Posted on Nov 3, 2013
CPT Senior Instructor
652K
6.3K
2.81K
570
562
8
Graduation rotc may2012 382
0857abf1
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..."
Edited 11 y ago
Avatar feed
Responses: 1296
SFC Jonathan Riley
1
1
0
See this is the thing that is breaking the discipline in the military. I do believe that a 2LT should salute a 1LT , it is a time honored recognition just like LTC Shewbert said and without disicipline we would just be a mob or a group of people. Being a former DS I firmly believe that disicipline is the root to a well functioning unit and if there is no disicipline the unit will breakdown
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Sgt Packy Flickinger
1
1
0
WOW, anytime a post gets 579 responces, its a really good question.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Sgt Packy Flickinger
Sgt Packy Flickinger
>1 y
I gues PO1 isn't happy its still going.
(1)
Reply
(0)
MAJ Deputy S1
MAJ (Join to see)
11 y
It's controversial. The post asks for one's belief. Everyone has their own belief. Some are very conservative, and some are very liberal. When someone is asking for a belief - as is the case with this question - those who are conservative will resort to the regulation, and those who are more liberal will respond with how they would have things run if they were in charge (typically).
(0)
Reply
(0)
MAJ Deputy S1
MAJ (Join to see)
11 y
MAJ Carl Ballinger , I can see you take the more liberal stance on the question.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Sgt Packy Flickinger
Sgt Packy Flickinger
11 y
NOOOOOOO This post has to DIE!! :)
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CPT Senior Instructor
2
1
1
Has anyone realized that LTC Shewbert got 214 likes on a response. That has to be a record.
(2)
Comment
(1)
TSgt William Bennett
TSgt William Bennett
>1 y
LOL, PO Medley has the down-vote out for you! He's on a mission.
(0)
Reply
(0)
CPT Senior Instructor
CPT (Join to see)
>1 y
I noticed.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
1
1
0
It...Is...STILL...ALIVE!!!!!!!
(1)
Comment
(0)
CPT Senior Instructor
CPT (Join to see)
>1 y
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca it's kinda like that buddy you let move in for a while but just stays there without waiting to leave. He doesn't get in the way of things but you know he is there.
(1)
Reply
(0)
COL Strategic Plans Chief
COL (Join to see)
>1 y
Yeah...like herpes.
(1)
Reply
(0)
MSG John Wirts
MSG John Wirts
>1 y
Let me rephrase your question. Should a 2nd Lt salute a General, if so why. Now if you got both parts of my question right you just answered your own question.
(1)
Reply
(0)
CPT Senior Instructor
CPT (Join to see)
>1 y
I know the answer but I wanted to see what other do.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CW2 Ernest Krutzsch
1
1
0
Funny, I was an Instructor at Fort Huachuca, AZ, I was walking in the quad, as an SFC and noticed a WOC with his hat on, which was not authorized in the quad. I tried to be discreet and motioned to him that he needed to remove his cover...He became irate and came to me screaming, "Do you know who I am???" Yes, and you need to remove your hat. His response, I"I am not an animal, you do not motion to me to remove my hat! I said, OK, take off your hat!! He said, I am an officer, you will respect my position..I said, You are a WOC, and I think, until you graduate, I out rank you! He got irate, and went to the Colonel..The Colonel, who I played basketball with on the over 30 league, was amused..The point, If you deserve respect, you will receive it, otherwise!!!1
(1)
Comment
(0)
CW3 Timothy Dunn
CW3 Timothy Dunn
>1 y
A WOC out ranks all enlisted
(0)
Reply
(0)
CW2 Ernest Krutzsch
CW2 Ernest Krutzsch
>1 y
please cite where it states that please
(0)
Reply
(0)
CW2 Ernest Krutzsch
CW2 Ernest Krutzsch
>1 y
I know that 600-20 has a table, but it is ambiguous. I will say that the Sr Warrant Officer Class Facilitator CW4 Hamm, was not amused with the WOC's attitude, and had him apologize to me, so even if he did out rank me, I felt vindicated ( like I said, respect is earned).
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SMSgt Granite Wings Ii (History) Project Manager
1
1
0
Junior Officers salute Senior ones, that's it. Meaning that an O-1 (regardless of service) should be saluting any officer who is superior to him, including other O-1's with 1 day more TIG. That is a very strict interpretation of the reg and not all units apply it this way, but it is the way it "should" work. I have seen this in action when new 2LT's came into MP Companies. Basically, when outdoors and two service members pass each other and at least one is an officer, there should be a salute exchange, with the junior of the two initiating it.
(1)
Comment
(0)
CPT Senior Instructor
CPT (Join to see)
>1 y
That is true but I have never seen that.
(0)
Reply
(0)
SSgt Kevin Hopkins
SSgt Kevin Hopkins
>1 y
i think this discussion has gotten beyond common sense at this point
(0)
Reply
(0)
CW2 Ernest Krutzsch
CW2 Ernest Krutzsch
>1 y
My only mistake was becoming a Warrant (kidding), now I had to Salute Officers and enlisted alike, sigh
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
CPT Cyber Warfare Officer
1
1
0
Edited >1 y ago
The entire time I've been in and affiliated with the army (my whole life, parents were and are officers), the rule I've been taught is "a lieutenant is a lieutenant is a lieutenant" and lieutenants do not salute one another. The only time a 2LT should be saluting a 1LT is for ceremonies. There's a problem with the whole situation because many officers spend so much time at schools following BOLC that they are sometimes immediately promoted to 1LT when they get to their units and have zero experience outside of schools. The other problem is that 2nd lieutenants and 1st lieutenants can and do often have the same jobs as one another. E.g. in field artillery, if a 1LT isn't up to snuff, a 2LT can be made to be the battery xo while the 1LT is made to be the support platoon leader or Fires PL.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PO2 Zechariah Allison
1
1
0
a Salute surrendered is a Salute returned. that is all that matters. It's Mutual respect.
(1)
Comment
(0)
CDR Michael Goldschmidt
CDR Michael Goldschmidt
11 y
I would say rendered, but yes.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Jim Handy
1
1
0
We were all taught the regulations and the basic rules for how to behave properly, and that is fine to get us started. However, as we progress through our careers we learn that different situations, units, and jobs dictate different protocols and behavior. I once worked on a project team that consisted of a Col., a LTC., 2 Majors, a Capt. , 2 LT's , a MSG, a SFC, and 2 SSG's. When we were in our office you didn't hear anyone calling anyone by their rank or a lot of sirs and you didn't see anyone standing at parade rest or attention when they spoke to someone of a higher rank. You actually heard a lot of first names being used. We could have never accomplished our jobs if we had worked in a "STRICT" military manner. There are jobs like that all through the military and you just have to adjust to the situation, and be able to readjust in a heartbeat when you walk into another situation, which we did on a routine basis. The bottom line is you have to have the common sense to understand what was appropriate when. Not every unit in the military has a combat mission and needs to function in that manner.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
PFC Stephens Clark
1
1
0
i totally agree,Rank is a privilege, and an Honor. we honor those above our ranks with Salutes , or Parade Rest, for a reason.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close