Be honest, how many people accidently have saluted specialists in the dark thinking they were a LTC? Any other gaffes?

2017-12-05T13:49:15-05:00

I remember walking down the main road on FOB Adder and saluting a spc once or twice. Even received one or two myself. On guy I accidently saluted thought I was an officer and said "sorry sir" while he saluted me back

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 5 at 2017 1:52 PM

2017-12-05T13:52:07-05:00

SPC David Willis Not So Much a Problem in the Navy. Uniforms are Generally so Drastically Different between Jr Ranks and Sr Ranks.

Response by LTC Greg Henning made Dec 5 at 2017 1:52 PM

2017-12-05T13:52:18-05:00

Or a PV1 wearing dress greens back in my day!

Response by SPC Robert Coventry made Dec 5 at 2017 1:52 PM

2017-12-05T13:52:24-05:00

Yes, I used to eat chow at a navy base I saluted everyone that had shiny stuff

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2017 1:53 PM

2017-12-05T13:53:00-05:00

I thought it would be cool when I got my commission but within a few days I realized I went from saluting a few times a day to saluting everyone.

Response by Cpl Scott McCarroll made Dec 5 at 2017 2:01 PM

2017-12-05T14:01:10-05:00

When I was on my way home after boot camp, I saluted any one that had stripes on their jacket I saluted, my thought was I would rather salute some Joe smo than walk by the real deal. Besides the pilots got a kick out of it. You have to realize they don't let us out very often

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2017 2:02 PM

2017-12-05T14:02:26-05:00

When I was at Meade and we still wore berets in ACUs at the time...I got saluted. I was a SSG then. Two Sailors saluted me leaving work one day (I was at Cyber Command so joint). One day a SPC saluted me. I thought what the hell? I can see non-Army military people being confused but Army? Did they see something shiny and just throw it up? I didn't even really realize it until after he had walked by and I realized no officers were behind me.

Response by CW3 Harvey K. made Dec 5 at 2017 2:03 PM

2017-12-05T14:03:07-05:00

I saluted a Marine MP once. I saw the gold EGA emblems on his lapels and thought he was a major.

Response by SPC David Willis made Dec 5 at 2017 2:28 PM

2017-12-05T14:28:44-05:00

If you were expected to salute coalition forces as well that was a complete crap shoot.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Dec 5 at 2017 2:52 PM

2017-12-05T14:52:40-05:00

When in doubt, salute. A good laugh is always better than a good reaming

Response by SGT Matthew Sesar made Dec 5 at 2017 3:08 PM

2017-12-05T15:08:43-05:00

How about calling a Lt. C woman sir.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2017 3:39 PM

2017-12-05T15:39:59-05:00

Guilty.... Although it was a Navy Sailor walking down the road on Bagram at night. He just laughed as he was passing me and said " I'm enlisted bro, chill".

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2017 3:54 PM

2017-12-05T15:54:08-05:00

As a young Marine I'd salute anything shiny since officers didn't wear subdued rank. So I saluted my fair share of Navy Chief's. Most were used to it and just saluted back with a disgusted look that said "what's the point of explaining it to you".

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2017 4:17 PM

2017-12-05T16:17:46-05:00

In tech school, we had an E7 that loved to walk around in his Class Bs w/ epaulets on in order to confuse us. We saw the epaulets and assumed he was an officer.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Dec 5 at 2017 4:57 PM

2017-12-05T16:57:33-05:00

SPC David Willis: Once, at my local VA, a man or a young man saluted me. I felt honored and I simply returned his salute.
Specialist Willis, I learned in the Army, that one can learn from the Private on up; and, from the General on down.
Even on Rally Point, Specialist Willis, those higher ranking than I: call me Ma'am.
Most Sincerely, Specialist Margaret C. Higgins U.S. Army Retired: Coach/Photographer

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Dec 5 at 2017 5:00 PM

2017-12-05T17:00:42-05:00

Yes, I too have fallen prey to the evil late night SPC, LTC and the chuckles saluting invoked.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Dec 5 at 2017 5:04 PM

2017-12-05T17:04:05-05:00

What's worse is the CW5 you run into at night and say "hey LT, how're you doing". No chuckles just "grumble, grumble, fuckin' LT my ass, grumble, grumble".

Response by SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood made Dec 5 at 2017 5:06 PM

2017-12-05T17:06:22-05:00

i saluted a private in basic,this was back in the day when we wore our unit crest on all our hat's ,a Private E-1 had a crest that looked just like a butter bar of a Lt,and the Navy,i do not want go there with their rank.if i'm on a Navy Base,I'll just tape my hand to my forehead.

Response by SPC David S. made Dec 5 at 2017 5:26 PM

2017-12-05T17:26:32-05:00

Back in the day at USAFA at night the epaulettes caused many unwarranted salutes. They did look a lot like a 1LT or CPT.

Response by SFC Christopher Taggart made Dec 5 at 2017 5:26 PM

2017-12-05T17:26:59-05:00

lol...I read the comments, and they are funny, because I've done it a few times before too. SPC Willis, when you on FOB Adder? "One guy I accidentally saluted thought I was an officer and said "sorry sir" while he saluted me back." That ""sorry sir" while he saluted me back" sound like something I would've done, that's why I ask. lol

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2017 5:40 PM

2017-12-05T17:40:07-05:00

Saluted SPCs thinking they were LTCs. Didn't salute LTCs thinking they were old, National Guard SPCs. Saluted POs thinking they were COLs. Didn't salute COLs thinking they were POs.

Response by CPO Mark Robinson made Dec 5 at 2017 6:50 PM

2017-12-05T18:50:24-05:00

For me it was saluting a couple of Chiefs. Shoot they wear the same uniform as officers and I was in need of glasses at the time.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Dec 5 at 2017 8:36 PM

2017-12-05T20:36:16-05:00

Not Specialists, but I am guilty of saluting a Navy Enlisted because they were wearing their khaki service uniforms and the shiny ranks threw me off. We're taught to salute the shiny stuff. Quite embarrassing even as a Junior Marine at the school house.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2017 9:12 PM

2017-12-05T21:12:45-05:00

While I was at Ft. Benning as an officer candidate I came across a CSM at night and I remember seeing a lot of black on their chest. Approaching me with a courteous smile, I saluted him and that smile turned into a snarl real quick. When I realized he was a CSM, I said "shit, sorry Sergeant Major" and we had a good laugh walking away from either.

Response by SSG Carl Hill made Dec 12 at 2017 6:24 PM

2017-12-12T18:24:57-05:00

When I was an E5 in the army stationed at the Presidio of Monterey I saluted a senior chief or two.

Response by Sgt John Crahen made Jan 21 at 2018 2:46 PM

2018-01-21T14:46:47-05:00

Hell I saluted a Navy chief once.

Response by Sgt Danny Billingsley made Jan 22 at 2018 2:16 PM

2018-01-22T14:16:05-05:00

I was a contractor in Iraq embedded with the Army. I wore Army BDU and carried a weapon, but where insignia of rank was I had a U.S. instead. That and my grey hair drew numerous salutes. I always felt silly ignoring the salute and walking by. I tried explaining it when I was able.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 22 at 2018 6:02 PM

2018-01-22T18:02:17-05:00

Never saluted anyone in the dark but as a PO3 on an Air Force Training Base, I got saluted all the time. That silver eagle on top of the chevron threw people off.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jan 22 at 2018 6:43 PM

2018-01-22T18:43:19-05:00

Have saluted a fair share of Cadet Officers. I knew their shoulder boards..
I’d salute the 3d and 4th year cadets.. itcwas good practice for them.. it kept my salutes sharp also.. (set the example).