Should the Military make it mandatory to pull over and salute the flags at 0600 and 1700? When I first enlisted a soldier would pull his/her vehicle over, step out and salute the flag. Six years later, I've noticed that no one does this anymore. I've also seen Soldiers of all ranks either dart to their car or garage. Sometimes they even wait until after it has finished before stepping out of the buildings. What are your thoughts on this?

Should the Military make it mandatory to pull over and salute the flags at 0600 and 1700?

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Posted 12 y ago

Forced respect isn't respect.  We need to do a better job in motivating folks to honor these things instead of forcing them to.  Educate....motivate.

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SSG Robert Burns

12 y

In my opinion, knowing nothing about the flag you are saluting is just as disrespectful as not saluting it.

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SGT Bryon Sergent

12 y

That is the whole issue. We have been at war for 13yrs. It was bodies, push them through with what will keep them alive they can learn the rest later, mentality. I was taught whte the flag means in basic and then was told I had the worng information later on in life.

Would love to know where to get this information and teach it to my joe's. As we are about to be deployed and some of the Guard guys have never been active duty besides basic I'd like to start teaching my guys.

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SFC (Join to see)

12 y

Unless I'm actively driving on a large road on base I get out. I'm dual status (GS Civ and Reservist) and I do it not only for myself, but also for those that can no longer do so. You won't find me diving into a building to get out of doing it. Must have passed that onto my daughter, because she started ROTC in high school this year and she is carrying on. To help those out FM7-21.13 Chapter 4 section22 states, "4-22. When in a formation or a group, the senior soldier present will call the group to "Attention" and then "Parade, Rest" at the first note of "Retreat." That soldier will then call the group to "Attention" and "Present, Arms" at the first note of "To the Colors" and then "Order, Arms" at the conclusion. When in civilian clothing, the only change is to place your right hand over your heart instead of saluting. Vehicles in motion should stop. If you are in a car or on a motorcycle, dismount and salute. If you are with a group in a military vehicle or bus, remain in the vehicle. The individual in charge will dismount and salute. These honors also apply to the national anthems of foreign countries during ceremonies or parades. " So if you are in a car you should be stopping and get out of a vehicle if alone or if in a group the person in charge of vehicle (driver usually for safety reasons) would get out and render proper respect (salute or hand over heart). To those that say Why tell a Soldier to read the reg..." Simple because we are professionals and that is how you pass down knowledge along side of mentoring and example. We must always remember, " I will not forget, nor will I allow my comrades to forget that we are professionals, Non-commissioned Officers, leaders!"

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SFC (Join to see)

12 y

One of the things I would do, during SGT's time, is challenge my soldiers to find things in the Reg. I figured if you dont have the answer you should also be able to find it for yourself and not just depend on me or some other NCO to spoon feed you all the time...knowledge is power. Pay it forward.

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CSM Michael J. Uhlig

Posted 12 y ago

about 30 of these signs are on post at Fort Knox, KY

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CMSgt James Nolan

12 y

I like it. That is the old way of doing it too. Stop and get out!

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Suspended Profile

12 y

Those are also on FT. Sill

WO1 (Join to see)

12 y

Absolutely, everytime I salutre the flag I think of all of our brothers in arms that are no longer abloe to salute the flag due to them giving their lives for it!

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LTC (Join to see)

Edited 12 y ago

Posted 12 y ago

Great question SGT Myers.<div> </div><div>First, no one should have to make such a rule. Saluting the flag is a privilege afforded only to us.</div><div> </div><div>EDIT: Do police officers also salute the flag? I've never seen it, but a quick check suggested they might.</div><div> </div><div>Second, I think that the avoidance mentality might stem primarily from people being uncertain of the standard. Knowing the music and what it means is a perishable skill that simply isn't being imparted on a DOD-wide scale. It, like so many simple standards, has fallen by the side.</div>

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CMSgt James Nolan

12 y

Police in uniform do salute. You will usually see it from those who previously wore the Service Uniforms, but you will always see it at funerals, because like our military, they have sacrificed.

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LTC (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

The jurisdiction/decision lies with the post Commander.  At some places, the MPs actually stop/block traffic until after the flag is raised/lowered.  It's an old tradition but just like many of our old traditions, it has come down to post policy on whether or not it is enforced or not.

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CMDCM Gene Treants

Posted 12 y ago

Unless things have gone way downhill since I retired, Navy wide we observe Colors at 0800 and Sunset in port and on bases.  Personnel on foot are expected to come to attention, face the flag or music if they cannot see the flag and salute if in uniform, or come to attention if in civilian attire.  Veterans of course may salute.  Personnel in motor vehicles are expected to stop and assume a position of seated attention, but not dismount for safety reasons.<div> </div><div>Once Colors begins no one leaves or enters any buildings.  Anyone leaving a building would of course come to attention and render Honors.  Anyone observed running into a building after Colors begins would face the Wrath of a PO'd Sailor and never make the same mistake again. <div> </div><div>Ships in port also observe Colors at the same times.  Ships underway display the Flag 24/7.  On Sundays all Ships display Battle Colors.</div></div>

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CMSgt James Nolan

12 y

That is the way I was brought up in the Corps as well. In fact we raised em and lowered em every day as MPs. Navy and USMC were the same way, 0800 and sunset. Air Force does it to with some variations but generally around 06:30 and 16:30. I prefer the 08:00 and sunset, but, we do not always get what we prefer. I do however, no matter which way we go on the issue, feel that when the flags are moving-THE TROOPS STOP WHAT THEY ARE DOING. THE BASE STOPS WHAT IT IS DOING. And, if someone is running for cover-they should be pummeled. Sadly, I have seen people literally break and run.

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CMDCM Gene Treants

12 y

SMSgt Fully concur - pummel both physically and verbally until they cannot run again.

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LCDR (Join to see)

8 y

Will never forget, as a reservist, being deployed to the Mt Whitney while she was in the docks in Croatia, helping getting her back in the water, and standing among tools and equipment and supplies, next to the salty old CMC, saluting in the Adriatic as we did morning colors for the first time since being back in the water. Not many sailors volunteered to be up at 0800 on the flight deck for colors while we were still in the yards, but I’ll be forever proud to have stood there with the CMC in foreign seas saluting Old Glory

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CMDCM Gene Treants

8 y

LCDR (Join to see) - Happy Thanksgiving!

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WO1 (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

This is TC 3-21.5.....HOLY COW ITS A REG...LETS QUOTE IT...... c. Outdoors. Whenever and wherever the United States National Anthem, “To the
Color,” “Reveille,” or “Hail to the Chief” is played, at the first note, all dismounted
personnel in uniform and not in formation face the flag (or the music, if the flag is not in
view), stand at Attention, and render the prescribed Salute. The position of Salute is held until
the last note of the music is sounded. Military personnel not in uniform will stand at
Attention (remove headdress, if any, with the right hand), and place the right hand over the
heart. Vehicles in motion are brought to a Halt. Persons riding in a passenger car or on a
motorcycle dismount and salute. Occupants of other types of military vehicles and buses
remain in the vehicle and sit at attention; the individual in charge of each vehicle dismounts
and renders the Hand Salute. Tank and armored car commanders salute from the vehicle.
d. Indoors. When the National Anthem is played indoors, officers and enlisted
personnel stand at Attention and face the music, or the flag if one is present.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

We still do this at Ft. Hood. Or at least most people do if the situation permits and I believe all posts should make an effort to do this. It's sad when people try to run to avoid this. Even when I'm alone in my Barracks room I step out and salute, it's only right.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted 12 y ago

At Ft Hood, it is still a requirement all vehicles must stop and all soldiers must exit and salute the flag. I think that all installations should be doing this.

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1SG Alan Bailey

Posted 12 y ago

Well, he at "THE GREAT PLACE" it is the III Corp standard the you stand at the position of attention at 0630 and 1700 for the flag if your indoors and the post puts out traffic stops at all major intersections and they sut down the gates till the flag up or down. I have always thought that it was the standard to stop your car and get out for the flag. I agree 100% that it be manditory Army wide, not just for Soldiers but DoD employees also.

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SSG (Join to see)

12 y

Oh the Great Place. It has set me up for success. Although it gets hectic during gunnery. Very painful during gunnery. But great training experience.

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SFC (Join to see)

12 y

Been there done that at "The Great Place". It is one of those things unique to the military. Be proud that you are a part of something like that.

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MSG Jose Colon

Posted 12 y ago

Just my opinion. I have, just as a vast majority here, deployed several times and faced the enemy because my Nation has asked me. I love our Nation that much. It irks me when I see junior enlisted, senior enlisted, officers, and civilians disrespecting the flag that way.

It was my honor to serve my Nation, it is my honor to salute my flag.

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Should the Military make it mandatory to pull over and salute the flags at 0600 and 1700?

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