Posted on Dec 14, 2020
Do I need to render a salute to an officer when my hands are occupied?
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This is the second time I’ve gotten reprimanded for this situation. I was walking with a binder in my hands, and a mug in the other hand. I walked past a CSM and a CPT, greeted both as I was unable to salute. CSM stopped me and demanded that I drop everything to salute the CPT. AR 600-25 states that I am not required to render a salute if I am carrying articles with both hands. What is the right answer?
Customs and Courtesies
Saluting
Officers
Enlisted
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 633
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Typical CSM no if your hands are full you just have to give them recognition Good morning Sir. I was at Ft. Gordon an AIT student had his left arm in a sling and was carrying his books in his right hand. He dropped his books to salute me. I picked up his books told him soldier I see your arm is in a sling all you have to do is give me a greeting.
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Reminds me of my earlier days I the supply room.
1st Sgt comes in & asks: "Who's in charge here?"
I took a quick look around & replied: "You are, 1st Sgt." He looked like a deer at headlights for a moment, then grinned & shook his head. Funny thing. I never "kissed brass," but I think I always had their confidence. LOL!
1st Sgt comes in & asks: "Who's in charge here?"
I took a quick look around & replied: "You are, 1st Sgt." He looked like a deer at headlights for a moment, then grinned & shook his head. Funny thing. I never "kissed brass," but I think I always had their confidence. LOL!
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I'll speak for myself. NO! I wouldn't want any soldier or sailor to struggle to render a salute. Just a nice greeting will do. I know many JO's who are so enamored with gold that they have their heads cross threaded in place and demand real dumb stuff.
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SSG Douglas Shaffer
Struggle? It's a binder and a cup of coffee, had he been carrying an 81mm mortar tube then yes, but he wasn't, and this was his second infraction for the same thing.
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No, any officer should recognize that you are unable, however the greeting of the day is a must.
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The salute is intended to be a dignified military greeting, not a test of manual dexterity. Therefore, you aren’t required to give a salute when encumbered (that is when both hands are full), but you should give a verbal greeting. I had a Special Forces second lieutenant pull that shit on me. I had just gotten home from Nam and was walking out of the bank, counting my money and looking down, when this airhead demand that I salute. I didn't see him until he said something,
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SPC Harry Pitt
CPT William Jones - Exactly my point. No One cleared our landing zone. One time they dropped us in Elephant Grass close to Nui Ba Din. It was at dusk and we could not set our gun or even see the other 5 guns until morning. There were still VC bodies in the area. That is only one example. We were in convoy one time when the call came in for us to set up right where we were because the Infantry needed help. I will not take anything from the Engineers but they could not be there all the time to clear positions. The point of light artillery is that they could drop us anywhere even if the area had not been cleared by the Engineers. Infantry is the Queen of battle, Artillery is the King of battle. We used to say "Balls to the Queen"
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CPT William Jones
I was just curious. My BN HQ for awhile was in lie khe. I am very familiar with places you named and rode in helicopters all over 3 milt region ) 2 field forces) and built a couple fsb for the big guns. SPC Harry Pitt
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SPC Harry Pitt
SPC Harry Pitt - That is when I was there. We were set up next to the 8 inch and 155's Jan. 1966 60 Feb 1967
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Ha, Ha my favorite question. I appreciate a salute. But If I had a load in my hands-glad an officer understood, I had a load. I have a friend an 85 year old Korean war vet that he and I chat about salutes. He was a radio operator. As enlisted, I appreciated saluting an officer. A few officers, a salute was their ego-I understood that too. I appreciate discipline-the world needs to appreciate that too. Being Air Force, mostly I had great officer's no egos. I salute the question!
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Back in my day, we were not allowed to walk outside with an open food or beverage container. No open soda cans or coffee mugs. No walking around with a lit cigarette. And if you had items in both hands, you transitioned it all to your left hand, or put it down, and rendered a proper salute when necessary. Don't know what the Jarhead regs are now. We weren't allowed to wear sateens or cammies out in town. Now I understand they're allowed. Guess all the different services have different guidelines.
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CPL Barrie D Davey
Read my comment, 50% of us once a year have to salute with our left hand. been doing it since 1692. British, who are we and why do we do it?
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You are too cute by half!
The fact that you even know the regulation about exceptions is more damning than your lame excuse.
The officer has earned your respect, whether you want to give it or not.
You appear to have conveniently occupied your hands in order to diminish the respect you owe superiors. Get with the program or leave.
The fact that you even know the regulation about exceptions is more damning than your lame excuse.
The officer has earned your respect, whether you want to give it or not.
You appear to have conveniently occupied your hands in order to diminish the respect you owe superiors. Get with the program or leave.
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Suspended Profile
Officers do not earn respect to be saluted. They are Saluted because of RANK.
Bill Husztek
The presumption was that their rank is held by a competent officer and a gentleman who was a leader of men in battle. In organizations the size of the U.S. military regardless of changing mores, do you know a better standard? Keep it Simple.
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Give them AR 600-25. Apologize politely. You are not required to give them a greeting of the day per the same AR, although it is encouraged. If your hands are full and it is impractical then you are not in the wrong. Period. If it was a binder and a coffee cup that could easily be carried in one arm. Just do it and get it over with. Most importantly, tell the CPT that you’ve had sex with 4 fat women in your life, and that his wife was 3 of them.
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You are correct to simply acknowledge the officer and you DO NOT need to render a hand salute.
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