Do you salute officers if they are on a vehicle that is not properly identified and has no colors or standards?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 14:37:57 -0500

Response by Maj John Bell made Dec 6 at 2020 3:40 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 15:40:46 -0500

How do you know if they are an officer? Because you know them, I presume. If you know it is an officer, yes, you salute.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Dec 6 at 2020 4:03 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 16:03:09 -0500

You always salute when you recognize an Officer.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2020 4:27 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 16:27:33 -0500

Why would you if you don't know there is an officer in it?

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Dec 6 at 2020 4:27 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 16:27:51 -0500

When it is common knowledge yes. If you know them or can see that they are officers yes. If you have no idea who/what they are, they are in an unmarked vehicle and in civilian clothes then there is no reason you would salute and should be a non-issue. You wouldn't salute the officer because with everything stated you wouldn't know anything that says they are. Seems pretty cut and dry

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 6 at 2020 4:32 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 16:32:08 -0500

What does TC 3-21.5?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2020 6:34 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 18:34:16 -0500

I thought General Officers had a Red Placard on the front of the vehicle with their Star(s) either in place of the front plate or on the dashboard. Saluting that vehicle is spelled out clear as day in the regs, and such a vehicle probably has an LT driving the GEN.

Other than that, I can't presume soldiers are checking who is in any given vehicle that they are in proximity of.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 6 at 2020 7:00 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 19:00:21 -0500

I rode around in several types of military vehicles and lots of POVs in uniform for many years. Only time I was saluted was going through a gate or on Lackland. Generally in AF only cars and aircraft with placards get saluted.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Dec 6 at 2020 7:01 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 19:01:11 -0500

If I know for sure it is an officer, yes. Otherwise if you can't tell it is an officer I don' think you have any obligation to salute. In the Corps (At Camp Lejeune anyways) the officers had a blue base sticker, enlisted red, no sticker, I considered a visitor.

Response by SSG Dennis R. made Dec 6 at 2020 7:10 PM

SSG Dennis R. — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 19:10:43 -0500

As a brand-new PVT I saluted a blue-stickered VW bug as it entered an intersection on Ft Rucker. Probably not the best thing to do -- the full bull driving the bug returned the salute & promptly stalled the damn thing & I had to shag ass.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2020 9:27 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 21:27:08 -0500

What are they teaching in basic now?.

Response by SPC Gary Watson made Dec 6 at 2020 10:14 PM

SPC Gary Watson — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 22:14:23 -0500

When we were on Gate Duty we were told to salute officers vehicles that were identified with a numbered blue bumper sticker. If a vehicle did not have either a red, green, or blue sticker that vehicle was stopped and identification was required. If an officer then produced his or her ID showing their rank then a salute was rendered and their purpose for getting on base was determined before issuing a visitor pass.

Response by SSG Greg Miech made Dec 7 at 2020 12:00 AM

SSG Greg Miech — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 00:00:48 -0500

It is reasonable to identify the vehicle belonging to a officer or actual rank of the officer should be saluted, however while walking over 6 paces from the vehicle I do not think so. One should not have to walk and observe every vehicle if there is an officer. At the gate just salute the ID Tag. One does not know if it is the wife or actual female officer traditionally.

Response by SMSgt Keith Klug made Dec 7 at 2020 6:53 AM

SMSgt Keith Klug — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 06:53:01 -0500

My very first commander had a distinctive personal car. It was easy to identify. When he came by almost everyone saluted him. Plus, he was a great commander who would fight for us. So, Yes.

Response by SSG Clayton Blackwell made Dec 7 at 2020 8:30 AM

SSG Clayton Blackwell — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 08:30:48 -0500

If I know them, sure, otherwise, no.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2020 11:03 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 11:03:11 -0500

I pay respects to my superiors with salutes, if I recognize them...just like I pay respects to my subordinates by standing up (when I’m seated). Respect is mutual....IMO

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2020 12:35 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 12:35:32 -0500

No, see AR 600-25 paragraph 2-1d.

Response by SSG Eric Blue made Dec 7 at 2020 2:23 PM

SSG Eric Blue — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 14:23:09 -0500

If you recognize the officer, then yes.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2020 3:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 15:17:25 -0500

I'm curious to know what happened to cause this question to be asked

Response by SFC Terry Bryant made Feb 27 at 2021 10:17 PM

SFC Terry Bryant — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 22:17:54 -0500

If YOU or a member of your group identify an officer and he is within the saluting distance and or location then by all means you salute. I seen my CO many times out in public in his civilian uniform and even then I referred to him as Sir or LTC and last name. With a heart salute also if on or off post. Common courtesy my friend.

Response by SFC Terry Bryant made Feb 27 at 2021 10:20 PM

SFC Terry Bryant — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 22:20:40 -0500

Response by CPL Joseph Elinger made Mar 6 at 2021 3:50 PM

CPL Joseph Elinger — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 15:50:13 -0500

Clearly discretionary, especially if you, or they are in civies.