Do non- US Cizilian dependants have to stop for Retreat to Honor the Flag on a military installation?

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Posted >1 y ago

My wife is not a citizen and still stops and places her hand over her heart for the National anthem whether at a ceremony or during retreat. She's more patriotic than some actual citizens.

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SFC Mark Merino

>1 y

Same here.

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SFC Rollie Hubbard

>1 y

I would say yes they should stop and place their hand over the heart.

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TSgt (Join to see)

>1 y

Anyone on post or on base is a guest of the United States Armed Forces. Just as when you are a guest in someone's home, you honor and follow their traditions, so should any guest on a military installation. It's not only about respect to the nation. It's about respect and honor to those who's home you are a guest in.

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SFC (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

I believe everyone should stop if on the installation(you dont have to salute). In Korea, if you go to the movies they play there national anthem and you will get in trouble if you do not stand. Its about respect. If you have a dependant who is non US you should fill them in on respect if they dont know.

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SSG Robert Blum

12 y

SSG Graves, I am with you, My spouse is a US Citizen by birth, but she wasn't an Army Brat, so she just didn't know why every morning at 0630 when we lived in the Historic Red Bricks right next to Building 1 on Fort Bliss, that the cannons fired, and the music played. I explained it to her and she understands now, and she will stop and place her hand on her heart during flag calls. But regardless of my believes, there is no one that can Force her to do it if she decided that she did not want to.

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SPC (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

In my opinion everybody should stop for retreat. Being a naturalized citizen myself, I make sure if I am outside I stop what I am doing and pay my respect.

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CDR Michael Goldschmidt

Posted >1 y ago

Well...yeah. When you're a visitor in someone's home or someone's country, you honor them by observing their customs. It's simply genteel. It's simply good etiquette.

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SSG Robert Blum

Posted 12 y ago

Negative, stopping for retreat is only required for Military members. Even American dependents are not required to observe flag calls, tho many of them out of respect for their service member do.

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SSG Robert Blum

12 y

MSG Davis, I have heard of installations where we stop all traffic during flag calls, but dependents are not required to exit their vehicles and render honors. Like I said some do, some don't. For a service member who fails to render honors I can write them a traffic citation, kind of like if you get a ticket for crossing the road in a location where a cross walk is not present "jay walking". At the bottom of the DD 1408 there is a comment block where I would write "In violation of AR 600-25 Salutes, Honors, and Visits of Courtesy Failed to render honors during flag call." or something to that effect. That is a way for me to get the attention to the chain of command. However I prefer to just give an Oral reprimand and some On the Spot education. I cannot do that with a dependent there is no precedence or regulation for me to cite requiring them to do so.

Traffic laws are different, they are not governed by Army Policy. Each installation enforces the traffic laws of the state in which they are located, and can be enforced with either the DD1408 (No Fines assessed, Usually reserved for violations such as Cell Phone use in a state where there is no law against it but the post prohibits it.) and the CVB where the violator is charged under state law and is assessed a fine. Even with criminal cases Soldiers are charged under UCMJ, and Civilians are charged under 18 USC. Its kinda like a spouse cannot be charged disrespect towards an officer.

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MSG Cameron Davis

12 y

SSG Blum, I guess I misunderstood the question. I thought the question was simply that they needed to stop (as in driving). Let me rephrase my statement. I do not think that any spouse needs or should get out of the car and render honors. My intent was simply that they need to stop the car. As for walking, I agree with SGM Quick.

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SSG Robert Blum

12 y

Authority/ Reference for who and for what?

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SSG Robert Blum

12 y

MSG Davis, Some bases do, and others don't, depending on the CG and the Garrison Commanders Policies, and from an MP perspective we can only enforce what is in writing. For example, Here at Baumholder we do not stop traffic, However when I am the patrol supervisor, if not busy my patrols will stage near garrison HQ I'll park safely in the middle of the traffic circle, and we will render honors to the Flag during flag call, to set the example, Most stop when they see us and do what we are doing, others drive on by, if they are in uniform, We stop them and we make the on the spot correction. Because there is an Army Policy that requires Soldiers to stop and render honors, but there is not a post policy that says that all traffic must stop. I agree hole heartedly, that every American should honor the flag, Some Soldiers don't explain to their spouses what Flag call is all about, and some Spouses just don't care, and we have no control over that.

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