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

If you are able to move the item to your left hand, do that and render the salute. If you're holding an item(s) that require both hands, then you don't salute, but you should still go to attention and render the greeting of the day.

This question is four years old so I'm wondering if anyone will even see new comments. But here goes. I was very well liked by all the Officers in every unit I had been assigned. I was not always well liked by all NCOs, though.
Anyway, I've had this happen to me once when I had both hands full of Medical supplies(I was a Medic at that time). I was approaching one of the Captains in my unit who I've gone to a German Restaurant with other Officers before. We were passing by each other and I simply said to him, "I salute you, Sir". He told me, "It's ok Bob, I see you got your hands full".
They called me Bob because of my last name. But it always seemed that I always got along way better with Officers than most of the NCOs. We hung out together off duty fraternizing be damned. Lol. Anyway, that's my unable to salute story. God Blessed. Happy New Year!

You are correct and the CSM is wrong. I find it interesting that a CSM at this point in his/her career doesn't know the regulation on saluting with hands full.

When I was stationed at Fort Campbell My wife and I were walking In the PX Parking Lot, Had a Bag of stuff we got at the exchange in one hand and carrying my baby daughter with my right hand. My wife was holding the hand of my other daughter with her left hand. A Colonel was coming near us, I said "Good morning sir, my WIFE lifted her right hand up and saluted the Colonel. He looked at her and said "Carry On Soldier".

Was it impossible to put the mug on the binder to free up your right hand and render the salute?

Seriously, you are not coordinated enough to transfer both items to your left hand and surrender your salute with the right? Really.

Pretty sad, there are CSMs out there who think they can do no wrong. Any officer worth their salt would understand the situation.

Seriously?
You've never tucked your binder under your arm and switched hands for your cup?
Hell, I got so used to it, even today I can't carry a binder in my hand. It always gets tucked.
Now if your hands were full of books or equipment, that may be another story.
I'm sure the saying still applies:
"If in doubt, whip it out."

At the least, make an effort.
In a training environment, expect the strict enforcement.
Garrison, it depends on your command. You should know who to avoid.
In the field, be sure to use "Sniper Check" as the greeting of the day

Now if you were on a work detail, you keep working while the team leader addresses the officer. But that is a totally different scenario.

Unless they've changed the rules,no you don't have to salute.but I guess the CSM figured you could have put one of the items in the none saluteing hand to show respect.but that's doing to much

Yes