Posted on Jan 6, 2014
No Hat, No Salute Areas...suggestion, mandatory, order, convenience? Which is it?
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OK I almost got into it today but I exercised great restraint (you'd all be proud). Im in a course right now at a building where there apparently is a no hat, salute zone right before the entrance in a breeze way.<div>Now there is a sign that is about 12x12 inches 1 ft off the ground behind a bush that says this, and that is all it says. That is not the entrance I came in, but it is the exit (where there is no sign posted). </div><div>So Im walking out the door on the way to my car. I put my hat on. There's about 10 soldiers in PT's walking by me on the way in with their caps on. Behind them is an SFC Drill. Mind you there's a sever cold front coming in and the wind is blowing 20+mph with a windchill of about 19 right now.</div><div>He says to me "hey sergeant, this is a no hat no salute zone." I'm range walking because I'm freezing and I say "ok, thank you." And continue to move out briskly. (not removing my hat)</div><div>Then from about 20 meters away he enters knife hand mode. "HEY SGT! THATS NOT A SUGGESTION, THATS AN ORDER" Now normally I engage in a conversation at this point but because I was freezing I took off the hat walked 5 more steps and put it on when I was back in real Army zone.</div><div>So my question is, in these areas is this an order? I thought that these areas existed because they are high traffic areas where many officers are in and out and don't need to be saluting 300 times in and out of the building. More of a convince thing. I had no idea this was MANDATORY and that I MUST remove my head gear in these areas.</div><div>So what's the deal?</div>
NCOES
Saluting
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 37
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I think y’all may be getting wrapped around the axle on this one. I work there. Do I always remove my headgear when going down the walkway? No. Sometimes I may have my hands full and don’t want to stop. Sometimes my Army training refuses to allow me to take off my headgear while outside and I forget :) <div><br></div><div>The drill is, well, a drill. If you want some real entertainment, go to their DFAC. But, that’s another subject. BLUF: Roger that Sergeant & move out. It’s not that serious. (JMO & absolutely not regulation based)</div>
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SSG Robert Burns
I wouldn't have thought twice about it if this guy didn't act like I just fired off my M4 in the Chapel on Easter.
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SFC John Brooks
We had to use the TRADOC DFAC on Ft. Lee while we were there for some refresher training this past summer. We were told to walk past the trainees to the front of the line. On the 2nd day, we did that just as we'd don the day prior and one of the AIT platoon sergeants (an E6) stopped us and proceeded to chew us out in front of his trainees. Bad enough that he's treating a group of E5s and E6s in such an unprofessional manner, but he's doing it in front of trainees and they are snickering, some even laughing out loud, at it. Luckily before any of us got a chance to respond, the CSM and 1SG the HQ Army Garrison, Ft. Myer showed up and he checked himself quickly.
The part that burns in my head is that this was a training environment for those Soldiers and they are supposed to be learning what right looks like.
The part that burns in my head is that this was a training environment for those Soldiers and they are supposed to be learning what right looks like.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG Burns, you shaould have just wrapped your hair up in 2 buns and moved out! Hahaha!
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I've always interpreted it as a suggestion. If it's below freezing, I'm donning my head gear. I also wouldnt tolerate another nco getting high and mighty after following a bunch of privates doing the same thing and not saying a word. Seems like his backbone is situational. Unless there is some wording on the sign like by the order of the xxx battalion commander, or to that effect, it's just a sign. Whos sign is it? FORSCOM? Garrison? The detachment co down the street? If it is official, it needs to be dressed up with a name or title like every restricted access area, like an arms room or an installation perimeter fence. A plastic placard or paper sign is not going to taken seriously.
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Someone please find me a good answer here because I will not sleep tonight!!!
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For one thing, it’s called a DAMN cover!!!
AF pukes are almost civilian but are part of the armed forces and need to get over it and act and sound like it —- and that goes for using the two year old’s phrase, “okey-dokey”
AF pukes are almost civilian but are part of the armed forces and need to get over it and act and sound like it —- and that goes for using the two year old’s phrase, “okey-dokey”
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We had alot of no hat no salute areas when i was in the AF but most were around the flightline for obvious reasons hats can get sucked into jets and way to many officers around with all the jet jockies you'd be saluting so much you'd never get anything done
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Installation Commanders normally have some latitude in declaring no-hat no-salute zones. We have one at our local BX under a porch in front of all the entrances. Signs are posted conspicuously. I don't view it as mandatory and certainly not when cold weather would mitigate against not wearing a hat.
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Admitting that I am WAY out of date here (maybe), the only times I have heard of either was no hat / salute on the flight line (obvious dangers) and no salute in the field. There were several times where a LIMITED no hat / salute area occurred stipulating a specific time frame and circumstance. never more than a day that I recall, and no, I do not remember the reason stated.
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