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
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Col (Join to see)
When a lower rank person would try to give me (officer through colonel) their place in line, I'd respond, "No, you're more important than me. You are the one that gets the real work done around here."
That response always won smiles, especially from the retiree population.
That response always won smiles, especially from the retiree population.
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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.
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YESSSSS! I once saluted someone in the Air Force mistaking them for an actual servicemember!
God...how embarrasing that day was....
God...how embarrasing that day was....
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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.
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One AF airman saluted me because of my unit crest. Green/gold star on my cap. I was just a lowly SP4
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