Posted on Aug 8, 2020
Can enlisted veterans render a first salute to a new officer?
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I am a prior service Marine currently attending Navy OCS.
I had a Sergeant in the Marines that was pretty much my mentor when I was a junior. We deployed together and later on he became one of my greatest friends in the Marines. He is now going to school to become a doctor and no longer serving on active duty or in the reserves.
Can I still ask him to render me my first salute? Would he be required (or even allowed) to wear his old uniform for the ceremony? (Assuming it still fits xD)
I had a Sergeant in the Marines that was pretty much my mentor when I was a junior. We deployed together and later on he became one of my greatest friends in the Marines. He is now going to school to become a doctor and no longer serving on active duty or in the reserves.
Can I still ask him to render me my first salute? Would he be required (or even allowed) to wear his old uniform for the ceremony? (Assuming it still fits xD)
Ceremony
Saluting
Officer
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 10
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If the command has no issue it should not be a problem. It must be the dress uniform, and while grooming standards cannot be enforced, it is highly recommended that all who wear the uniform comply with that services grooming standards, hair, mustache, etc.
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Yes it’s your ceremony. I had a retired master sgt from the Air Force I worked with and respected give me my first salute as an officer.
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The best people to ask are your cadre but if it’s anything like Army ROTC commissioning at my alma mater it would be acceptable. One new 2LT received her first salute from her CW3 father.
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1LT (Join to see)
PFC Jeffrey Herrington
I appreciate the kind words Mr. Herrington. I had my younger brother (active SGT) do my first salute. My father (retired Major) did my oath of office.
I appreciate the kind words Mr. Herrington. I had my younger brother (active SGT) do my first salute. My father (retired Major) did my oath of office.
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I was a grey area reservist, and got my dress blues out of mothballs and gave my son his first salute when he was commissioned.
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Yes he certainly can. You as the new officer can have any enlisted veteran do it.
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I believe it can be a retired enlisted family member that can give the silver salute. But I’m not sure how the command would feel about a non retired veteran. Maybe ask if they would allow it.
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(a) A member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard may wear the uniform prescribed for the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be.
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10 U.S. Code § 772 - When wearing by persons not on active duty authorized
June 3, 1916, ch. 134, §12 (words before 4th semicolon, and words after 7th semicolon, of 1st proviso of 1st par.; and last proviso of last par.), 39 Stat. 216; July 9, 1918, ch. 143, subch. XVII, §10 (last proviso), 40 Stat. 892; June 4, 1920, ch. 228, §8, 41 Stat. 836; June 6, 1942, ch. 382, 56 Stat. 328; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, §15(b) (last proviso), 63 Stat. 91; July 6, 1953, ch. 180, §1, 67 Stat. 140.
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