Do I need to render a salute to an officer when my hands are occupied?

Easy, choose your battles. Now you're right by regulation...you won...or did you?...if it doesn't cause harm or death follow orders. No big deal to stop what your doing to render a salute the officer would probably have told you to carry on soldier.

Again, choose your battles SGT - you still have a long way to go and I'm speaking with 26 years of service. I could have told a many leaders to KMA...but I chose my battles. Keep pushin - don't let your dingle dangle dingle in the dirt...

coffee or another beverage outdoors one salutes coming to attention, dropping binder, switching hands with the coffee container, and salute ...done! when they pass pick up the binder tuck it under your left arm and move out smartly! did I say to switch the coffee over?! NO!

As 1sLt Lieutenant who went through the enlisted ranks, I believe a salute is expected and due the superior. Put the carried items aside or lower them to the floor/ground and salute. It is just individuals in the Armed Service do. It is what makes us seperate from civilian poulation!

It logically depends on what you are carrying. In your case, carry your mug in your left hand, tuck the binder under your left arm and render a salute. If you are carrying something that cannot be safely shifted, or that would be unsafe to lay aside, you need not salute. Most officers will tell you, or signal you, not to salute if they see such a situation. Common sense must prevail or some people might start carrying feathers in each hand just to avoid saluting.

When I was enlisted I would make it a habit to not carry things with my right hand, or if necessary, I would move items over to my left hand. Now that I’ve crossed over, I could care less if someone doesn’t render a salute because they’re holding something in both hands. The CSM doesn’t care about you, but he does care that the Capt saw that he cared.

Has the Army lost the art of juggling. I am sorry to say, if a coffee mug and a binder have you stumped. How in the world are you going to juggle(handle) 5, 10, 30, 60 plus troops in the future.

You have answered your own question.

In the Navy, it used to be "If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move, paint it."

If both hands were really occupied you would not be required to salute. However it would not be that much of a hardship to move the coffee cup to the hand with the binder and render a salute. As far as I am concerned the reprimand was legit.

If you are encumbered with both your hands you are not required to render a salute, however, I question the "cup of coffee" excuse. I had at one time been walking across base with another sailor and I had a heavy box in both hands, being engaged in a discussion with my fellow PO he did not see the butter bar walking by whom turned and asked "Is something wrong with your elbow, sailor?" My buddy Tim had injured himself by tearing his shoulder out of socket and was on TDU with the Charleston Naval hospital at the time, thinking he was being addressed by one of the members of the Jessee L Brown crew who knew about his injury Tim extended his hand as if to shake the butter bar's hand...and the little butter bar's face soured. I said "Tim, I think he wants you to salute him." Now, I have to admit, I had the Chesshire cat grin going on because I was purposeful fkng with the butter bar since I knew that he knew that I did not have to put the box down and salute him. His face turned beet red, my buddy Tim popped tall and saluted the butter bar who returned the salute all the while I had a shit eating grin ear to ear because Butter Bar knew that I was fkng with him. Knowing the rules the game can be fun.