Anyone saluted the wrong rank working on a Joint Base?

On a Navy Base. Everyone has shiny stuff!

In 1967 I went to jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia. The class was made up of all services and officers and enlisted men together.

One time a Army Jump Master Sergeant taking us on a long run yelled at a Air Force Captain for starting to fall behind. That Sergeant yelled at the Captain and said “get down and give me ten”. The Captain did his ten, returned to his feet and saluted that Sergeant! I was behind him and inside I was

Cadets in my Detachment were sent to the "Third Lieutenant Program." While there, the wore their Cadet uniforms, with their Cadet rank. Some of the Cadets were Cadet Majors; this was signified by shoulder boards which, you guessed it, looked an awful lot like Lt Commander in the Navy. And, yes, one of them was sent to an installation with Navy personnel. That Cadet got some salutes, and some interesting looks.

Was stationed at Ft. Devens, MA in 1978. The army wore shoulder boards so was a bitch for me to see ranks. I was saluted many times in utilities due to the E4 Crow on my cap. An Army Warrant stopped by where I was sitting and asked "How many salutes did you get today?". I was like "Sir?" He was a former Navy enlisted and knew the army had problems with Navy ranks. We laughed and I asked him how to tell from a distance an Army Officer from enlisted as all wore shoulder boards. He told me to check the stripe on their pants. Never thought to check pants for rank.

Lord have mercy, I saluted a dot. Yes, a dot. I coulda shoved myself into a full water buffalo and closed the lid. 1st and last time it happened. ( to self) IDIOT!

I know how you feel!!! Years ago before I retired I was visiting my little sister at Norfolk and had some pissy butter bar Navy Ensign??? Ask me if they salute officers in the Army,I’m a Special Forces SSG I’ve been in for 10 years i reply “ yes sir,when we see them” what I really wanted to say was “ yes sir….if they deserve one” but kept my smart thoughts to myself…later,like you I spotted a CPO….I think….no rank on his pretty tan uniform just SHINY pips on his collor I salute,he laughed and explained “ don’t do that shit,I work for a living” then explained to me about how to spot them…..l figure it’s like the Air Force….more the stripes the longer he’s been in…..

The Navy ranks of course. Saluted a CPO. He said, I'm no gentleman. We laughed and moved on. Then there was the time i thought a Navy Lt was a Captain. i was working at NSA and a "Captain" knocked on our red seal door. When I went to tell the person he was there to see that there was some Navy "Captain" at the door for him. He jumped up, asked me why I didn't tell him to come inside, and ran to the door looking for the O-6 Captain. He asked the LT where's the Captain. The LT was confused. Always the Navy.

My early days yes . different uniforms with brass and silver confused me at distance . When in doubt whip it out .LOL

Being enlisted I don't believe I ever miss saluted an Officer except when working with NATO.
I did however make the mistake ONCE when I was an PO3 calling the Marine Corp TOP just Gunny.
only Once. ;)

Honestly, I think everyone has done it a few times in their careers. I did it in the sandbox to a Navy Corpsman, after laughing it off! We chatted for a bit and it turns out we went to the same high school around the same time period! He graduated 2 years before me! Every time we saw each other we laughed our asses off! Still laugh about to this day! I hope you guys get a kick out of this one! lol

"Don't Let It Linger,
Give'm The Finger".

As a Seabee, I wore the old OD Green uniform. I was also a Petty Officer 3rd Class. I stopped at Fort Meade to go to the commissary after work. No soft cover, but a hard hat with my crow and 1 chevron. Keep in mind this is a joi t base at the time, due to NSA on post. I was saluted 3 times in less than 50 yards in the parking lot, one was a Major, who hoped I was "ready for the long lines sir". Still brings a smile to my face.

My biggest gaffe was calling a Sr Chief “sir”. Politeness is always the best policy (and I reminded: “don’t call me sir I work for a living”)

I did know all the US service ranks anyway but sometimes someone in a foreign service uniform maybe I wasn't sure, better to salute when it's not required than miss one that should have been saluted. As We were taught, if in doubt salute, besides its still a show of respect between fighting men and woman both giving and returning a salute.

Another place a salute is ok it as a greeting to a woman not in the military as opposed to a civilian tipping their hat which should never be done with military headgear. That practice I guess as fallen by the wayside like many polite greetings but it's still ok.

I was stationed at misawa air base Japan, army air force navy marines, if they had collar brass I saluted. I'm sure I crossed it a time or two. But you see the metal or braids, I always threw up the salute, better save than sorry.

It happens, dont sweat it. Move on

I am a retired Navy Master Chief, so my garrison cap and collar devices are the Navy CPO device with two silver stars at the top of the device. While serving as the Command Master Chief, Commander Naval Forces Korea (COMNAVFORKOREA), Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, ROK, my wife and I were walking to the PX. As two young Army enlisted approached me, they rendered the hand salute, so I returned it. As they went past me, I heard one ask the other one, "What was he?" To which his fellow soldier responded, "I don't know, but he had two stars."

When the Army first started going over to “berets for all” back in circa 2001, it was way too damn easy to mistake Army soldiers’ metallic unit crests for officers’ rank insignia until I got within spitting distance.

Guess I was one of the lucky ones. I served in the AF, Navy, and Army in my military career. I did have fun with a Navy Lt one day standing at an intersection waiting for the light to change. We looked at each other and I saw his Lt bars and said good afternoon Cpt. He responded with I’m a Lt. I said well you’re wearing the wrong rank. He said it excuse me. I said in the Army rail tracks are Cpt. bars. He got all flustered and looked at my uniform and tags and said oh you’re in the Army. I said yes sir. He said that explains everything. Laugh Out Loud. Light changed and we crossed the street and I said have a good day sure. He said you too petty officer. Laugh Out Loud.

LoL... The rule of thumb...."if it shines it gets a sniper check"