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

As I recall if you have your hands occupies all you have to say is good morning or afternoon and by your leave

I was a medical officer, "drafted", volunteered in 1965. Stationed in Korea but felt a need to go to RVN. There had a dispensary until given command of a medical clearing co. I stayed there for 18 months because I feared I would not be able to live in the "stateside army". No, I was never a "real" soldier but the shˆt like whether to salute if you'e got stuff in both hands is why I stayed in Vietnam.

Yeah it is insultingly stupid sometimes. I was being med-evac from Camp Casey Korea back to a stateside hospital for surgery. Had to do all the outprocessing and get the stamps and signatures to allow me to depart the country. My right arm was in a sling, and while outprocessing the post office, I passed an officer and gave a greeting of the day to him. He passed by a couple paces and then turns around to correct my PVT error. He asked if in Basic Training are they still teaching that a Pvt should salute an officer? I was utterly in shock and just attempted a feeble attempt at a salute with my arm in a sling and offer an appolgy. The look on his face was enough embarssement that he did not realize I was carrying my outproccessing paperwork in my un-injured hand. I still wished he would have appologiezed for not recognizing my failure to salute was not out of disrespect. Believe me my short 3 month stay in Korea was not the best experience in my Military Career. Prior to the injury I was stopped and asked why I didnt salute an officer. Well, sir, I been in country a few weeks, just got my pass priveleges, and that person is in civilian clothes. How do I know they are an officer? I don't need a 1SG or CSM bitching at me for saluting them when they are in civilian attire.

Depends on the articles in hand. Both hands required to carry a package or several based on weight then you can acknowledge the respect that is due to the particular Ranks. In this situation the binder could have been placed under the arm for security and the cup move to the non-saluting hand, which will able you to salute.

Typical Garrison silliness!!! I would always tell my troops to just give the greeting of the day... don't fumble things just to render a salute. That's not being disrespectul, it's being safe and practical. I had some troops with a baby in one hand and diaper bag in another... don't drop the baby!!! Anybody who feels heartburn about really needing a salute in that kind of situation should stand in front of the mirror and salute themselves.

If both your hands are legitimately occupied, an acknowledgement of the officer with a courtesy of the day would be respectful of his rank. An officer should appreciate your circumstances.

How about leaving the coffee cup behind if it interferes with your ability to render proper customs and courtesies. After you drop of your other items, you can go back for that beloved coffee cup. Always think ahead.

You can quote regulations to show you are in the right or you can apologize, put it down, stand at attention and render the salute then not suffer the future BS you will encounter by being correct.

Gl arguing with the CSM. What are you looking for here?
The reg says you don’t have to , the CSM gave his interpretation. Take a chewing and move on.

I was leading my group of Ladies back to the barracks. I called for a shift of everything into left hands and saluted the Officer and then carried on.