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

Stop.. Put the mug in your left hand, with binder. Salute the Officer and move along.
Or as LTC Burch says, give the item that's in your right hand to the CSM and then salute the officer.
I think after that, the CSM will think about his attitude.
You think an officer would drop what's in his right hand and return a salute. Don't think so.
I have had the occasion of having an officer nod his head, while making eye contact with me. I saluted, nodded my head in acknowledgement and carried (moved) on.

When in doubt, SALUTE!!!

Silliness, the rules are the rules. Hands are full, you don't salute.

Was this binder the size of a small car? Sounds like you could have tucked it under your left arm and held the cup with your left hand and rendered the salute. If this wasn't possible, then tell me I'm wrong and I'll scroll on by.

The officer should have stated "Carry on Soldier" would have been the correct response. Also could have stopped and set down what was in your right hand and when the officer approaches, render the Salute and carry one.

Many people are failing to read the full reg on saluting. The main thing is the part says not rewuired to salute if BOTH HANDS ARE OCCUPIED SO AS TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SALUTE (my paraphrase). The first time she was stopped by a CSM she was told what she was doing was incorrect.(She was given the local commands reading of the reg) A mug in one hand binder she had in her hand do not qualify as a two hands to be occupied she must salute PER THE REGULATION. About the dumvest thing any service (all inclusive)member can do is continue doing something they have been clearly told is in violatin of regs and orders.IF YOU BELIVE YOU ARE BEING TOLD SOMETHING YOU WERE DOING IS SOME SORT OF VIOLATION tHAT IS THE TIME TO CHALLANGE THE PERSON.i HAVE DONE IT AND BEEN CORRECT TO INCLUDE cHALLANGING A MG GENERAL IN IS OFFICE.I was cleared to go and his offficer chief of section relieved and sent to a company line job. We were in RVN.

SGT Gianna Martin, I dont want to say this sounds like a “NEWBIE” thing, but when I joined back in the 1985, you move it to a different hand or arm, so that you can give that “SALUTE”. Some times an OFFICER in your unit will let that “SLIDE”, but I would not push a friendship. If I was you I go back to BASICS when doing things. I would have for you to get AT 15. If that happens that could take you off the promotion list, getting a better assignment (TDY - 90 day) or etc. Like a Country of CHOICE.

What if the CPT was the one with both hands full would he be in the wrong to fail to return the salute?

The correct answer is, if both yours hands are legitimately indisposed, you still acknowledge the officer with the greeting of the day. If the officer's hands ars indisposed, you still salute him. He will acknowledge with the greeting of the day or some other signal.

A binder? What kind of binder requires both hands?