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

That provision is for truly being hands full: carrying a litter with a patient, actively manipulating tools, holding something steady, MP’s conducting an investigation or making an apprehension, or when doing so would create a safety concern, etc. The colonel is correct, small object in each hand no.

This is what I was taught. If your hands are full, at least acknowledge the superior officer.

If you are carrying a box of photocopy paper or something that requires both hands, then the officer(s) will understand. If you see 3 LTCs and One Colonel, say Good Morning Colonel and Gentlemen/Lady etc. I dislike when I hear enlisted say 'Sirs'.

Some of these officers have type A personality of idiots. I would just say good afternoon sir or ma'am, chaplain or general. They will NOT get mad as long as you acknowledge them. If they have to lock you up like a drill sergeant, maybe they have mental issues.
LTC (Join to see) 1SG (Join to see) LTC (Join to see) Cpl Vic Burk CSM Darieus ZaGara CWO3 (Join to see) Capt Jeff S. SSgt Joseph Baptist

If you have something in each hand, you don't salute. You only have two hands. Even a CSM can count to two. If the CPT was worth a shit, he would have corrected the CSM.

If you legitimately carrying heavy objects such as boxes or sandbags with both of your hands then I don't think anyone would expect you to salute. But sounds to me you are just trying to playing the system and avoid saluting. How hard is it to tuck the binder under your left arm then salute? If you still trying to pull Army Regulation with CSM on this then you deserve to be dropped.

After reading your statement a few times just to wrap my head around what you said. Here is one of the best solutions to your dilemma. Stop walking. Adjust to have items in your left, especially if it's a binder. You can put mug in your left. Render the salute and greeting.

Stop playing Mickey Mouse games SGT. Leave that crap to the PVTs. Your not going to get sympathy from any Senior NCO's or Officers here. I might throw you a sniveling towel and tell you to Pull your head out of your collective a$$, correct your malfunction and move out smartly.

And remember, an ass chewing is just constructive criticism. Soldier on SGT.

Slap the binder under your left arm, coffee cup in your left hand. Abetted excuse would be carrying a Jeep engine in both hands.

Call me on. Be honest. You probably saw the CPT approaching from far enough away that you could have tucked the binder under your left are, continued holding your mouth g with your left hand, and saluted with your right. Yours sounds more like an excuse than a reason.

You can tuck the binder under the left arm, and then hold the cup in the left hand, this leaves the saluting hand open for saluting. If you're carrying something that requires to hands to maneuver then you don't need to salute.

I was active duty a long time ago (friends don't tell friends that 1980 was dirty one years ago). From the get-go, those I served with were trained to keep the right hand free. At the time, we were told it was to allow us to render the proper salute and greeting. If we were moving objects, using both hands, then the senior person (usually NCO in charge) would handle the greetings for the group.

As a young NCO, set your own standard higher than that expected of you, so the troops you are leading also have a higher standard than expected.