Posted on Jul 9, 2014
Anyone saluted the wrong rank working on a Joint Base?
124K
1.44K
466
205
205
0
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
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.
(0)
(0)
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
(0)
(0)
Hey ssgt, maybe just a little violence? I mean it is the army not the air force after all
(0)
(0)
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.
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.
(0)
(0)
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.
(0)
(0)
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
(0)
(0)
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.
(0)
(0)
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.
All non-academic knowledge comes in suppository form. I never claimed to be smart, just trainable.
(0)
(0)
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!"
(0)
(0)
Read This Next