How do new officers avoid giving their first salute to a random passing by serviceman?

Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 20:00:45 -0400

When new officers are commissioned, I've heard it's a tradition to give their first salute (and a silver dollar coin) to a special someone of choice. How do they avoid having to render this salute when walking past other enlisted serviceman? The 'ole duck and dodge? (/s)

Or is "first salute" just metaphorical, and not the actual first salute rendered as an officer?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 11 at 2020 8:11 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 20:11:09 -0400

Private RallyPoint Member It's usually a part of the ceremony where you return your first salute to one of the NCOs that trained you or to someone that is an NCO that mentored you. I had four. One for our primary NCO trainer in my ROTC BN. The other three were my Dad and two uncles, Non Commissioned Officers from the 1960s that helped me develop.

You should never approach a situation based on avoidance unless it's a contagious disease, NBC, or a minefield.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Oct 11 at 2020 9:06 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 21:06:32 -0400

I was an E-4 that direct commissioned at the LA recruiting office on Wilshire. Didn't have a uniform. I went to the base at Long Beach and got a set of khakis. So my first salute was going aboard my tin can there, giving the PO of the watch a salute, and then handed him a dollar. At that point, they thought I was nuts wearing that uniform until I showed them some paperwork. I had to clear the ship over the weekend while we were underway. Since I was considered unclean by the O's, I was stashed in the Chief's quarters. I went to stand my usual watch and remember saying just because I changed rank doesn't mean I don't know how to stand my watch. Yes, it was awkward, but also funny. We all had some good laughs. I was allowed to eat in the Wardroom. The XO was pretty interested in my path to O-1. Others listened because you don't interrupt the XO.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 11 at 2020 9:15 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 21:15:57 -0400

It's simple. It is called coordination.

Response by SSG Dennis R. made Oct 11 at 2020 9:38 PM

SSG Dennis R. — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 21:38:15 -0400

In 1968, as a PVT in AIT at Rucker I saluted a blue-tagged car one afternoon. It screeched to a halt, 2 brand-new Warrant Officers jumped out, returned my salute and each handed me a dollar.
Freaked me out.
The 2 new Warrants were riding back to their billets - with a TAC officer - (there's the blue tag) - following graduation.

Response by Maj John Bell made Oct 11 at 2020 9:51 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 21:51:13 -0400

Have the someone special standing by. If they aren't standing by, DO NOT do the ole duck and dodge. PAY UP.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Oct 11 at 2020 10:05 PM

SSG Brian G. — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 22:05:28 -0400

I would think, that just after completion of training and being commissioned the first salute would fall to the NCOs that trained you as they are the first you see after commissioning.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2020 10:09 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 22:09:17 -0400

The first salute is usually rendered at the commissioning ceremony by the senior enlisted instructor/cadre at whatever method you attended to commission (OCS/ROTC etc...) so yeah it might be an old custom but it is nowhere in any regulation so if you want to give a silver dollar to some random enlisted man who has no idea how long you have been an officer than you ahead but it’s incredibly disrespectful to duck and dodge a salute from anyone unless you’re a warrant officer... then it’s our duty to do so lol

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Oct 11 at 2020 10:59 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 22:59:50 -0400

It is traditional.
As a First Sergeant, I was invited (along with my CO, another Master Sergeant and a retired First Sergeant, to the commissioning ceremony of a very good friend and former Technical Sergeant. I was afforded the opportunity to go out on the parade deck and offer the first salute to him as an officer.
A memory that I treasure, and a Silver Dollar that he surrendered sits in a place of honor amongst the coin collection.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Oct 11 at 2020 11:34 PM

CDR Terry Boles — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 23:34:43 -0400

As a mustang officer my first salute went to an AF E-8 whom I could tell was not overly crazy about saluting a 2nd Lt. As he approached and the salute was rendered I stopped him and explained what the first salute meant, and being a mustang officer I was especially glad it was with a senior NCO. I could tell his back stiffened more upright and his second salute as we parted ways was sharp and crisp. Random act but highly memorable; a silver dollar well spent!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2020 11:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 23:35:50 -0400

It's part of the commissioning ceremony. You get your bars pinned on and your saluter is on standby to the side. In most of the ceremonies I've been to, the new LT will briefly introduce the enlisted man, NCO, or retiree who will be rendering the salute.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2020 2:46 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 02:46:11 -0400

For the Marine Corps it is pre-arranged, to go to the place of your choosing after graduating OCS to be pinned and render the first salute. Common places are the Marine Corps Museum outside Quantico, or Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2020 4:33 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 04:33:59 -0400

It was coordinated before hand at my ROTC battalion. Each cadet was brought on stage and pinned. Then the identified enlisted (former or current) member came up and rendered the salute. My first salute was my brother, an active duty SGT. The silver coin I presented him had both of our names and ranks engraved on it.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Oct 12 at 2020 4:51 AM

SN Greg Wright — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 04:51:38 -0400

If you're seriously worried about WHO you give that salute to, then you're just an asshole.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 12 at 2020 9:14 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 09:14:17 -0400

Gave my first salute to the ROTC Det NCOIC and was proud to do so. If you have a special person in mind bring two coins just in case. Probably nobody will be the wiser.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cichelli made Oct 12 at 2020 12:42 PM

CPT Lawrence Cichelli — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 12:42:27 -0400

Haven't the faintest idea. When I got commissioned, The SGM was there and made it a point to salute all 6 of us. So I had to be prepared. I also gave silver dollars to the 2 admin ladies and 2 supply workers. The admin ladies for doing all the paperwork for my commission and the supply employees because they let me keep my uniforms from the ROTC unit, that saved me several hundred bucks!! I found out that I was the only one that did that. They really appreciated the gesture. I've never saw anyone do the duck and dodge.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2020 1:27 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:27:16 -0400

Ceremonies as many point out.

Mine was actually "random". USAR direct commission. No ceremony just an e-mail to my mil mail with finalized commissioning orders. Pulled my uniform out of the closet and Velcro'd on my new rank.

In my pocket was an Eisenhower silver dollar from the year I was born and given to the first soldier I happened upon at my new unit. Which I think would be kind of cool on the receiving end. No one expects it.

My first salute was from a SGM during an exercise in S Korea. It was dark, I was 39, and a SPC. So given my age the shield could look like black oak leaves. When is hand reached the rim of his hat before he brought it down he said ah FUUUUUUUU................

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2020 4:54 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 16:54:46 -0400

Schedule the ceremony. If you don't, give your first salute to the first Service Member that salutes you. Mine was a gate guard at Fort Sill. He appeared happy to receive the coin recognizing my first salute, at least.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Oct 12 at 2020 5:30 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 17:30:09 -0400

It was a long time ago (1980), but for my friends and I it was pre arranged for our chosen NCO to be standing outside the door of the building. I was very pleased to receive and return my first salute to MSG DeFreign (it's been so long I may have spelled has last name wrong) who was the Special Forces NCO at our ROTC Detachment at Brigham Young University.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2020 8:05 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 20:05:06 -0400

You don't avoid saluting anyone who salutes you, or would salute you. It would be disrespectful, at least.

The "first" salute is figurative. If you are saving that coin in your pocket for a special NCO, then be courteous to all, follow the regs, and arrange to see that NCO as soon as you can.

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Oct 12 at 2020 8:28 PM

1SG Alan Boggs — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 20:28:01 -0400

In my experience, the cadet invites a NCO they respect to attend the commissioning ceremony. The NCO stands in front of the cadet as they are pinned and salutes immediately. Thats how it went for one of my cadets

Response by Capt Edward Egan made Oct 13 at 2020 12:45 AM

Capt Edward Egan — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 00:45:44 -0400

You misunderstand the tradition. The tradition is for the newly commissioned officer to give a silver dollar to the first enlisted who renders him a salute. The officer returns the salute, not gives it. In my case it was Gunnery Sergeant John Hal Mentzer III, my de facto mentor, on 9 June 1965.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2020 8:00 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 08:00:30 -0400

My first salute was to the MP at the gate to post...yippee....come to think of it that's the only place I've gotten it so far.....

Response by LCDR Robert S. made Oct 13 at 2020 11:23 PM

LCDR Robert S. — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 23:23:12 -0400

The 6 Ps. Prior planning prevents p*** poor performance. In a commissioning for just one (or a few) new officer(s), the person who is supposed to be getting the first salute should be integrated into the ceremony. At mine, my father was standing to my right, and the moment my mother and commissioning officer finished pinning me and I put on my new cover, he saluted me and congratulated me on my promotion.

For larger ceremonies, the people planning it should be careful to make sure that access to the venue is limited in a way that prevents Private Bagadonuts from crashing in and cashing in at the end of the ceremony.

Response by WO1 Mike Dwyer made Dec 6 at 2020 3:26 PM

WO1 Mike Dwyer — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 15:26:38 -0500

When myself and other CID Agents in my class were preparing for our warrant officer pinning ceremony we went to every bank in the Ft. McClellan area and none had silver dollars. We ended up folding dollar bills to look somewhat like a police badge. As we exited the building, there were two enlisted CID Agents who knew about the ceremony were standing outside, in uniform, and ambushed us all.