Receiving my direct commission as a civilian (14+ yrs prior service w/ 2 yr break), is it still appropriate to do the "silver dollar salute"?

Although saluting the flag while in civilian clothing is appropriate, your commissioning ceremony is formal and earns the respect of being in uniform. As you will need to buy your uniform anyway, I recommend the following:

1. Get a haircut and a shave!
2. Get a uniform
3. If your recruiter is an officer, please ask him for an introduction to his/her Senior NCO
4. Prior to your commissioning ceremony, present yourself to the Senior NCO for corrections
5. Attend the ceremony with the grace and dignity you learned as an NCO
6. Pay for your first salute with a silver dollar (you can find one on Ebay for about $20)

Finally, I went through this same ceremony as an NCO. I attended the commissioning board as an NCO and left the board as an officer. When I returned to my unit (an NCO Academy) to out-process and render my first salute, my fellow NCO instructors accepted my salute and I passed out 6 silver dollars. Welcome to the Medical Service Corps. Feel free to stay in touch, if you would like a retired MSC as a mentor.

I think you should be in uniform when the silver dollar salute (first salute as an officer) is rendered.

For an informal ceremony such as the one you describe, it would not be inappropriate to be saluted in civilian clothes and the first salute always merits the silver dollar!

Congratulations.

I still remember my first salute as a 2nd Lt in uniform and it happen to be to by a senior AF NCO.

He was not aware of the silver dollar tradition, and while explaining it and that I was prior enlisted I noticed his back began to be a little stiffer and his final salute impeccable. Seems like it was only yesterday. This experience will remain with you the rest of your life.

Agree with the the responses to get a uniform and do the ceremony in it. If you're going to lead you need to start doing it from day one. Officers don't make excuses as to why they aren't compliant. You need to set the standard. As such eyes will always be on you to do the right thing. Set the example on day one

Tradition and respect never go out of style

I would say go ahead and buy the ASU for your ceremony. You will have to bring the uniform with you to BOLC for functions regardless. Not sure when your BOLC date is but most likely its going be within the next year of your commissioning. So if it's something your absolutely going to have to do then you should for the ceremony.

It sounds like you haven't purchased ASUs yet, which will be required (even if rarely worn). I'd suggest biting the bullet and get sworn in uniform. If you share your size, there may be a few on RallyPoint with a set that "shrunk in the closet" and might be available 2nd Lieutenant cheap.

Congratulations! Good work, keep going!

I say absolutely. For something as significant as commissioning, I say go all in. I've only been in for a year but I have no doubt I'll continue to remember my ceremony (oath, pinning, first salute) crystal clear till the day I take off the boots.