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I have been dealing with this a lot. I have seen both ways. As per AR 600–25 the junior person should salute. I see a 1LT senior to a 2LT and I salute them. I have seen many instances where this does not happen. Most see a LT as a LT regardless of being a 1st or 2nd. How do you all feel about this?
"B. All Army personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled to the salute. Salutes will be exchanged between officers (commissioned and warrant) and enlisted personnel, and with personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States..."
"B. All Army personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled to the salute. Salutes will be exchanged between officers (commissioned and warrant) and enlisted personnel, and with personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States..."
Officers
Customs and Courtesies
Army
Saluting
AR 600-25
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 1296
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Absolutely a 2nd LT needs to salute a 1st LT. There is a rank structure for a reason and it is not up to interpretation. This is like saying me as a SSG shouldn't salute a 2nd LT because I have more time in the Army, which is wrong as well, or saying that a SGT shouldn't stand at parade rest for a SSG as well. Just because you are an officer doesn't mean that you are bigger than customs and courtesies (AR 600-25), we all fall under the AR. If you are of higher ranking then you deserve the proper respect rendered. Quit trying to leave it up to interpretation because you don't want to do it and you would rather play the buddy code with each other. Do the right thing, remember soldiers see what officers do as well as NCO's. Set the right example!
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MSG(P) (Join to see)
Great post David..... Shoot, that's an officer thing.... Great post SSG Pearson.
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Regulations are regulations. I loved saluting 1LTs when I was a 2LT. I get a great number of weird looks, but sadly it's definitely something that is done less and less.
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CPT Chase Sanger
I did the same thing when I first arrived at Bragg. Every single 1LT I saluted said "put your hand down, we're both Lieutenants". After about a week of this, I gave up and stopped doing it. I still gave the 82nd greeting, just no salute.
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SGT Geoffrey F.
The fact that both officers' ranks have the word 'lieutenant' in them doesn't make them peers. As another example, an LTC is junior to a COL even though their ranks both contain the word "colonel"; and so on. Of course the junior officer renders the respect due the rank of the senior officer.
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Over the last few weeks what I have noticed in this thread is this. For all those who support the non-salute siting some unwritten rule, or understanding, or whatever...all the reasons given were for themselves. As if we live in a LT only world. Your arrangements, agreements, whatever you want to call them would be great if it was just you, but you are by far the minority of the Army. There are 100's of thousands of the rest of us watching you who do not share your understanding. What we do share are the regulations. How can you as officers charge US NCO's with enforcing standards when your very first step into the officer world you are admittedly breaking them? With the simple excuse of "it's cool." This blows my mind.
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Yes they should salute, just like a SPC should stand at parade rest when addresssing a SGT. Its only one rank but its about customs and courtesy, and discipline.
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SPC Roderick Rotzien
Agreed, when i was stationed in germany our Battalion Sergeant Major saw a a lax in proper courtesies so for awhile all noncommissioned down to private where expected to go to parade rest for every be it pvt to pv2 and up that out ranked them.
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No question. The 2LT must salute the 1LT per the AR. Your doing it right sir, keep it up.
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The question is, why wouldn't you salute someone of higher rank? Regardless of how you feel towards that person, you salute the rank because that is how things are supposed to work. I understand not saluting in the company area, due to the constant passing and what not, but anywhere else, this should not even be a question. Just my E-4 opinion though.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I agree. There are times where a commander designates a certain area as a "No Salute Zone", but that only goes for ranks up to what that commander holds. If someone from a higher command (same or higher rank) enters that area, you should salute. It's the right thing to do.
I typically work in Combat Support Hospitals... we all know how top heavy a CSH can be, as the Commander, XO and Chief of Nursing Services are typically at least O5, if not O6's. Then you have a plethora of O5's and other commissioned officers. As a former NCO, I can only imagine if an area wasn't designated as a "No Salute Zone" by the commander. Nobody would get work done... and lives would be lost. The only time I have experienced a unit that was even more top-heavy than a medical unit was Civil Affairs. I think the lowest rank I encountered there was E5 (due to the nature of the mission).
When I was in Korea, the KATUSA's had to salute any ROK or KATUSA Soldier of any rank that was higher than their own. So, an E1 KATUSA would have to salute an E2 KATUSA, and so on. So I don't think our requirements are at all that harsh. They are, for us, proper.
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I find myself to be a moderate when it comes to this. In the Company area, I go by what the culture is at that unit. Outside of the Company area, it is proper to salute 1LT's. I get looked at funny most of the time, but I would not want to set an improper example. I don't know why I see the Company area as being different.....probably because we are constantly passing each other and trying to work.
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PO1 B. Kieth Cooper
While I was in the Navy the standard was up first greeting of the day. Depending on the situation after that salutes may not be rendered. This is in the command or work space out in public you always render honors.
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Sir,
in short, yes. Lead by example. If the 2LTs do not salute the 1LTs then why should the 1LTs salute the CPTs? I have always heard the old "there is no rank among LTs" crap and have had to sort it out on numerous occasions. You can't demand respect from your Soldiers and then not show it to your superiors.
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An O1 should always salute an O2. End of discussion. It doesn't matter what the positional authority of the O1 is at the time. Military etiquette and regulations require this respect be paid.
Likewise, when saluted, the senior Officer must return the salute in kind. It, too, is the proper military etiquette. Regardless of positional authority.
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Sir not quite sure why this is even an issue. The 2LT should be rendering the proper courtesies to the 1LT. By not following this standard the 2LT is setting a poor example for their subordinates. BLUF is do the right thing regardless of the situation.
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