Should a 2LT salute a 1LT?

I had a reserve sniper platoon as a CWO-3 and had two Gunnery Sgts and a Staff Sgt working for me. I had known these Staff NCOs for decades and we had consumed 100's of gallons of beer together. Yet in public, they all saluted and rendered all customs and courtesies. Of course it's appropriate and REQUIRED for a junior officer to salute a senior -- regardless of the difference in grade. Not only are you following the customs and courtesies of the service, you are training the men and women in your unit about those customs and courtesies. The training function is ceaseless and I believe good leaders understand that and are always alert to that mission.

Here is a little advice from a retired SFC that hopefully makes it to the young O-1's and O-2's! When you see enlisted soldiers carrying large boxes and other heavy equipment, DO NOT ASK THEM TO SALUTE YOU! This piece of advice is more for your benefit, than that of the enlisted. I have seen young officers make this mistake, and have it witnessed by senior officers many times. All I know is when that young LT walked out of the generals office, he was a lot lighter in the posterior region of his body, and received a new assignment. He had to stand outside the building the next morning and welcome everyone from the unit to duty! I worked in HHB I Corps Artillery. We had 2 2nd LT's, 2 1st LT's, 15 Captains, 40 majors, 5 LTC, 2 Col and 1 BG. On another occasion the enlisted took matters into our own hands. We were in Korea for Team Spirit, and we formed a long line at the back of one of the tents. We spotted our victim or 2LT and one at a time headed to the motor pool. He finally caught on after a few people decided to loop around and pass him again. Salute when required, and accept salutes when rendered, and never get greedy!

The answer in K.I.S.S. format! YES. Unless you are in a no-salute area or in a combat zone and trying not to give a sniper a target!

Why is this even a question to debate? You salute the rank not the person. If I was given the option of not saluting those officers I felt didn't deserve that respect, there would've been a lot of officers that I wouldnt have saluted. The NCOs who feel that a 2Lt should salute them need to get their heads out of their own asses. NCOs are the backbone of every service. We are charged with maintaining good order and discipline, and that is done by showing an example for all to follow.

Why are we wasting our time commenting on this type of question? The answer should be obvious to every person who has served or still serving in the U.S. military.

I've seen 1SGT and higher salute newly commissioned butter bars straight out of OCS. It's respect. You are saluting someone who the Army has seen fit to commission, regardless of personal beliefs. That being said, it is the duty of those junior grade officers to earn the respect of their subordinates.

Are you serious.....I’ve always heard that there are no stupid questions, but you sir proved that theory wrong

Yes. Officers of lower rank should salute the ones of higher rank, although it doesn't always happen. It's no big deal, usually. It's "custom and a courtesy", not a requirement. Also, a salute is an outdated formality, commonly used to distinguish rank.

For example, this is much like being obliged to refer to CSM as "Sergeant Major", instead of "Sergeant". However, it is clearly written in the soldiers' manual that calling a CSM a "Sergeant" is acceptable.

If you encounter an officer of a higher grade, it's just easier to salute him and drive on. Just my two cents.

As I was told by 1LTs right up front, even as a cadet (SMP), "Rank amongst LTs is like virtue among whores and honor among thieves." Never was such said about any other rank, nor was it ever inferred. That said, I don't think it really extended much beyond not being expected to call a 1LT (as a 2LT) "Sir." That said, I don't recall specifically saluting any 1LTs as a 2LT. That was 20+ years ago.

This is not up for debate imo, you salute no matter what. It is how Brothers in Arms greet each other.