As an officer, should you salute someone junior whom gives you the greeting of the day, but hands are full and can not render a salute?

<p>Sir,</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>No matter what traditions and courtesies are in place for a reason.&nbsp; Not too long ago (2000-2006) I was assigned to 4-1FA.&nbsp; The command policy was regardless of the activity or current mission in the field(at base) or garrison we as Soldiers, NCO's, and Leaders will address one another in a matter befitting professionalism and discipline.&nbsp; Bedrock of any tight knit unit is th erespect of one another if your hands are full drop or place what you have at your feet and accept my salute just as if I were busy and concede to you.&nbsp; It is not a matter of what is convenient it is a matter of right and wrong; their is no grey area on this although a majority may disagree.&nbsp; As long as the environment allows and doesnt cause dmage to property or personnel is it really that hard to stop, pause for a few moments, and render or return a salute.&nbsp; I guess I would ask you this?&nbsp; As an officer with all this in your hands either at morning or evening would you salute the flag during the reveille?&nbsp; If youi answer yes then the same mentality and courtesy should be applied anywhere anytime a Servicemember respects you and renders you a salute.</p>

Or like I'm my case a 2LT tried to chew me because I didn't salute him, even though I said good morning Sr, since I had my hand full. So I told him "I'm really sorry Sr could you hold this bags for me?" So I gave him part of my stuff, saluted him, he looked at me confused saluted back I got my bags and walked away.

Yes. AR600-25 Chapter 1, paragraph 5.b.&nbsp;&nbsp; http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_25.pdf

This has never happened to me.&nbsp; I don't think I would because that would technically be me saluting someone junior to me and that could only be an enlisted Soldier.&nbsp; That being said, I think that since you are capable of saluting, you should do so.&nbsp; I will need to consult the reg to be sure... or just ask an NCO.<br>

No the actual act of raising your hand and arm to perform the salute is what should responded to not gesture of acknowledging a senior officer. &nbsp;Now the junior ranking must render a salute even if he knows the senior cannot return the salute.

I&nbsp;feel that&nbsp;(dare I say it) common sense pervails here Sir. As has been said the ones whose hands are not full should render the salute as normal and should give the greeting of the day. I have done this numerous times upon approaching officers who have their hands full and they always return the greeting, once they do then I drop my salute. When approaching and my hands are full I give the greeting of the day and some will still salute, and some only return the greeting of the day.

I have always saluted officers even if they cannot return it (sometimes with amusing results). The
salute is a tradition of honor that needs to be upheld. Just because
your hands are full does not mean that you get a pass. Even worse are the personnel, enlisted AND officers alike that will purposely change their direction to avoid saluting each other. I have called out both before in a respectful manner but many young Soldiers, again enlisted and officer alike, feel they can bend the rules to make it more convenient. There needs to be more focus on respect, customs and curiosities as this will help bring discipline back into focus. <br>

As O's go... Jr O's should be held to the same standard as Enlisted... Salute when appropriate. If you are an O and don't know then you'd better get out your Basic books and do a refresher.&nbsp;My expectation is that Officers know these very basic tenets of being a leader. &nbsp;And I agree with the 1LT.. a lot of these 'traditions' may have been set aside in the past few years but the Marines are making a concerted effort to get back to the customs and courtesies a professional military needs to ensure proper discipline. But the word "discipline"&nbsp;is taboo with much of todays generation of kids who feel they should be equal to all without earning their stripes. Gonna be a bumpy ride going forward.&nbsp;

<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT color=#000000><FONT face=Calibri>Sir, a Chief once said anything you tolerate becomes the standard.&nbsp; The right thing to do is for the officer or the enlisted member is to render a salute, with hands full the verbal greeting is used in place of the salute.&nbsp;The two individuals rendering the greeting and salute or not doing either are setting the example for any and all that see the exchange.&nbsp; Thus their actions are degrading or enhancing customs and courtesies.&nbsp; In short yes the enlisted and officer in your scenario should salute.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></FONT></P>

Imagine if you were at a Navy/Army Football game and were required to salute as a player,&nbsp; coach and fan.&nbsp; lol&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Carry the ball with one hand and salute with the other.&nbsp; ha