Given the many posts about saluting Jr. Officers, what does/should it tell a 2nd Lt. (when he/she must return that salute) about their place?

As an old school vet I always salute the military personnel I meet in the airport or coffee shop. Not a letter perfect Lackland Airman Basic type but a friendly respectful hiball from one warrior to another.

I never felt “lower” than a superior officer in saluting him/her. I think it was more an affirmation that I recognized the position and authority. As I grew more comfortable in uniform, I became less conscious of my inexperience and more comfortable with the act itself. Hell, I even initiated salutes to equals and subordinates just our of courtesy.

First, they are not low man on the totem pole. When a junior initiated a salute with me, I never took it as them acknowledging that they are lower than me on the totem pole, I don't think I've ever known an officer that views the custom of saluting in that way.

Second, I clearly did not phrase my question correctly. My question has nothing to do with a junior officer saluting senior officers. As an individuals, The typical officer returns far more salutes in a given day than the typical enlisted person initiates. But you do not see posts on RP where officers complain about saluting juniors or for that matter seniors. Quite frankly, any officer that is getting an ego boost from a salute has a screw loose. That doesn't mean that a salute isn't special. It is a hand signal that you and I have a solemn agreement.

The junior agrees to offer immediate intelligent obedience, symbolized by a salute. In return the senior owes the junior every effort to be a technically, tactically, operationally, and strategically proficient officer. Furthermore, the senior owes the junior wise leadership, all symbolized by the returned salute. When I returned a junior's salute I was reaffirming the promise to NEVER take my obligation to that junior lightly.

Why don't two civilians with no affiliation passing on the sidewalk salute? Because they don't owe each other more than common courtesy
Edit

"Wallflower convention at the prom" That,s funny.

It's harder in the Navy sir. As a young Marine on NAS Pensacola I saluted Chiefs all the time. They hated it!

I hear you. When chiefs wear the piss cutter cover, it's danger close while your eyes sort things out. Just wait until you're around Senior Chiefs in their BDUs. Hard to pick out the single star. I was mucking that up as an O-6. We'd just give each other that knowing grin.

I clearly did not phrase my question correctly. My question has nothing to do with a junior officer saluting senior officers. As individuals, The typical officer returns far more salutes in a given day than the typical enlisted person initiates.

I submit that a good officer does not take the custom as an ego stroke from the junior, but as a reminder of the officers responsibilities to the subordinate.

Maj John Bell - I'm not nor ever was a typical EM, I felt it was my duty to salute any officer that I met, and to show him or her the proper respect.

That was not the question.

You are so right Maj. Bell and I stand corrected. It should tell the Lt. that here is one of the people that I am responsible for and returning the salute acknowledges that responsibility. For me it was a privilege to be in the military, it was a privilege to go to boot camp, it was a privilege to be taught to be a helicopter mechanic and later it was a privilege to be allowed to cook for my 250 troops. It was also a privilege to meet and salute any and all officers that I came in contact with. And now it has been a privilege to relearn how to spell privilege. Darn I'm getting old.