Posted on Dec 14, 2020
SGT Intelligence Analyst
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This is the second time I’ve gotten reprimanded for this situation. I was walking with a binder in my hands, and a mug in the other hand. I walked past a CSM and a CPT, greeted both as I was unable to salute. CSM stopped me and demanded that I drop everything to salute the CPT. AR 600-25 states that I am not required to render a salute if I am carrying articles with both hands. What is the right answer?
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SFC Dwight Beaver
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Yes. Do whatever you can to render that salute. I got busted for the same thing but it was a briefcase and coffee..
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SFC Christopher Burns
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Put whatever you have on the floor and salute from then on carry everything you have in your left and avoid that situation again
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MSgt Gilbert Flowers
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I’ve been out for awhile but in those days you carried zilch in your right hand while in uniform and were expected to render a salute. Of course it didn’t apply in field conditions. I also admit, I was a stickler for protocol.
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SGT Desmond Strait
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Always keep your right hands free of anything...
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A notable rule, however there can be times when that is not feasible.
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I agree, but an attempt must be made - If you are carrying boxes, that is understood.
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PO1 Don Roberts
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Binder goes under your left arm, cup into left hand, salute with your right.
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SPC Human Resources Specialist
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Absolutely, you must salute. Whether you are on a "Starbucks run" or food detail. You must "drop" everything on your right hand to render a salute to officers. That's a no brainer rule.
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SGT Section Sergeant
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CSM needs to re-familiarize himself with the AR. That being said, if I could avoid carrying something in my right hand, I would, mostly out of habit I suppose.
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SFC Carl Olney
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the only time I saluted an officer in Afghanistan was in the rear area. but all other situations make the effort most officers will tell you to carry on.
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SGT Jeremy Andrews
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It is situationally dependent. From my own experiences when not under arms during a patrol, or packing up a milbox for deployment, I stopped approximately 25 paces from the Company and Field Grade Officers out of their way, orderly placed my items on the ground and rendered the Salute. There are situations that would render that a moot point but that is the proper customs and courtesy taught to me by my NCO’s.
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CPT William Jones
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If it was possible to hold both the binder and your mug with your left arm and hand, and its obvious you can render a salute, then you should. Simply having "articles" in both hands such as a binder and a mug of coffee does not absolve you of this courtesy. On the other hand, if you truly are loaded down, you could have provided the appropriate greeting and acknowledged that you would salute if your hands were free and the Captain should have issued an "As You Were" command to acknowledge your courtesy. There seems to be some information missing and you have to ask yourself if you are being honest with yourself and everyone here with the information you have provided, or are you withholding information to your benefit. (e.g. such as a it was a 2 inch binder, versus carrying 5 - 4 inch binders and your coffee. Details matter. If you were truly laden down, the CSM and CPT were wrong to reprimand you, but if you were not, and were fully capable, then you were wrong and IAW policy, you are expected to render the appropriate courtesies.
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