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
When I was new to the Marine Corps we were told by default if it is shinny salute. Let me tell you how much I dislike the shiny Navy ranks. Don't get me started on flight lines or OCS.
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I was stationed at Osan AB in 1977. Was walking on the main drag, when I was saluted by an Airman. Seemed he was a "Newbie" like I was. The only insignia on my cap was my Unit Crest. I didn't pay it much mind, until i was saluted by another airman. After that, I went along with it. When I got promoted to E-2, the saluting stopped. No biggie da...
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All that problem on regard to the pretty small pin on ranks,is the result on some one fault,in the creation of such extremely small hard to identify badges or insignias.When the services years back were using cloth badges on the arm,nothing of this sort was a problem.Then the Marines started to use small pin on subdue insignias for their fatigues for the enlisted,after the Korean Conflict and the beginning of the 60's, fallowed by the Army during the Vietnam War for the same purpose.Lately the Army made the great mistake to implement such small ranks,very difficult to identify,also to the Class B's uniforms for some time.Then the Navy,as well as the Coast Guard,did the same.For me, my opinion is that all services are wrong and commited a great error on establishing this kind of ranks that are so difficult to see and identify.Ranks for enlisted personnel should be of cloth material on the arms for all uniforms and services,
including the fatigues or combat uniforms,and the officers,as was done in the past,in the collar or the shoulders,
depending the uniform class or the branch of service as required,not on the breast as they are doing today,even in the Air Force and Space Force,that are extremely difficult to identify,unless you are at twelve inches from the person.
I hope DOD will take action on this matter,in all branches,and fix this problem one and for all.
including the fatigues or combat uniforms,and the officers,as was done in the past,in the collar or the shoulders,
depending the uniform class or the branch of service as required,not on the breast as they are doing today,even in the Air Force and Space Force,that are extremely difficult to identify,unless you are at twelve inches from the person.
I hope DOD will take action on this matter,in all branches,and fix this problem one and for all.
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No. But to be fair, I grew in a military dependent from birth to my own enlistment. While dad, my youngest brother and myself were USAF and having a brother in the Army, we lived a lot of places were we had direct exposure to military members of all branches of service.
But I do have a fun story of when I was going to Tech School at Keesler AFB. A friend who was a fellow classmate and I decided to go for a walk after classes one day. He had never had exposure to abything near the flightline and being fresh out of Basic, he wanted to see some planes. We walked as near to the flightline that I knew we were allowed and out of nowhere, a female Navy officer walked toward us. I kept trying to get him to salute. He kept saying that he didn't see the rank and unfortunately (for him) he didn't heed my warning. The Lt. chewed Jim a good one. Then she turned to me and was about to let loose on me for him not saluting. Thankfully Jim stood with integrity and told her that I had tried to get him to salute, just before she ripped me too. Then, the Lt. asked me (being an Airman Basic E-1), how did I know, since she was a Navy officer. I explained I had been a dependent when dad was stationed next to 2 Navy bases twice in his career. I think she had a chip on her shoulder when she walked up on us but she left with a smile. After that, Jim always listened to me if we encountered military members from other services. Who would have thought that all of those years as a dependent would pay off this way? Not me!
But I do have a fun story of when I was going to Tech School at Keesler AFB. A friend who was a fellow classmate and I decided to go for a walk after classes one day. He had never had exposure to abything near the flightline and being fresh out of Basic, he wanted to see some planes. We walked as near to the flightline that I knew we were allowed and out of nowhere, a female Navy officer walked toward us. I kept trying to get him to salute. He kept saying that he didn't see the rank and unfortunately (for him) he didn't heed my warning. The Lt. chewed Jim a good one. Then she turned to me and was about to let loose on me for him not saluting. Thankfully Jim stood with integrity and told her that I had tried to get him to salute, just before she ripped me too. Then, the Lt. asked me (being an Airman Basic E-1), how did I know, since she was a Navy officer. I explained I had been a dependent when dad was stationed next to 2 Navy bases twice in his career. I think she had a chip on her shoulder when she walked up on us but she left with a smile. After that, Jim always listened to me if we encountered military members from other services. Who would have thought that all of those years as a dependent would pay off this way? Not me!
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I saluted the wrong rank before the bases were joint. There was a staff sergeant back in the days when we wore our ranks on our covers. His rank was old and always flashed brass in the sun which caused me to salute. He would laugh and mock me while taking no notice at all that his rank needed M-nu. His rank on his BDUs needed to be black and it was about 1/3 brass.
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While in the Balkans, I was super confused when I saw a crescent moon on a hat. I had no idea what to do. The Muslim chaplain laughed and informed me he was a captain.
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My friends and I would seek out British Officers while at Fort Benning GA Army Infantry School to salute so we could get their unique response.
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I saluted a South Korean CSM everyday for a month until he finally stopped me and told me. His rank was shiny, gold to be exact, I was an E2.
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Worse. I did the opposite. Once I didn't salute a naval officer because I had no idea what the rank was, especially from afar. The second time I was in Kuwait and there were some Aussie officers I didn't salute but I obviously had zero idea what their rank looked like. Just kind of felt like a dirt bag after that one.
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I have saluted the wrong rank. Once at Edgewood Arsenal I saluted a SGT from Thailand because his rank insignia consisted of three gold stars, he returned the salute, thanked me, and then told me he was a SGT. We both laughed and went our ways.
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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
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
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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…..
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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.
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My early days yes . different uniforms with brass and silver confused me at distance . When in doubt whip it out .LOL
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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. ;)
I did however make the mistake ONCE when I was an PO3 calling the Marine Corp TOP just Gunny.
only Once. ;)
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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
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