Do you salute someone who is wearing civilian clothes?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 May 2019 23:41:55 -0400

I was informed yesterday, by a ssg, that if you see an officer (for army) in civilians, you salute. Is this legit?

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made May 17 at 2019 12:00 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Fri, 17 May 2019 00:00:11 -0400

You can but it is not mandatory
I had a general who just came out of the bx in ramstein salute me in his 911. He knew I was retired. I did not now him.

Response by SSG Brian G. made May 17 at 2019 1:43 AM

SSG Brian G. — Fri, 17 May 2019 01:43:17 -0400

If you recognize the officer out of uniform and CHOOSE to salute, you may. It is a matter of chosen respect, not requirement and anyone that says that it is required is either an idiot or is hazing you. The next time said SSG retells that, hand him or her a copy of AR 600-25 C 1 (1-5) and roll on. Then aSk for a box of ground guides when he finds the AR wording that states what he claims.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made May 17 at 2019 3:33 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Fri, 17 May 2019 03:33:41 -0400

I believe the regs say that upon recognizing a superior officer, you must render a salute and hold it until it is returned or you have passed them.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made May 17 at 2019 9:35 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Fri, 17 May 2019 09:35:04 -0400

Used to be (Yes) if you knew they were an officer. Now according to AR 600-25 Salutes and Honors, Para 1-5 it's not required. You may want to politely share this with the SSG.

i. Salutes are not required to be rendered or returned when the senior or subordinate, or both are—
(1) In civilian attire.
(2) Engaged in routine work if the salute would interfere.
(3) Carrying articles with both hands so occupied as to make saluting impracticable.
(4) Working as a member of a detail, or engaged in sports or social functions where saluting would present a safety
hazard.
(5) In public places such as theaters, churches, and in public conveyances.
(6) In the ranks of a formation.

Personally if I ran into someone from the unit, who I knew was an officer I would render the salute and greeting of the day, just as a courtesy. Also depending on the rank and time in service of the individual they may not be familiar with the change in wording and whipping a high ball is easier than explaining to some old fart that the reg has changed.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 17 at 2019 9:55 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 17 May 2019 09:55:07 -0400

IMO saluting is an honored tradition and custom. Saluting in civilian clothes is okay, not required, and should be done with the environment and mission in mind. For example, you happen to meet a lady you know is a major in civilian clothes while you’re in uniform as an E5. You both are on a sidewalk leading to the Medical center. A salute may be rendered and returned. Take the same circumstances and move the location to outside the airport in a Middle Eastern country. Saluting could endanger the major’s life, so don’t.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made May 17 at 2019 11:02 AM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Fri, 17 May 2019 11:02:06 -0400

Service dependent.
Excerpt from the Bluejackets Manual:
In Civilian Clothes
If you are in uniform and recognize an officer in
civilian clothes, you should initiate the proper greeting
and salute. In time of war, however, an officer not in
uniform may be deliberately avoiding disclosure of
his/her identity, so you should be cautious in following
the normal peacetime rule.

Response by SPC William Weedman made May 17 at 2019 4:38 PM

SPC William Weedman — Fri, 17 May 2019 16:38:09 -0400

Once upon a time in Korea (1989) the Warrior Manual I was given when arriving in the 2ID, said that all officers were to be saluted, even off duty and in civilian clothes. Upon arriving at my unit I was told that no officer was to be saluted unless there were witnesses and only if both parties were in uniform. At Fort Hood (1990) there were signs everywhere that if you saw 2 specific vehicles (A HMMWV, A black Ford Crown Victoria) you had to salute. The Crown Victoria & HMMWV were not marked other than black tinted windows all the way around. The occupant of the III Corps CGs seat was a bit self-important...

Response by COL Gary Gresh made May 17 at 2019 4:41 PM

COL Gary Gresh — Fri, 17 May 2019 16:41:24 -0400

No. But occasionally I salute an old mentor whom I thought very highly of. It’s your choice. But not required.

Response by Cpl Thomas Lawrence Jr made May 17 at 2019 10:44 PM

Cpl Thomas Lawrence Jr — Fri, 17 May 2019 22:44:49 -0400

It doesn't seem logical, but I am a Marine. MP's have to salute the stickers on Officer's vehicles upon their entry to the base.

Response by SPC Mark Cravotta made May 18 at 2019 6:42 AM

SPC Mark Cravotta — Sat, 18 May 2019 06:42:54 -0400

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2019 11:32 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 May 2019 23:32:12 -0400

Required, no. Awkward, yes. Greeting of some day with a sir on the end is more than enough.

Response by SPC John Decker made May 23 at 2019 1:26 PM

SPC John Decker — Thu, 23 May 2019 13:26:40 -0400

When I was in, you were not required to. If you respected the man or woman, you could. The Uniform demands respect.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2019 11:24 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 11:24:00 -0400

No. Yes, if you're familiar that officer.

Response by PO2 Tom Saldana made Jan 7 at 2020 2:44 PM

PO2 Tom Saldana — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 14:44:34 -0500

I learned during boot camp that if you see a familiar officer out of uniform, you salute her/him. I salute any one wearing a military cap especially a VietNam or Desert Storm veteran.

Response by SFC James (Jim) R Brown made Apr 17 at 2020 10:46 PM

SFC James (Jim) R Brown — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 22:46:29 -0400

To my knowledge you do not salute if the officer is in civilians clothes. You might check AR 600-25.

Response by PO3 Stephen Moltenbrey made Apr 30 at 2021 3:48 PM

PO3 Stephen Moltenbrey — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:48:33 -0400

I recently was shopping and walked past a gentleman wearing a CG cap. There’s so few of us so I stopped and gave my usual greeting “ always good to see another Coastie. When and where did you serve?” I took me a minute to notice the silver oak leaf on his hat. He explained that he went from E-1 to O-5 in 30 years. We talked about where we had been stationed, what we had done. At the end of our conversation I came to attention and saluted. He did the same and returned it. Can there be an improper way to show respect?

Response by Cpl Steven Brewer made Jul 9 at 2021 8:48 PM

Cpl Steven Brewer — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 20:48:40 -0400

No, it's not legit at all. You salute the rank, not the person; You have to respect the rank, not the person.

Response by MSgt Joseph Townsend made Oct 28 at 2021 3:21 PM

MSgt Joseph Townsend — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 15:21:57 -0400

If the individual is wearing the Congressional Metal of Honor I would if it was displayed.

Response by Cpl Ed Casala made Oct 28 at 2021 6:17 PM

Cpl Ed Casala — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 18:17:59 -0400

When I was in, yes. My favorite was to wait until our LT was working on his car with his head under the hood and walk by and salute just to try and get him to bang his head on the car. Got him twice and we are still good friends to this day.

Response by SFC Michael W. made Dec 21 at 2021 11:27 PM

SFC Michael W. — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 23:27:14 -0500

The bottom line is this...be courteous AND be respectful if you see or recognize them. Some may be hostile if you do not render a salute while others go about their way.

If however, you do encounter one being hostile and demands a salute then simply render a salute to diffuse the situation and carry on.

The old saying used to be "If in doubt...WHIP IT OUT"!!!

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Dec 24 at 2021 3:28 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 15:28:02 -0500

The correct wording is "recognize" them as an officer. Does not apply if in a hostile fire scenario - unless you don't like them, then salute and hold it. here's a link to the Army Regulation 600–25
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN20654_R600_25_Admin_FINAL.pdf

ARN20654_R600_25_Admin_FINAL.pdf

Response by A1C Michelle Pagan made Dec 24 at 2021 6:57 PM

A1C Michelle Pagan — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 18:57:57 -0500

No. But some people still salute out of respect even after years of being retired. To me, it's a sign of respect, but not a requirement.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Dec 25 at 2021 12:13 AM

Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 00:13:04 -0500

My brother outranks me by time in grade. At family reunions, I will salute him, saying "It's not that I have to, it's that I want to." We're both O-6's.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2022 8:57 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 20:57:15 -0400

I suppose you can, but I'm pretty sure there's not much they can do if you don't die especially if you're in cilivians too. And there's to old "no hat, no salute" rule as well. You can always look up the regs to make sure. But it sounds like one of those rules passed down by word if mouth rather then being paragraph and line.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2022 6:34 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 18:34:22 -0400

The only person you should salute when they are wearing civilians is the President.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2022 9:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 21:47:47 -0400

No you dont have.