Do junior officers only salute senior officers and admirals and do senior officers only salute admirals?

2014-06-17T18:07:04-04:00

O-1 to O-3 salute O-4 to O-10

O-4 salutes O-5 to O-10

O-5 to O-6 salute O-7 to O-10

In short junior officers only salute senior officers and admirals
and senior officers only salute admirals.

Is this a safe line of thinking?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2014 6:10 PM

2014-06-17T18:10:55-04:00

The junior should always salute the senior.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 17 at 2014 6:12 PM

2014-06-17T18:12:11-04:00

An officer salutes anyone who outranks them, and is saluted by anyone they outrank.

Response by CPT Kyle Schembechler made Jun 17 at 2014 6:18 PM

2014-06-17T18:18:43-04:00

I think I saw another thread like this...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2014 9:13 AM

2014-06-18T09:13:00-04:00

The real question is if they are all Navy Seals who salutes who?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 18 at 2014 9:39 AM

2014-06-18T09:39:36-04:00

Do ensigns stand at attention for and salute LT(JG)s?

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Jun 18 at 2014 9:42 AM

2014-06-18T09:42:01-04:00

Technically the only people you do not salute are those of your own rank since you will be saluting superiors and returning salutes of those subordinate.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 18 at 2014 9:58 AM

2014-06-18T09:58:06-04:00

Warning: This post is about to be consumed by the "Does a 2LT...", RallyPoint sub culture.

"Attention all planets of the Solar Federation, we have assumed control"
- Rush "2112"

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made Jun 18 at 2014 10:21 AM

2014-06-18T10:21:56-04:00

Why do we keep seeing these questions? I remember...was it...yes! DAY ONE in the Army they taught me who and when to salute! Everyone from the lowest ranking private to the highest ranking 5-star (yes there is such a thing) General salutes someone, either initiating the salute or returning the salute. I don't understand why everyone is so hung up on this. The salute is not a bad thing. It is the greeting between practitioners of the profession of arms, and is rendered out of respect to that persons rank, position, and profession. I have seen those of equal rank salute each other to show respect. I have saluted those who I personally thought were a$$holes because I was rendering respect to the rank and to the traditions of the service, not because I was saluting the person. Yes, 2LTs salute 1LTs. Yes, LTCs salute COLs. What about this subject is hard to understand? Jeez. I swear, the next person that asks about saluting on this website........ Oh yeah, before anyone asks, we ALL salute the President, regardless of who holds the office! WHEN IN DOUBT, WHIP IT OUT! Nobody will ever be pissed at you for saluting, but if you don't salute when you are supposed to...then you might catch a butt chewing.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2014 10:32 AM

2014-06-18T10:32:17-04:00

OK. Here's the way to look at this. By the rules we are supposed to salute all officers senior to us. So technically yes, an Ensign should salute a JG. It is routinely customary that if you work closely with others at your command and see them often you will not always salute among the O1-O3 ranks and other like ranks may not salute each other. But you will be well within regulations if you salute every officer that outranks you. I hope this answers your questions.

Response by SSG Richard Stevens made Jun 19 at 2014 7:11 AM

2014-06-19T07:11:42-04:00

I would say yes

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2014 7:15 AM

2014-06-19T07:15:06-04:00

Here's my answer

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-saluting-really-that-hard-to-understand?

Is saluting really that hard to understand? | RallyPoint

OK for all the salute threads here on rallypoint, I really want to understand why there is so much discussion? They all ask should it happen, not does it happen. The answer is clear per TC 3-25.1 Appendix A paragraph A-1. A-1. WHEN TO SALUTE Army personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled (by grade) to a salute except when it is inappropriate or impractical (in public conveyances such as planes...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2014 1:06 PM

2014-06-19T13:06:17-04:00

Salute anyone of higher rank. Don't over think it.

Response by SFC Michael W. made Jun 22 at 2014 11:34 PM

2014-06-22T23:34:52-04:00

When I was in the Navy, junior officers (Ensign) always saluted everyone higher of his rank...period.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2014 11:41 PM

2014-06-22T23:41:21-04:00

This sounds strangely like does a 2LT salute a 1LT

Response by CPO Scott Boyle made Jul 18 at 2014 2:37 PM

2014-07-18T14:37:44-04:00

The only time you wouldn't salute anyone higher ranking than yourself is if you are in a war zone. Otherwise, if it out ranks you, you salute it. Period.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2014 12:13 PM

2014-07-31T12:13:51-04:00

No, not at all.

Going by regs, at least in the Army junior officers salute all senior officers. Sometimes there are informal agreements between ranks, such as 2LT and 1LT which preclude saluting, but for the most part, you salute all superior officers.

Response by PO1 Joseph Silvers made Sep 23 at 2014 6:30 PM

2014-09-23T18:30:36-04:00

Everyone, regardless of enlisted/officer rank, is required to salute a MOH awardee...otherwise follow normal military regulations unless in a hostile
fire zone...the enemy loves to "take out" senior officers" first

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Feb 11 at 2016 12:22 PM

2016-02-11T12:22:46-05:00

I was in the Army but no, it is not. The only officers I did not salute were 1LTs(O-2s) when I was a 2LT(O-1). Anything else is begging for trouble.

Response by PO1 Rudy Dowdy made Jul 8 at 2017 12:37 AM

2017-07-08T00:37:15-04:00

Yes if they out rank you. You salute them.
E's salute Os and Os salute senior Os

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2019 6:14 PM

2019-03-11T18:14:10-04:00

I salute any officer who outranks me. I accessioned at a O2-1LT (Chaplain) and always saluted an O3/CPT.

Response by CPT William Jones made May 12 at 2021 4:01 AM

2021-05-12T04:01:17-04:00

Everybody salutes every officer that outranks them. From W1 to O10. So all enlisted salute every officer and officers all that outrank themselves

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 7 at 2021 12:31 PM

2021-11-07T12:31:25-05:00

OK... I'm absolutely stunned. How did you get to be a LTJG and not know the answer to this? How did you get commissioned? If you are in fact commissioned, your commissioning source failed you. Find your copy of the Bluejackets Manual. Take as much leave as your command will allow. Lock yourself in your quarters. Do not exit your quarters until you have read the Bluejackets Manual cover to cover so many times that you know the meat of every chapter, section, and paragraph.

Response by Maj John Bell made Apr 8 at 2022 4:45 PM

2022-04-08T16:45:53-04:00

I believe it is service dependent, possibly event command specific (some commands are just looser about following traditions or have a specific reason for a non-saluting policy). In general Marine and Naval officers with a single bar, (Lt's, Ens, CWO's and WO's) do not exchange salutes amongst each other. There are exceptions, this is not an exhaustive list:
_Assuming a post or relief of post to include officer of the day and officer of the deck. The relief initiates the salute regardless of seniority to indicate they have formally assumed the duties of the post.
_Participants in parades and ceremonies. Who initiates the salute is dictated by billet, not by seniority.
_Requesting permission to board or depart a vessel in port. The person requesting permission initiates the salute.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 4 at 2022 11:21 AM

2022-10-04T11:21:21-04:00

Yes, but it's also "traditional" (but not by regulation) for everyone (irrespective of their grade) to salute any service member awarded the MOH. This includes POTUS.

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2023 10:58 AM

2023-06-24T10:58:31-04:00

Sir, in the Navy we have "JOPA". In normal Navy circumstances O1 to O3 do not salute one another, unless there are junior enlisted present. It's similar to how we use our naming conventions, with O1 to O3 being on first name basis (when not around enlisted) and customs/courtesies being extended to Senior Officers. That said, though in the Navy O4 is still a JO, we don't really categorize them as "true JOs". It's fun to tease them about, but they are no longer "one of us".

Other branches normally extend customs and courtesies up and down regardless. The Navy is unique in our traditions. However, should you cross paths with a member of another force, expect to salute someone of a higher rank.