Should a 2LT salute a 1LT?

<p>A 2LT should salute a 1LT ALWAYS.&nbsp;Should a SPC go to Parade Rest for a newly promoted E5 who just a day ago was his peer? Yes, they should, because that person has earned it.</p><p><br></p><p>I was a 1LT attending CPT's career course, all of my peers in that class were Captain's. During class, we would be engaged in the same exact work and duties. Walking to class every morning I would see them walking to class and I would salute! </p><p><br></p><p>When I was in that same class I would see the BOLC class going into the same building. At the time I thought it was the accepted practice that LT's did not salute each other. As I am saluting every CPT that walks by myself, I salute. I received the same courtesy from the 2LT from about 25% of them. It wasn't until I passed a 2LT (he did not salute), that a CPT behind me corrected him. That CPT didn't stop there he also corrected me. Ever since then, I uphold the written standard over the normal practice because it is the right thing to do.</p><p><br></p><p>We live and learn every day, as a 2LT you are not expected to know all the answers but now that you do know, what will you do with it?</p><p><br></p>

Every. Single. Time.  There is no sarcasm here, you are officers in the Army, you earned that rank.  

If as an officer you are junior in rank to a fellow officer than you must extend the proper courtesy of saluting.

The salute is a time honored recognition, that has been devalued. Because a lot of Officers and Enlisted soldiers have issues with saluting and would walk across the street to avoid rendering a salute. Also because we have been entrenched in combat zones for the past 12 years soldiers have gotten out of the practice of saluting their superiors and superiors their subordinates. Now that the focus is being placed on Garrison soldiering and leading we have to bring back the courtesies and customs that belong in a garrison environment and is integral in maintaining basic discipline among young soldiers.

I don't even see a question.  The regs are clear...so is the 2Lt's duty.  Nuff said.

The way I was "raised" was "there is no rank among lieutenants," therefore the general rule is no.

A reason presented to me when I was a 2LT was that if you examine the MTOE, you will not find a position for a 2LT; they are all for 1LTs (my MSG was attempting to explain to me how 2LTs just don't exist or are mythical).  Being of a higher rank typically implies being prepared for or assuming more responsibility (which is why my PSG with 20+ years saluted me as a 2LT with 18 months; I was responsible for him).  Therefore, all LTs in an MTOE unit are filling a 1LT position on the MTOE, and are therefore due the same respect, to include from each other.  However, COLs and LTCs and different GOs have delineated levels of responsibility, which is why the rules don't blur there.

Exception: if the 1LT is in a position of authority (i.e. Company Commander) then I would expect the junior LTs (1st and 2nd) to show the respect due the position, to include calling "Sir/Ma'am," especially in public.  Similar to the courtesy afforded by other COLs to the Chief of Staff that I've seen in good units.

No, that is ridiculous. LTs who are full of themselves are headed for trouble. LTs should support each other and help each other grown. When you are an LT, you should be in the learning mode. You should be proud of being an officer but you need to understand that there are tens of thousands of LTs in the Army. I agree with LTC Shebert's comments but I spent my 2LT days in South Korea and LTs did not salute each other.

I required my subordinates to render proper honors for respect of the effort to hold that rank. As should a 2nd LT salute the 1st LT, in most cases he has earned it in one way or another. the respect is for the professional and should not be questioned. It is and always should be rendered to your senior.

During my time in a rifle company we always abided by the "one-bar rule," meaning that 2ndLts and 1stLts were considered peers and didn't salute each other or call each other sir. The only exception was the relationship between platoon commanders and company XOs or COs who happened to be 1stLts--platoon commanders referred to XOs as "XO" or "Lieutenant Smith" even if they were the same rank. That was done mainly so everyone else in the company understood the relationship between a platoon commander and XO, seeing how in many cases we were peers who came through TBS/IOC together and were friends off duty. I can remember my instructors at IOC explaining those informal rules to us, so I don't think they were unique to my battalion.