to jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. The class was made up of all services and officers and enlisted men together.

One time a Army Jump Master Sergeant taking us on a long run yelled at a Air Force Captain for starting to fall behind. That Sergeant yelled at the Captain and said “get down and give me ten”. The Captain did his ten, returned to his feet and saluted that Sergeant! I was behind him and inside I was

Response by BG Jim Drago made Aug 21 at 2022 5:31 PM

2022-08-21T17:31:00-04:00

On a Navy Base. Everyone has shiny stuff!

Response by SFC James High made Aug 22 at 2022 10:53 AM

2022-08-22T10:53:48-04:00

I have saluted the wrong rank. Once at Edgewood Arsenal I saluted a SGT from Thailand because his rank insignia consisted of three gold stars, he returned the salute, thanked me, and then told me he was a SGT. We both laughed and went our ways.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 22 at 2022 9:21 PM

2022-08-22T21:21:57-04:00

This was a good assignment,because I learned about all of of the services which included the National Guard and Reserves.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Aug 23 at 2022 9:17 AM

2022-08-23T09:17:49-04:00

Worse. I did the opposite. Once I didn't salute a naval officer because I had no idea what the rank was, especially from afar. The second time I was in Kuwait and there were some Aussie officers I didn't salute but I obviously had zero idea what their rank looked like. Just kind of felt like a dirt bag after that one.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2022 12:18 AM

2022-08-25T00:18:25-04:00

I saluted a South Korean CSM everyday for a month until he finally stopped me and told me. His rank was shiny, gold to be exact, I was an E2.

Response by SP5 George Butts made Aug 25 at 2022 12:29 PM

2022-08-25T12:29:41-04:00

My friends and I would seek out British Officers while at Fort Benning GA Army Infantry School to salute so we could get their unique response.

Response by CPT Steve Martin made Aug 31 at 2022 7:19 PM

2022-08-31T19:19:11-04:00

While in the Balkans, I was super confused when I saw a crescent moon on a hat. I had no idea what to do. The Muslim chaplain laughed and informed me he was a captain.

Response by SPC Brian Stephens made Sep 19 at 2022 11:55 AM

2022-09-19T11:55:08-04:00

I saluted the wrong rank before the bases were joint. There was a staff sergeant back in the days when we wore our ranks on our covers. His rank was old and always flashed brass in the sun which caused me to salute. He would laugh and mock me while taking no notice at all that his rank needed M-nu. His rank on his BDUs needed to be black and it was about 1/3 brass.

Response by Sgt Stephen Chiles made Sep 23 at 2022 2:01 AM

2022-09-23T02:01:50-04:00

No. But to be fair, I grew in a military dependent from birth to my own enlistment. While dad, my youngest brother and myself were USAF and having a brother in the Army, we lived a lot of places were we had direct exposure to military members of all branches of service.

But I do have a fun story of when I was going to Tech School at Keesler AFB. A friend who was a fellow classmate and I decided to go for a walk after classes one day. He had never had exposure to abything near the flightline and being fresh out of Basic, he wanted to see some planes. We walked as near to the flightline that I knew we were allowed and out of nowhere, a female Navy officer walked toward us. I kept trying to get him to salute. He kept saying that he didn't see the rank and unfortunately (for him) he didn't heed my warning. The Lt. chewed Jim a good one. Then she turned to me and was about to let loose on me for him not saluting. Thankfully Jim stood with integrity and told her that I had tried to get him to salute, just before she ripped me too. Then, the Lt. asked me (being an Airman Basic E-1), how did I know, since she was a Navy officer. I explained I had been a dependent when dad was stationed next to 2 Navy bases twice in his career. I think she had a chip on her shoulder when she walked up on us but she left with a smile. After that, Jim always listened to me if we encountered military members from other services. Who would have thought that all of those years as a dependent would pay off this way? Not me!

Response by SSG Walter Corretjer made Sep 26 at 2022 1:15 PM

2022-09-26T13:15:27-04:00

All that problem on regard to the pretty small pin on ranks,is the result on some one fault,in the creation of such extremely small hard to identify badges or insignias.When the services years back were using cloth badges on the arm,nothing of this sort was a problem.Then the Marines started to use small pin on subdue insignias for their fatigues for the enlisted,after the Korean Conflict and the beginning of the 60's, fallowed by the Army during the Vietnam War for the same purpose.Lately the Army made the great mistake to implement such small ranks,very difficult to identify,also to the Class B's uniforms for some time.Then the Navy,as well as the Coast Guard,did the same.For me, my opinion is that all services are wrong and commited a great error on establishing this kind of ranks that are so difficult to see and identify.Ranks for enlisted personnel should be of cloth material on the arms for all uniforms and services,
including the fatigues or combat uniforms,and the officers,as was done in the past,in the collar or the shoulders,
depending the uniform class or the branch of service as required,not on the breast as they are doing today,even in the Air Force and Space Force,that are extremely difficult to identify,unless you are at twelve inches from the person.
I hope DOD will take action on this matter,in all branches,and fix this problem one and for all.

Response by SGT Dave Adams made Oct 4 at 2022 11:43 AM

2022-10-04T11:43:37-04:00

I was stationed at Osan AB in 1977. Was walking on the main drag, when I was saluted by an Airman. Seemed he was a "Newbie" like I was. The only insignia on my cap was my Unit Crest. I didn't pay it much mind, until i was saluted by another airman. After that, I went along with it. When I got promoted to E-2, the saluting stopped. No biggie da...

Response by CPT John Antill made Nov 1 at 2022 9:28 AM

2022-11-01T09:28:29-04:00

When I was new to the Marine Corps we were told by default if it is shinny salute. Let me tell you how much I dislike the shiny Navy ranks. Don't get me started on flight lines or OCS.

Response by CWO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2022 7:00 PM

2022-11-08T19:00:42-05:00

Yes. Numerous times. Always Navy. Now I did have SOME fun at Naval Base Great Mistakes doing training, with the crowds of Junior Enlisted guys walking around that would salute the Capt I was with (USMC) and ignore me. I would growl "Well I guess a CWO doesn't rate around here does he!". They would scatter, Capt would tell me I was being a dick. It was my little private joke, because Camp JeJune 1987 a group of us had just checked in for school (Pvts/PFCs) and were walking around checking things out and saw a weird sight, it was a CWO walking right towards us. We'd never seen one before. Not at Boot Camp for sure. We stopped and stared for a few seconds (what is that? I dunno, a Sasquatch maybe?). He flipped out "I guess I don't get a Salute OR a proper greeting today, do I!". He got his snappy salute and Greeting, walked off and we hi-tailed it. Turns out that particular CWO was half Ghost AND half Sasquatch. Or perhaps a ManBearPig. The world may never know for sure. But as I stared, I said to myself "I wanna be that guy.".

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Nov 14 at 2022 12:38 AM

2022-11-14T00:38:42-05:00

....I Never Had A Problem With Saluting The Wrong Rank....
But I DID Have Some Fun, Not Saluting At All.
What Was So Funny Was Seeing The look On Their Face,
When They'd Start The Salute & I'd Just Pass Them By.....
Oddly Enough I Seldom Got Called On It..."Seldom", Not "Always"
But Making Up Excuses Was Fun Too... "Sorry Sir, I Didn't See You Coming".
Then There Was Dave Libby, My Good Ole Friend.....Dave Would Stop The New 2nd Lieutenants When They Confronted Him. (Shiny New Silver Bars Gave Them Away. As Did New Attitude, New Officers Get)......Dave Actually Had The Balls To Say "Lieutenant, Are You Not Familiar With The New Base Regulation (Then Rattle Off Some Arbitrary Numbers)...Which Clearly States: "After 1800 Hours On This Base, Saluting Is Not Required Of The Enlisted Staff"? ....He'd ALWAYS Get An Apology... Not Once Was He Ever Questioned... We Were Of Course, Wearing Our Badges...
I'm Relatively Sure That Helped A Little!....

Response by SFC Sfc Darwin Maring, USA Ret made Dec 2 at 2022 6:36 PM

2022-12-02T18:36:41-05:00

Back at Fort Bragg in 1968/9 the saluting was so bad the C General made everyone salute anyone else that outranked them. Yes, enlisted saluting other enlisted.

Response by Sgt Michael Betts made Dec 4 at 2022 10:51 PM

2022-12-04T22:51:29-05:00

For us Marines, if somebody had something shiny on his collars, he rated a salute. I saluted more than just a few Navy CPO's before I learned to look more closely.

Response by GySgt Charles O'Connell made Dec 8 at 2022 5:37 AM

2022-12-08T05:37:00-05:00

Never the wrong rank, but I recall being at Shepherd AFB in the mid 80’s. A fellow Marine and I were walking across the street towards the PX when a young Lt approached. We snapped up a couple of crisp salutes with the accompanying “Good Morning Sir”. We thought he was gonna faint.

Response by PVT Ted Rodosovich made Dec 12 at 2022 6:41 AM

2022-12-12T06:41:40-05:00

During my abbreviated West Point cadet career (1960-6), ... we as 1st yr plebes saluted taxi cabs.

Response by PO3 Charles Franceschini made Dec 12 at 2022 6:55 AM

2022-12-12T06:55:43-05:00

All these responses has me wondering what exactly are they teaching in the military rank identification classes being held in today's military. Or, is everyone more concerned with NOT misgendering the snowflakes? Hmmm...?

Response by PO3 Charles Franceschini made Dec 12 at 2022 7:03 AM

2022-12-12T07:03:45-05:00

Well, I guess RPB is run by snowflakes and cupcakes by evidence of my deleted (disappeared) reply. My, my, my what thin skin you all have! Figure I'll have to delete my account in kind.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 13 at 2022 6:08 PM

2022-12-13T18:08:54-05:00

I'll bet everyone has done so at least once!

Response by SSgt Scotty Marks made Dec 14 at 2022 11:37 PM

2022-12-14T23:37:39-05:00

I didn't because my dad was a senior chief, but at NAS Cubi Point I was with B Co. MARBKS Subic Bay and I would laugh like hell at all the jarheads saluting Chiefs. CPO's and officers wear the same working khakis, but chiefs have an anchor on the collar and left side of the pisscutter, and officers wear rank and branch on collar if not line, and officers insignia on left of pisscutter and rank on right. Miss my dad. Retired EMCS and Korean War vet USS Shelton DD790.

Response by SFC Michael Lindenbusch made Dec 17 at 2022 8:11 PM

2022-12-17T20:11:03-05:00

Navy for certain, and a time or two seeing West Pointers doing summer break with the regulars.

Of course, I now see the other side as a uniformed civilian working on base. The number of times I got the salute I didn't render returned...

Response by PO2 Kevin C O Dunn made Dec 18 at 2022 12:58 AM

2022-12-18T00:58:03-05:00

I'm a Post Coastie. One evening, when we were still authorized Seafarer bellbottom jeans and chambray LS shirts (Like the Navy) I was doing an emergency service on the rear range light at Rosevelt Rhodes Naval base in Puerto Rico. The Navy are not close-quarter ship handlers and so I was over there from San Juan a lot to shoot angles on the buoys that had been dragged around and other stuff to hold the harbor in place until the USCGC SageBrush could get over there to reposition everything. I needed to cover a lot of territory to get to the tower -- I was carrying a small acid battery "hot-pack" and a tool bag with my right hand and a larger tool bag across my left shoulder. I was working to get the thing installed before sunset so the light would be watching for incoming traffic. I was in the middle of this big meadow when a woman Lt. Commander crossed my path. I passed her a very smart salute with my left hand. I got four paces beyond her before she shouted "Sailor, halt. About Face!" She read me the riot act. I had my CG name tag on the shirt but I looked like I was one of her's. The Coast Guard was authorized to salute with the Left when the right was otherwise engaged -- so we didn't have to drop our gear when we doing meaningful things. She ordered me to report to her office within the hour. She didn't ask me anything about what I was doing -- she was sure I was a moron and I needed some motivation. I packed the light. It was flashing in sequence and I headed back to San Juan. 1978 BM3 SAGE BRUSH ATON TEAM

Response by PO1 Ken Helmick made Dec 19 at 2022 5:13 AM

2022-12-19T05:13:04-05:00

Heck yes. It was my first day outside of boot camp and I was sent to Great Lakes in North Chicago to attend Class "A" school. Crossing the footbridge on the way to the uniform shop, I came across some personnel in uniforms I could not identify with epaulets on their shoulders. My experience to that point was that you saluted everything with epaulets since enlisted did not have them. It turned out that these guys were enlisted from some Arabic country who were attending one of the schools at the base -- which probably explained the really strange looks they were giving me as they returned my salute.

Response by PO1 Ken Helmick made Dec 19 at 2022 6:00 AM

2022-12-19T06:00:39-05:00

Besides having saluted the wrong rank as a freshly minted E-1, I have been saluted inappropriately. They have a nice veterans memorial in town and hold a Veteran's Day service every year. One year, I was wearing a command ball cap in Mcdonald's and a couple of WW2 and Korean vets asked if I would attend, and to bring a piece of my uniform, if I still had it. So, I dragged out my dress blues, went with the ribbons, and showed up. Suffice it to say that I was the only person in attendance wearing a dress uniform -- and one of the very few who actually had a complete uniform versus simply a hat or jacket. Honestly, looking like Popeye as I did, people came up and asked if they could be photographed next to me. At some point, a gentleman wearing a cammie jacket with Major's oak leaves and National Guard emblem saluted me and I returned it, laughing that as an E-6, I was supposed to salute him. (Not that I intended to, he was out of uniform...) His reply was that he automatically saluted any time he saw that much gold on one uniform. I sort of forgot how shiny all those service stripes can be... It also made me wonder how much interservice command you saw on your way to Major in the Guard...

Response by 1stSgt Dan Boone made Dec 19 at 2022 8:03 AM

2022-12-19T08:03:32-05:00

Welcome to the elite club of "Sorry Chief".

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2022 6:20 AM

2022-12-30T06:20:44-05:00

I’m not exactly 20/20 but I also don’t wear glasses I work with a lot of officers as a medic and being in a HHC so often times I find myself doing it to SPC or other personnel at a distance as it hard to see until they get close in the sun or in the field a few times I’ve seen officer thinking they were nco and as I correct myself they just laff with me and we chat I’ve also had many times treating people like joes out of uniform until I look at the rank they Wright on the paperwork and quickly correct myself

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2023 2:22 AM

2023-01-14T02:22:18-05:00

The closest I can say I came to that is I stood at parade rest when I returned home from AIT and the airport had National Guardsmen scanning people for fevers (It was the beginning of Covid). I was a E1 fuzzy still and a Air National Guardsman came up to me. I thought his rank on his chest was E5 so I went to parade rest, that was until I was corrected by an Army Guard SFC that told me that the airman was an E4 and not an NCO. I still can barely read Air Force rank to this day.

Response by SP5 Timothy Cooper made Jan 14 at 2023 11:57 AM

2023-01-14T11:57:28-05:00

I would fine myself like you saluting an fine a sorry on base in Afghanistan it happened all the time you would see NG's arm's just flying. an all you would say it get's better an smile an not rip they a new one.

Response by Sgt Ed Allen made Jan 15 at 2023 3:02 PM

2023-01-15T15:02:42-05:00

How about being saluted while wearing a uniform for a scouting organization?
I was Commander for the Assembly of God scouting organization called Royal Rangers. My uniform was khakis, just like many military uniforms, and the rank insignia was "Captain" bars, except that they were blue instead of silver.

As I was riding my bicycle back to base one evening, I had to stop and show ID at the MP office since I didn't have a sticker. The Sgt at the desk saluted me and requested to see my ID.

My ID showed that I was PFC Allen, but my rank insignia, the double blue bars plus my ribbons and medals, was what caught his attention. He asked how I could be a PFC in the Marine Corps and a Captain in a foreign military. Remember, Royal Rangers.

While it wasn't much, it was a moment of humor for me.

Response by PO3 Dale Olson made Jan 17 at 2023 8:46 PM

2023-01-17T20:46:42-05:00

If you don't know the difference in officers rank of the various services you flunked boot camp. Lmao

Response by SSgt Bruce Probert made Jan 18 at 2023 10:44 PM

2023-01-18T22:44:14-05:00

Courtesy is never out of place

Response by CPO Kurt Baschab made Jan 19 at 2023 10:28 AM

2023-01-19T10:28:57-05:00

it Happen to me many times,

Response by CPT Jason W. made Jan 19 at 2023 2:21 PM

2023-01-19T14:21:20-05:00

I was saluted by a CPT when I as a 2LT. He saw the gold and saluted..... We both got a good laugh.

Response by SP5 Roy Sonye made Jan 19 at 2023 5:57 PM

2023-01-19T17:57:57-05:00

SP-5 ROY SONYE
While on a joint training base in Germany it took a while to realize we had been saluting a French
corporal ,but she was good looking

Response by MSgt Don Dobbs made Jan 20 at 2023 10:25 AM

2023-01-20T10:25:19-05:00

During a deployment to Spain I was entering a mess hall at 0430 no outside lights and two individuals were exiting. We were all in fatigues or BDU's and I noticed one of the exiting had some type of insignia on his hat it appeared to be an oak leaf so I saluted and offered a greeting. Well it turns out he was an Army SFC and had his rank insignia on his hat. He immediately got hot and said don't salute or sir me I work for a living. I responded with, In the Air Force we call someone sir out of respect for their position or grade you obviously don't deserve any respect. Well he then went ballistic and demanded to know my rank and who my commander was. I responded with MSgt or for those uneducated E-7 with 4 years TIG. I never saw him again.

Response by SSG Ted Strachan made Jan 20 at 2023 9:45 PM

2023-01-20T21:45:31-05:00

When I was stationed at Ft. Hood straight out of AIT as an E-1, I arrived with a mixed issue of OGs and BDUs. My unit's (B 1/68 ADA 1st Cav) crest was a vertical thing that looked like a cross between an ear of corn and a 2LT butter bar. Worn on the green ball cap with no rank underneath, it looked like a butter bar gleaming in the sun. I got saluted more than once...

Response by TSgt Scott Zane made Jan 21 at 2023 7:25 AM

2023-01-21T07:25:26-05:00

I might have done it a time or two, and it wasn't even at a joint base. It happened at Davis-Monthan AFB. I was living in the dorms and would often eat lunch at the DFAC. I rarely worked day shift hours there, but when I did...I would always see some Navy troops walking toward the DFAC as I was leaving it. If I recall, they were always wearing their browns. I might have mistakenly saluted a couple of them, using the same logic you applied. I was always taught exactly the same thing. I think I got some weird looks from the sailors after doing it. Being so accustomed to the fact Airmen of all enlisted ranks always wear their rank on both sleeves, and only "Top 3" (MSgt, SMSgt and CMSgt) types ever wearing their rank on their epaulettes - and only then, while wearing service or service dress uniforms, it's natural for a Zoomie to assume first that anybody wearing their rank on something other than their sleeves could be an "O". Not knowing where exactly sailors wear their rank insignia and not knowing what Navy enlisted rank insignia even looks like didn't help that situation. Once I got wise to where exactly to find their insignia, I never had any other issues with that. But I saw other airmen salute some of those same sailors mistakenly at least a few times also, and it was always the same situation. The sailors were walking toward the DFAC and were getting saluted by airmen who were leaving the DFAC.

Response by SSG Rob Lawrence made Jan 22 at 2023 10:42 AM

2023-01-22T10:42:40-05:00

I went Commissaryman A school in Newport RI. This was also home to the Navy OCS. The OCS wore Kakhi uniforms in the summer. We had been told these candidates were not yet commissioned officers, so they did not rate a salute. One day a buddy and I were out walking to the BX. We noticed a guy in Kakhis walking toward us and we passed him without saluting, thinking he was an OCS candidate. After about a step past him, we heard this guy say, “Gentleman don’t you salute officers anymore?” I then said, “Yes, we always salute an officer when we see one.” This Marine officer then proceeded to lock our heels a show us the captain’s insignia on his Marine kakhi uniform. After this experience, then saluted him and started living by the motto, “If it moves, salute it, if it doesn’t move, paint it.”

Response by SFC James Barnes made Jan 22 at 2023 12:38 PM

2023-01-22T12:38:02-05:00

Grew up navy so the marine and navy ranks were no big deal. However I have been on the receiving end of a salute by an airman. Smiled and said no I work for a living and CM

Response by PO2 Gary Riedl made Jan 22 at 2023 7:59 PM

2023-01-22T19:59:43-05:00

Yes, it happened to me when our ship's crew was leaving and the sun was low. With the sun in my eyes, I saluted chiefs and failed to salute to commissioned officers. Like Borders, most laughed it off. However, one time I was in such a deep conversation with a friend that a young ensign caught me not noticing him as he walked by. The ensign turned around and gave me hell. I told him I was sorry - that I just didn't see him. He waited furiously until I saluted him. He stalked off in a huff. Oh, well; such is life.

Response by SGT Andrew Anderson made Jan 25 at 2023 5:25 PM

2023-01-25T17:25:13-05:00

I can relate to this happening, however, it was kind of a reverse situation. I was the one being saluted. When I returned from Vietnam in 1967 I was stationed at the Yakima Firing Range in Washington State. Shortly after my arrival, I got into a "little" trouble and honestly, it was nothing serious, a minor infraction of the UCMJ. But unfortunately, an overzealous 2lt, thought it was serious enough to take away 2 strips. I was demoted from E4 to E2. Anyway, at Yakima, there are many reservists who train there on the weekends. If I happened to be in, my Class A uniform I was often mistaken for an officer. No strips, a couple of rows of ribbons, a CIB, 2 overseas bars, and a hash mark and not strips, "must be an officer". Some guys would hesitate but most would salute, just in case, and of course, I would always return the salute. Most of the permanent party of course knew, but it was kind of comical. Even the 1st Sergeant during the morning formation and police call would say, "all E5s and above and E2s over five, fall out. I did get my rank back relatively quickly plus one more.

Response by MSgt Craig Gauger made Jan 26 at 2023 12:28 AM

2023-01-26T00:28:30-05:00

As a young enlisted, I too saluted a naval Master Chief. He also laughed and explained the top 3 of navy. I also agree, it's better to salute wrongly than not at all.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Jan 26 at 2023 12:24 PM

2023-01-26T12:24:28-05:00

Another story I heard from AFROTC. Students in their Junior and Senior year were cadet "officers." To denote this, we got shoulder boards. The rank was very similar to Navy Commissioned Officers. Some of my fellow students went to a "3LT" program, where they worked with AD to gain experience. A few of them went to Navy bases. As you can imagine, there were stories of Seabees giving them odd looks and, more often than not, salutes!

Response by SFC John Haling made Feb 12 at 2023 12:30 PM

2023-02-12T12:30:41-05:00

I went to my nephew's basic training graduation for the Navy in 2013. I was saluted as I walked in by the graduating recruits. I was a sergeant first class in the army.

Response by SFC Joseph Sheffield made Feb 15 at 2023 2:30 PM

2023-02-15T14:30:30-05:00

The beret in the beginning was hell for old guys to pick out the diff btwn a unit crest or rank. It confused me once or twice.

Response by SrA Ami Hollis (Dunn) made Feb 15 at 2023 5:46 PM

2023-02-15T17:46:37-05:00

I never saluted the wrong rank but I had other members from non AF branches salute me when I wore my blue USAF sweater that had silver and blue rank insignia pins on the eppilets (sorry about spelling). Not all the branches enlisted ranks wore rank insignia on their sweaters the way we did and definitely from a distance it did resemble officer insignia especially since they looked a lot like silver bars. if they were fresh out of basic I would stop them and nicely explain the difference when I had time then we would smile and laugh and continue about our day.

Response by Sgt Dan Gahafer made Feb 15 at 2023 6:01 PM

2023-02-15T18:01:13-05:00

Too funny. My Dad was a naval officer from before I was born until he retired when I was 17 YO and I spent loads of time on Navy bases from Norfolk to Newfoundland to Jacksonville, to Mountain View and I never ever got the enlisted ranks figured out. I could tell an officer from an enlisted guy most of the time though, but when I was in the Air Force I just saluted the hell out of everybody I ran into because I was never quite sure... Seriously though, WTF is a Yeoman 1st class anyway?

Response by WO1 Cherry Lynn made Feb 15 at 2023 6:15 PM

2023-02-15T18:15:56-05:00

All the time at DLIFLC in Monterey Ca. Those damn navy ranks are hard to figure out. I was told if it shines you salute it.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2023 9:18 PM

2023-02-15T21:18:29-05:00

This was 8 years ago? Why did this just pop up in my email!

But if the military would stop making ranks so damn small you can't see them until they are upon you, it wouldn't be an issue.

Response by MGySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2023 11:38 PM

2023-02-16T23:38:42-05:00

I have not met a soldier who knows that a Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant insignia is not that of a Sergeant Major, I just go along when they call me Sergeant Major.

Response by SPC David Young made Feb 16 at 2023 11:52 PM

2023-02-16T23:52:18-05:00

1993 at FAMC in Denver, CO. I was there for 3 days so my daughter could have eye surgery. There were personnel from all 4 branches. 'Not sure but I think I saluted a Navy Chief by mistake. He just laughed. Oops!

Response by SGT Trish Woodbury made Feb 17 at 2023 5:44 AM

2023-02-17T05:44:33-05:00

Boot camp 1975 saluted my Command Sargent Major. All the scrambled eggs on her cover and the Sun was behind her. She was kind as she corrected me. I was slightly embarrassed.

Response by SGT(P) Jody Hall made Feb 18 at 2023 4:48 PM

2023-02-18T16:48:39-05:00

Was there ever a SM that did not make that mistake?
I would say that SM was never ever deployed with other services.

Response by SFC James Corona made Feb 20 at 2023 2:46 PM

2023-02-20T14:46:23-05:00

No. They saluted me!
Once after reporting to my CO
I accidentally picked up his LT hat and put it on. On my way to the mess hall all these guys were saluting me. I thought they were pulling my leg. One guy stopped me and told me I had LT hat.
I QUICKLY RAN BACK, APOLOGIZED AND Grabbed my Spec 4 cap.

Response by SGT Lea Callais made Feb 21 at 2023 4:38 PM

2023-02-21T16:38:50-05:00

The Salute is a sign of Respect. Therefore, it is not possible to salute the wrong rank. As an E-5, an E-7 who was of my odd MOS -97EFR, moved to Bragg to my team working on Haiti for the last 4 months of his military career. He would salute me every time he encountered me outside. I would salute in return. I asked him about why he always saluted me, he explained about the Act of respect Respect. I noted how he did not salute the other enlisted soldiers on our team. He knew exactly what I did and how many tasks I completed each day compared to the other members of the team. It made me proud to be acknowledged in such a simple gesture. So, if you know that the Salute is a Sign of Respect we normally use for those of higher rank, it can be used for one of any rank. Have a great day. Consider this a salute to you my fellow brothers and sisters in Arms!

Response by SSG Russell Moon made Feb 23 at 2023 10:17 PM

2023-02-23T22:17:47-05:00

As a Sergeant on NAB Little Creek I saluted what I thought was a Navy Lieutenant Commander. Getting closer, I saw he had Master Chief anchors on his jacket. Before I can say anything he asks if I know about Navy ranks. I told him either you are an officer or enlisted because your cover doesn’t match your jacket. He took off his cover and realized he was wearing his OIC’s cover. He removed the pins, thanked me for noticing and we went on our merry way.

Response by SSgt William Blanshan made Mar 8 at 2023 3:36 PM

2023-03-08T15:36:59-05:00

Back in my day, we had to learn ALL the ranks from ALL the branches of the military (including the Coast Guard) and how they corresponded to our own in the Corps. I guess the pussies at the top have decided that it's just too hard for snowflakes to learn?

Response by Sgt William Von Ohlen made Mar 17 at 2023 8:10 AM

2023-03-17T08:10:26-04:00

Funny, USMC is the 2nd Senior Service, but falls under the Department of the Navy. During boot camp at PI, we had the learn all the Navy Rarks and Insignia as well as other services. So it was usually not a problem, but as stated, “when in doubt, whip it out”.

Response by CPT Bob Mason made Mar 17 at 2023 10:39 AM

2023-03-17T10:39:40-04:00

In 1970, assigned to the Washington DC area with the 6th Cav, I found my self sitting in mess next to a soldier in an unfamiliar uniform sporting two stars on each of his shoulder boards. He clearly seemed too young for a general officer. Fortunately there was no reason or opportunity to salute because I later found out he was a LT in the Lebanese Army.

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made Mar 17 at 2023 2:02 PM

2023-03-17T14:02:13-04:00

When I came back from Nam, I was stationed at Ft. Hood Texas. Being a new guy there, I had to go to a bunch of stupid classes. While walking back from one of these unnecessary classes, I passed a female Navy person. This bitch started to dress me down for not saluteing an officer. I apologised and said that I didn,t recognise Navy Rank . I just didn't know Navy rank. This Bitch kept complaining so I told her to go fuck herself. I had just returned from combat in Nam a few weeks earler and was in no mood for her bullshit. I was in good shape and knew that I could out run her and didn,t have my name on my uniform so she had no way of identifying me. I had issues from Nam and wasn't about to put up with her bullshit, officer or not. It was fun and I really enjoyed it.

Response by CPO George Disbrow made Mar 17 at 2023 11:01 PM

2023-03-17T23:01:18-04:00

Attended Corrections Specialist Training at Ft. McClellan as a Petty Officer 2nd Class Builder in the Seabees. At the time the uniform was OD Green Utilities with soft cover bearing the rank insignia of 2 chevrons with the USN Eaglet. Got saluted so many times going to and from the training from base personnel assuming I was an Officer. Had several Chiefs and even a Master Chief go through the same thing until they started a Rank awareness class for the lower enlistees.

Response by MAJ Kelly Hays made Mar 19 at 2023 8:55 PM

2023-03-19T20:55:17-04:00

When I was a HM3 (PO3) at FT. Sam Houston, TX. in San Antonio, TX in 1977 I had all of the lower enlisted ARMY saluting me all the time! My retort was "I know I'm in the NAVY, but you DON'T have to salute me!" I was confused by the ARMY enlisted being in Khaki Uniforms thinking....These can't all be E-7 or above can they?!

Response by CW2 Matt Baum made Mar 20 at 2023 8:55 AM

2023-03-20T08:55:47-04:00

In the BDU days, it was difficult to differentiate SPC and LTC collar insignia. I was in the AF, in Italy, and nearly saluted a "seasoned" E4, or two.
Later, in my Army days, I breezed right by a young LTC at Air Assault. He was the in charge of the course, and not impressed that he was blown off by a butter bar. I mean, the "sir" looked like he was about 12 and was playing with a dog in the parking lot. Pretty sure I was one of the first ones he DQ'd out on the lanes. *face palm*

Response by Cpl Craig Howard made Mar 20 at 2023 12:28 PM

2023-03-20T12:28:44-04:00

We all look for "Shine" on the collar, and that triggers a salute. The Navy screws that up for all of us.

Response by SGM Randolph Watkins made Mar 21 at 2023 1:09 PM

2023-03-21T13:09:38-04:00

I was supporting an Army Reserve MATC at Fort Bragg during Desert Shield. No matter where I went on post I was constantly being saluted by officers and enlisted alike. Finally I asked one soldier why he saluted me. He was slight embarrassed, but replied that the next time I was at the post exchange look at the photo of the post commander. I did and at a distance, we could have been twins. I also found out that civilians thought they could tell active duty soldiers for reservists. A civilian from the Pentagon entered our MILPO where I was at the copy machine. He asked me where the reserve unit was. I replied that he had found it. He replied, "But you don't look like a reserve!" What are reserists supposed to look like?

Response by Sgt Chris Fisher made Mar 21 at 2023 5:59 PM

2023-03-21T17:59:45-04:00

I was stationed at Herbert Defence Complex in New Orleans in the early 80's. That place was crawling with Navy Chiefs with shiny rank insignias on their lapels. I saluted a bunch of them until I got the system down. Better safe than sorry.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Mar 21 at 2023 7:23 PM

2023-03-21T19:23:20-04:00

Back in the early ‘90’s, there wasn’t a CPO, SCPO, not MCPO on NAS North Island that I haven’t saluted.

Most of those salty dogs just returned my salutation with their own, “Carry On, sir!”

Response by CPO Chris Zwolinski made Mar 24 at 2023 4:45 PM

2023-03-24T16:45:30-04:00

When we first got to Afghanistan I used to get saluted and called Colonel for at least a week. Mostly by O1-O3s, almost all of them Air Force. I was a Navy E6 at the time and they were saluting me and the E3s and E4s. They didn't understand the chevrons on the eagle of our rank signified we were enlisted. Happened when we first got there and when our replacements came in.

The funniest was the E4s that were making fun of the officers that had no idea what they were doing while we were in the line for chow at Bagram. The Command Master Chief was in line behind them and asked if they were having a good time. A lot of red faced E4s all at once.

Response by PO2 Christopher Foss made Mar 27 at 2023 10:03 AM

2023-03-27T10:03:46-04:00

I will admit to once having been a bad boy and getting into an NCO club on an AF base because noone there understood Navy ranks. I was an E4 and the NCO club of the time started access at E5.

As a rationalization, the NCO club had a kitchen and I was traveling.

Response by CDR Scott Buck made Apr 24 at 2023 9:51 AM

2023-04-24T09:51:29-04:00

While attending the University of Washington under the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program (E5/Officer Candidate), I demoted an Air Force Colonel by saluting his eagle, but saying, “Good morning Captain.” I woke up three steps later that he was wearing Air Force blue, Not Navy blue. I kept on moving away.

Response by SPC Joel Quey made Jun 4 at 2023 2:43 PM

2023-06-04T14:43:48-04:00

I'm pretty sure everyone who's been on a joint base has done so. It was always "fun" walking around at dusk, trying to squint at people's ranks as they walked by to figure out if that bird on their hat meant they were a petty officer, or a full-bird colonel...

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Jun 6 at 2023 4:41 PM

2023-06-06T16:41:54-04:00

Good afternoon SSG Steven Borders. Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this. Excellent question. It can be very confusing if a Military member works on another base. Unfortunately, I started out as active duty Navy and had no issues im recognizing enlisted and officer ranks. To include warrent officers. But, when I switched to active Army it became a little confused. One instance would be when I was at a MEPS and an Army Capta came out for a briefing. At first I thought She was going to introduce Herself as Lieutenant so and so. Caught Me off guard when She addressed Herself as Captain so and so. Ironically, when I used to be Army Reserves, I had an advantage of recognizing the ranks. Caught an E-8 (Senior Chief Petty Officer) off guard one time by addressing Him as Senior.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Jun 6 at 2023 5:07 PM

2023-06-06T17:07:13-04:00

It can be confusing at times. E-1 to E-6 are known as Petty Officers. E-7 is Chief Petty Officer. E-8, One star on fouled anchor collar device is called Senior Chief P.O. or Senior for short. E-9, Master Chief P.O., or a Command Master Chief P.O. (CMDCM), He or She would also have a star inside their rocker on their dress uniform. Now at this E-9 rank You also have a Fleet/Force Master Chiif P.O. They can be distinguished by the gold Fleet or Force pin on the left pocket of thier worn khakis. Highest enlisted rank would be an E-10 or a Master Chief P.O. of the Navy. They have three stars over their fouled anchor and one star within their rocker on their dress uniform. They are only seen at certain times. Then You have the Warrant Officers (WO1 to WO4). Then You have the O-1 Ensign, O-2 Lieutenant Junior Grade, O-3 Lieutenant, O-4 Lieutenant Commander. All four grades are considered junior officers. Usually an O-4 is an Executive Officer on a small ship. Or can be a Commanding Officer of a shore command unit. O-5 Commander, O-6 Captain (Usually called Skipper by some. 0-7 Rear Admiral Lower Half, O-8 Rear Admiral Upper Half, 0-9 Vice Admiral, O-10 Admiral. Fleet Admirals are no longer used. One Fleet Admiral would be Admiral Chester Nimitz. A carrier was named in His honor as well, USS Nimitz (CVN-68). I hope all this helps out in any eay possible, because I just this all by memory as well.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2023 9:03 PM

2023-06-06T21:03:41-04:00

As a SPC I was saluted by a 1sg. Granted it was dark an all he could see was the subdued insignia, so it was likely a "when in doubt" situation. I just returned the salute.
He saw me later in the light, grumbled and carried on.

Response by SGT Michael Merritt made Jun 29 at 2023 9:57 AM

2023-06-29T09:57:39-04:00

I have no clue how many specialists i saluted during my 8 years! Looks like at LT Col subdued! But their confusion was evident on their faces and was kind of funny!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2023 10:40 AM

2023-06-29T10:40:02-04:00

Not really the question, but in my 2nd to last week of BT my squad buddy and I thought it would be funny to impersonate officers to some of the newbees (newer than us, at least) by wearing black 1st LT & Capt. ranks respectively (on our OD greens w/ softcaps), when just as we had "pulled rank" on a couple of groups of approaching newbees as they went by us, we saw an approaching MP Jeep, and barely managed to get all the bars off before they were close enough to bust our asses. The joke we played on the new people really did crack us up, but almost getting caught sobered us up immediately as well, and we never tried anything like that again...whew!

Response by PO2 Jimmie Brickhouse made Aug 30 at 2023 7:47 AM

2023-08-30T07:47:39-04:00

So, I was Navy and I was sent TAD to an AFSOC school at Hurlburt Field in Florida. At the time, I was a 22 year old E-5. Our rank insignia is a crow perched above two chevrons, which clearly many unsuspecting Air Force members took for being the youngest full bird colonel in history. Doors held open, salutes, the whole nine yards. I would just say “I’m enlisted too, carry on.” and keep it moving.

In their defense, Naval Special Warfare was utilizing different uniforms than the regular navy at the time and our rank set dead center in the middle of our chest and was difficult to see. They saw the bird and just immediately whipped the salute out. It was an interesting 3 weeks, especially at the chow hall.

Response by PO3 Jamie Crosier made Nov 2 at 2023 7:55 AM

2023-11-02T07:55:59-04:00

OMG! All the time. The air force guys would come to the shop I worked at and saluted me all the time and called me ma'am and officer. I was only a e-4. But the crow on my collar looked like officer birds. One gold one black. But the air force guys saw a bird on the collar and would salute. Some times I loved it, but it was weird when officers where doing it and though I was either ranked with them or higher. I educated the enlisted guys so they wouldn't look like fools anymore, but I never knew what to do for the officers. LOL Maybe I should have spoken up but there was something funny about officers saluting a enlisted first

Response by 1SG John Millan made Feb 24 at 2024 6:33 PM

2024-02-24T18:33:33-05:00

Soldiers are bad to salute anything gold, so navy chiefs in Khakus with golden anchors on their collars often took mistaken salutes. Marines occasionally saluted Army enlisted in class A’s because the shoulder DUIC would fling in sunlight!