Should you salute gate guards?

As the old saying goes, remember where you came from. Being Security Forces, rendering a saluting from the gate guard post is a time honored tradition of paying respect to our O's, both active and retired. Not to mention it is usually in the SSI's (special security instructions) for the gate guard to follow.

My biggest complaint about this isn't really occuring now these days since we no longer utilize the AF Form 2220 (stickers on the cars) to validate who's an Officer and who's enlisted. Yes those stickers did have a meaning for us...the complaint was when I would salute a spouse who in-turn would salute me back or stop in my lane of traffic and wait for me to salute them, as they felt I owed it to them. It really irked me knowing this would happen.

Now to answer to OP's question, LTC Stoneking, continue saluting in civvies...you earned it and we will continue to salute you for your service and contribution to our military.

Yes, you should return their salute. Every time.

I concur, I always return a salute, out of respect for their professionalism, and job duties. I also give them a Hooah, or "take care" with the salute, as an acknowledgment of the importance of their job.

As one who has stood gate guard, I would like to thank you for your courtesy

G2G sir drive on!

If I use my DoD ID card (I'm a Reservist) that identifies me as an officer, and it's a military guard rendering the salute, why would I not return it?

I used to bring them coffee from those little coffee shacks on the way in if I had the cash.

I come from the generation of MPs who served during the time of vehicle registration in which all officers and warrant officers were issued blue in color vehicle stickers for their POVs. As gate guards we saluted all officer registered vehicles as they pasted the gate. As to wither or not they saluted back I could not say because my attention was already on the next vehicle approaching. If an officer stopped for information regardless of dress a salute was given but none was expected back if they were in civilian clothing and not much thought was wasted if they didn't salute in uniform, I always saw that as their short coming but not my place to judge.

The guards are required to salute you as an officer. You should return the salute. Out of respect. It goes both ways, right?

Check "Service Etiquette", but, in the Navy and Marine Corps, we do not salute when out of uniform. A verbal greeting or thank you is appropriate, however. In uniform, yes, the appropriate response to a salute is to return it, as long as you are covered. I don't know Army traditions. Army traditions may be different.