*Navy specific* I can't find an instruction on this anywhere: Are you required to render a salute to an Officer who is in civilian attire?

I was in Air Force and Army Reserve. The only people I have ever saluted while they were in civilian cloths are WW-II and Korea vets.

A salute is a way to render a respectable "hello". The return salute sends that respect right back at you. If you know the officer, it just shows respect to render a salute even if in civvies. Especially if it's a General or Flag Officer

Not necessarily "out of uniform" related, but salutes could be a pain for the officers. When we would see our own JOs coming down the pier, we'd break our group into single file with about 10 feet or so between us. Then one at a time (sometimes 10 or 12 of us), we'd render the proper salute to our beloved JOs. Good thing they loved us. Sub crews are a tight knit group, officers and enlisted.

If you know that the person is an officer then yes, you are required to salute. If you know the person personally, most will not require it. I knew my Division & Department Officers personally, by first names. The first time I went to salute them when they were incivilian attire, they both waved me off and told me I never had to do so unless others from my department were present.

My first thought was "How could anyone become a CPO without having learned this?" but then I noticed that the poster is NOT a CPO but simply a NROTC middy posing as a CPO on RallyPoint. I find it had to believe that he even holds middy rank without having learned this much as it is certainly covered in the first year of Naval Science classes.

Yes, you are required to salute any officer you recognize. You don't need to salute random strangers who you don't recognize.

By now you have either been commissioned or (hopefully) flunked out of NROTC. If you stuck it out you should be a LTJG by now, hopefully the sailors in your department know more about military courtesy that you did when you posted this.

"Navy Specific" NOPE Your initial trainers have failed you (and whoever is in charge of you now). If they are an Officer that you recognize and you are in uniform (or out) you salute (in uniform) and render the proper greeting of the day (morning, afternoon, evening). Very simple.

Here is an easy rule of thumb. If you are in uniform and you know who the officer is just salute give the greeting of the day and carry on with your day. If you are in civilian attire you are not required to salute but may, give the greeting of the day and move out.

There are conditions where you don't salute officers in civvies... however in most cases if you recognize the officer and you are in uniform, you render a salute. With that being said, it is a must you know your chain of command, even your COs chain of command above them. Not saluting a Commodore or Admiral will cause my knife hand to sharpen and training to commence.

If it moves, Salute it. If it doesn't move, paint or polish it. If it is being taken care of, grab a cup of coffee and "Scuttlebutt"

One day I had travelled over a hundred miles away to an air show. There were lots of folks there to see the Thunderbirds. While walking along with a couple of friends from another unit (we all worked in the same control tower) I heard someone calling my name. It was the CO of the unit I was attached to. We were all wearing civvies. I really didn't know how to react or introduce my companions. He took the lead, by introducing his wife. He had flown in to the airport where we were at, and he wanted to show me a Cessna 150 he had just bought.