Anyone saluted the wrong rank working on a Joint Base?

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

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"?)

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"?)

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.