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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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Yes, he is after all your superior officer. I a Warrant officer or senior Non-commissioned officer has to salute you then you should have to salute every officer superior to you no matter how close in rank they are.
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I'm right at the door of 27 years time in service (not to include the 7 year break in service). I've gone from Private to MAJ. I know that this tradition of saluting senior officers supports our way of life and the mindset we must have to be an effective fighting force. Discipline needs practice and needs to be ingrained before the leader is under stress. Never forget, America has entrusted to us the responsibility to have the skills and the discipline necessary to protect our people, our way of life, and bring as many of America's sons and daughters home as possible. Saluting is and should be an element of discipline and courtesy. Never forget that thousands of Soldiers have preceded you, and many have given their lives to allow you the privilege of saluting and, in your case an a LT, to be saluted. If a LT is brought up without Army standards then when they get more seniority they won't have the skills to teach/guide/create the next generation of Soldiers America deserves.
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Yes, it's called customs and courtesies.
More frustrating is when officers refuse to return an enlisted soldier's salute... I see it all the time. The regulation does not give an officer the option to not return the salute, it stipulates that salutes WILL be exchanged... It's just the junior rank that initiates it.
There were several that would do this to my new soldiers around post. It really killed their moral and respect for regulations to be ignored. My advice to them... Soldiers, when you see that officer walking down the sidewalk make sure you separate by about 10 feet apart and render a stiff salute and forceful greeting of the day. Make him/her pump that right hand up and down like an aerobics routine, and if he/she ignores you let me know... There's this thing called the open door policy with the first sergeant.
AR 600-25
1–5. Hand salutes and salutes with arms
a. For instructions on executing the hand salute, see FM 3–21.5, paragraph 4–4.
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 (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard), the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service entitled to the salute.
1–5. Hand salutes and salutes with arms
a. For instructions on executing the hand salute, see FM 3–21.5, paragraph 4–4.
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 (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard), the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service entitled to the salute.
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You should continue to salute and correct those that fail to do so. I had a 1SG that said, if you see something and dont correct it, you just set a new standard.
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I saluted 1LTs as a 2LT. I feel that if you expect your Soldiers to salute you, then you should be saluting your superiors.
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You just cited the order that the junior person should salute the senior. In the Marine Corps junior is junior and you render the salute regardless if they are both LT's or not. One is still senior than the other.
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GySgt William Hardy
In my time in the Corps, 11 1/2 years, what you say is exactly true. Exceptions to the constant saluting is specifically defined on the various handbooks with reference to regulations such as saluting your officers in the work area outside only once coming and going. But I have found that the Army is very much different and indifferent to what the Marines believe. When I was on joint service duty as a Marine on an Army post in Germany, I had to learn the customs and courtesies of all the branches. Then I had to learn that many Army officers say that a Lt is a Lt. You have to say, "To each their own." and forget it.
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I watched my SGTMAJ salute anything shiny that walked past him, and being from a flying squadron that's a lot of brass walking around. He had boots with more time in service than some of these pilots. But he had respect for the rank, just like a 2LT should for a 1LT. "Do the right thing, because its the right thing to do" SGTMAJ Carter MALS-14<br>
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No way, rank among lieutenants is like virtue among (enter whatever you want here). It's kind of like a PV2 pulling rank on a PVT.
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CW3 (Join to see)
So what are you going to say, MAJ Groton, to that PV2 who, when you're chewing his ass for not saluting the 1LT, says "But the 2LT didn't either, sir, and the 1LT is just as much senior to him"...<br><br>All this says is "Officers don't have to follow the rules"
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SGT Michael Smith
Absolutely right CW2 JDW. My soldiers had to earn the right to be given more responsibility and opportunities. That meant that my soldiers had to acknowledge a difference in rank even at the lower enlisted class and had to abide the concept of seniority. If one of my PFCs told a PVT or PV2 to do something, it was normally at my command and it had better be done. The idea being that you're training officers as well as soldiers for leadership roles from day one. It's a huge factor in maintaining C&C at the small unit level in the event that NCOs or Officers aren't present (or alive) when the chips are down.
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COL (Join to see)
CW2 Walker, regardless of reasoning and regulation it just doesn't happen. LTs are LTs. Of course a PV2 has to salute an officer, enlisted always salute officers. Totally different thing. A tangent is the "tradition" of senior officers addressing junior officers by first name. It demonstrates that the senior knows the junior and is a mentor as well as an authority figure. But officers never call NCOs or junior enlisted by their first name.
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Sir,
I think that it doesn't matter the rank an Officer is an Officer and respect should always be given. Military customs and courtesies are a huge part of the Army, if a CPT had just been promoted he would want the CPT that has command salute him and vice vercia.
I think that it doesn't matter the rank an Officer is an Officer and respect should always be given. Military customs and courtesies are a huge part of the Army, if a CPT had just been promoted he would want the CPT that has command salute him and vice vercia.
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PFC Steven Watson
The 2nd LT is lower rank than the 1st LT which is obvious. Officers no matter what rank should salute each other. It is a show of respect.
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I enjoy reading the various topics here although I have seldom wanted to respond until now. It is VERY interesting to see the wide and diverse opinions. I will take a moment and put in my two cents to the subject and to the various spinoff responses.
Without question a 2ndLt will salute a 1stLt. I have worked in or around different services and the customs vary greatly. I've seen senior enlisted talk to officers and call them by their name or call sign. I've seen SgtMajs not salute Captains. In the Marine Corps every officer is rendered a salute by any subordinate officer, warrant, or enlisted. A 1stLt would get a salute by an 0-1, E-9, or W-3 followed by a Sir or Ma'am no questioned asked. That also addresses the issue of those selected for promotion addressing those that have already obtained the future rank and should they also be saluted and again the answer is yes. That is because until the minute the new rank is pinned on the only thing that you are referred to is your current rank. There is no P rank or 'selected' rank. Lastly, the issue of not saluting in a combat environment has merit but not all services see the value in it. Since we practice many things for use in combat not saluting in a combat environment (today that would mean anywhere in Iraq, Afghanistan or other operational locales) has tactical roots, Since the enemy may be observing your operation we don't salute so that the leadership ranks are not readily identified, in line with that as you get to more remote operations rank and other identifying tags are often removed to further concile ones identity. I personally struggle with barracks being called dorms and PT gear being worn in the 'chow hall' but services have different standards and customs that we all have to learn and respect...
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