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

Unless you are in the middle of a working party and literally cannot free a hand to salute, or in a uniform that renders this irrelevant (thank you naval service), yes you must. A coffee cup does not cover it. Ever. At all. And props to whoever pointed out that you don’t have a right hand when in uniform except under a precious few circumstances.

I think I would have put the binder down and saluted.

The AR is the official answer. Unfortunately, some CSMs can be confrontational. Best practice is to keep your right hand free when moving about, so you can render a salute when necessary, and avoid getting dressed down by roving bands of zealous senior NCOs.

SGT, if a Master Chief I were walking with demanded that an approaching Petty Officer drop everything and render a salute to me, I would question that Master Chief's cognitive skills; his leadership skills left none to question. You are not required to render a salute; however, as a matter of courtesy one should greet the officer with a respectful greeting after which the officer should respond accordingly. You fulfilled your responsibilities both as a person and as a subordinate. BZ

unless something has changed, if your right hand is carrying something you should move the items you are carrying to your left hand and give the salute with the greeting of the day .

if both hands are full you can stop place the items on the ground come to the position of attention, salute with the greeting of the day. or as you walk by just give the Greeting of the day,

if you are in a work detail, the person in charge of the work detail salutes and gives greeting of the day .

if at all posable always move the item from your hand and give the hand salute, with the proper greeting of the day.

if you are reprimanded for having both hands full, just take the Reprimanded and inform your chain of command of what happen and why you did not render the salute, show your command the regs and let him or her handle the situation with the officer in question.

It's been a few years since I've been on active duty (well, 50 years to be exact). But, reading this and other postings about this topic makes me realize that different eras have given way to different priorities within the military.

Of course I've always rendered a salute to an officer whenever and wherever possible. However, back in my day, officers and enlisted personnel alike seemed so much more concerned about the actual mission of the military rather than seeking out situations where a saluting protocol was somehow violated. There was even an appreciated (and often necessary) camaraderie between enlisted and officer ranks that, in my opinion, resulted in a more effective and efficient military.

Has the military really changed that much in only fifty years??

Get rid of people who are so petty. I had a simillar situation many years ago. It was Sunday I was off duty asleep in the barracks after pulling a 12 hr shift. A 2nd louie came in who was a former E-5 and went to OCS. I Opened my sleepy eyes and looked at him and he said " Don't you know enough to get up and salute and officer" to which I got up weraing my boxers which were loose at the fly and probably open to expose my junk somewhat and I gave him the most Beetel Baily sad sack salute you could imagine. So much respect for him who I would imagine if he made it to Nam was prbably fragged! Those are not the kind of cadre you want or need but the ones who inspire you that you such would drop whatever you were doing and run over to salute them. Don't hold your breath now with this wokeism crap running rampant.

Sounds like to me you're purposely trying to get out of a salute. Those are not large heavy bulky items. Quickly move the binder to under your arm and mug in left hand. Just do it. Sounds like both CSM /CPT are being hard on you for a reason. Just comply and don't make matters harder for yourself. That regulation is for items that literally require both hands.

AR 600-25 overrides illiterate CSM

Stop drinking coffee when you're outdoors and salute at every opportunity.