How to handle missed customs and courtesies?

If I pass by a kid who doesn't salute....it says more about you than me.
I will never pass by a senior ranking person without saluting or sayin hello.
You are more than welcome to be 8 up, I will not be.
But at the same time, you haven't hurt my ego....

I'd simply say, "Enforce the standard and be the standard for this is the core of a highly disciplined Army for we are strong as the weakest link".

Sometimes people are caught up with a lot to do. I don't think it's intentional disrespect. I know I have missed one or two in 20 years. Sometimes with the newer subdued rank insignias it's hard to see what rank someone is. I try my best to provide the proper military courtesy and if I miss apologize and render it. I have passed some officers who totally are caught up as well and totally ignore me, but as long as a soldier does the right thing you have done what you should. If I were an officer, I would probably try to pull the soldier aside and let him know he needs to make sure he or she renders proper military courtesy. I may not yell at them, but someone else with less tact may. Take it as a learning opportunity as one of my teachers used to say!

Unacceptable. The salute should be rendered by the CPL. If the LT doesn't correct the missed salute he is just as wrong for letting it go. He just kicks the can down the road for the next LT or CPT to have to correct the issue. It is a salute. You should have enough situational awareness to know you are walking right by a officer.

Order and discipline are what makes us the best military in the world. We have to render courtesies. It is the backbone to order and discipline. I would have made sure to address the situation and made an on the spot correction. I would believe that the soldier was thinking about beer later that night and just missed the officer. I would have addressed in that matter without being to too confrontational.

I would have stopped the corporal and pointed to my rank, explained to him AR 600 -25, asked him his 1SGs name, unit and phone number. I would also tell the young Soldier the history of the salute and I would take as much of his/her time as possible to teach coach and mentor. The one thing soldiers hate is to take their time, and I found this very effective. Normally, I did not call the 1SG. Your peer was afraid to make a correction or did not know how.

Most likely this Cpl just didn't realize what he was doing. If I was the officer I would have left him alone as well. He could have had a really bad day and was in his own little world. Or maybe he just didn't notice.

Sometimes, officers just need to respect the fact that not everyone around them is paying attention to their rank specifically. Not out of disrespect or anything. It's just people are thinking about other things than just "is this man/woman walking near me an officer?"

That being said, I'm in the AF where only officer ranks are worn on hats so it makes it easier to differentiate. I have little baby panic attacks when I'm on Army, Marines or Navy bases bc I also have terrible vision. EVERYBODYs getting saluted up in there! LOL

Just my 2 cents :-)

A twist on the scenario -

I have been told (but have not personally found the regulation) that if you are standing an armed watch, it is actually incorrect to salute, because doing so would distract from a proper watch. So, when gate guards do not salute after checking my ID (it doesn't happen often, but has twice this past week), I hesitate to say anything incase that is an actual regulation (I really need to look it up so I know for certain...).

Someone (I think on RP) also suggested a simple "good morning/afternoon" when they are close is enough to remind them to pay attention to their surroundings.


On the flip side... who decided it was a good idea to put black rank insignia on the type ii and type iii NWUs??? I have such a hard time seeing their rank until I get close.