Anyone saluted the wrong rank working on a Joint Base?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Happened on JBA and when deployed to PSAB or AFG

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.