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

SPC David Willis — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:49:15 -0500

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

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:52:07 -0500

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

LTC Greg Henning — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:52:18 -0500

Or a PV1 wearing dress greens back in my day!

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

SPC Robert Coventry — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:52:24 -0500

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

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:53:00 -0500

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

Cpl Scott McCarroll — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:01:10 -0500

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

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:02:26 -0500

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

CW3 Harvey K. — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:03:07 -0500

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

SPC David Willis — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:28:44 -0500

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

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 14:52:40 -0500

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

SGT Matthew Sesar — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 15:08:43 -0500

How about calling a Lt. C woman sir.

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

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 15:39:59 -0500

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

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 15:54:08 -0500

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

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 16:17:46 -0500

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

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 16:57:33 -0500

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

CSM Richard StCyr — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:00:42 -0500

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

CSM Richard StCyr — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:04:05 -0500

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

SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:06:22 -0500

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

SPC David S. — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:26:32 -0500

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

SFC Christopher Taggart — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:26:59 -0500

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

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 17:40:07 -0500

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

CPO Mark Robinson — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 18:50:24 -0500

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

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 20:36:16 -0500

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

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 21:12:45 -0500

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

SSG Carl Hill — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 18:24:57 -0500

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

Sgt John Crahen — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 14:46:47 -0500

Hell I saluted a Navy chief once.

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

Sgt Danny Billingsley — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 14:16:05 -0500

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

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:02:17 -0500

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

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:43:19 -0500

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).