Posted on Jul 9, 2014
Anyone saluted the wrong rank working on a Joint Base?
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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.
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 302
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"
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LCDR (Join to see)
At ODS, I had a hell of a time with y'all SCPOs. When I left the Navy, it was still wash khakis and coveralls, where the star was the correct color. With the NWUs, it's gold, and blends completely in with the ring.
At least with the Master Chiefs, the double stars changes the profile of the rank.
At least with the Master Chiefs, the double stars changes the profile of the rank.
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SCPO (Join to see)
Sir, I agree. I have never given anyone a hard time that just acknowledges me as "Chief"
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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.
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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
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CPO (Join to see)
You hate the Navy?
That's nice........Sir, it's called history, we have been here since 13 October 1775, how long has a WO been around??? "Captain" in the Navy has two meanings, one is rank the other is position. The Commanding Officer of a Vessel is always referred to as "Captain" even if he is a Commander. Rank of Captain (O-6) is equal to Colonel in other services. The reason for this goes back to our heritage of British influence. The senior Officer of a vessel was always a "Captain". We did the same for our Navy, same basic rank structure, we now have a few minor naming differences, but are overall still the same.
That's nice........Sir, it's called history, we have been here since 13 October 1775, how long has a WO been around??? "Captain" in the Navy has two meanings, one is rank the other is position. The Commanding Officer of a Vessel is always referred to as "Captain" even if he is a Commander. Rank of Captain (O-6) is equal to Colonel in other services. The reason for this goes back to our heritage of British influence. The senior Officer of a vessel was always a "Captain". We did the same for our Navy, same basic rank structure, we now have a few minor naming differences, but are overall still the same.
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CW2 Ernest Krutzsch
CPO Propp , get over yourself, it was sarcastic, I have 2 sons and a son in law who are serving in the Navy, I would suggest that maybe you stop taking yourself so seriously, Life is short, enjoy it
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Reminds me of an Air Force Captain (O3) on a Navy base, called for a ride saying his name and Captain, they sent a staff car right out and almost blew a gasket when they found out He was not a Captain (06) in the Navy. He didn't get the ride.
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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.
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Suspended Profile
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?)
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.
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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.
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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.
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When in doubt salut! Saluting is not a punishment; is a curtesy! Salut proudly and go on!
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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...
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...
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