Should you salute gate guards?

About time they put Sodliers back on the gates..

When I served, infantry units were frequently rotated into gate guard duty, sometimes on main gates, with MP's. But more frequently on perimeter gates. Vehicles with D.O.D. bumper decals were waved through, regardless of whether it was a commissioned, or non-com sticker. Any VEHICLE was saluted that displayed the blue (commissioned officer) stickers, irregardless if the driver/occupants was or were the officer or not. It was a much appreciated courtesy to receive the salute back from the officer. A not-so-welcomed sight to see sneers from dependents (which often happened), and a bit disheartening to be ignored by the officer. Thanks to all of you who were considerate to return the salute.

I always rendered the salute back. When I lived on a military base, your decal for your car indicated if you were an officer or not.

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.

I was a gate guard for 6 years, and I have always followed the custom of Saluting officers either in Uniform or in Civies. I think its not about the Salute, but the passing of Respect as soldiers cross one another. Keep the tradition, since we lose so many over the passing years.

There is NOTHING that says you cannot or should not render hand salutes in civilian clothes. Hand over your heart is the prescribed honor to render in civilian clothes for civilians (nonmilitary ever). It is appropriate to return salutes in civilian clothes

As a new officer, coming from the medical side of things, I was met with this courtesy on my first visit to Minot AFB. Due to my inexperience, and utter surprise at the level of security presence on base compared to my previous experience with other posts, I did not render a salute back to the SF on guard. I couldn't stop thinking about that, purely based on the simple notion of respect to the TSgt. I consider this one of my many learning experiences, and one so simple, but unforgettable. The next trip in, I returned the salute, and will continue to do for as long as my career in the military carries me.

I've always returned salutes to gate guards who render one. The Marines at MCAS Iwakuni would bring the entire guard detail to attention and then render a salute when an officer enters the gate. But the thing that really tripped me up was when I was a brand new butter bar at Aberdeen. If I was wearing my beret when driving to class the AIT Soldiers walking on the sidewalks would see it and salute my vehicle. But they would see my rank at the last second, making return salutes at 35mph difficult. It felt rude if I wasn't quick enough to return one.

I believe you are correct and you most certainly get more respect from the gate guards. Might make a difference between getting a ticket or not later on down the road.

Sir,
It has been said but again I always salute when practical and safe in my vehicle. If we want to be the professionals they are pushing us to be. I feel we need to keep pushing to do the simple custom and courtesies.