Sniper check: why do we salute in combat zones?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 12:24:03 -0400

If you ever deployed you probably heard "I went to war and garrison broke out."

Why do we salute in combat zones? Is it to exercise arms of officers walking down the avenue?

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 30 at 2015 12:25 PM

SGT David T. — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 12:25:58 -0400

I personally think the practice is incredibly stupid and the idea of someone with an overinflated sense of self importance. I understand the purpose of showing respect but there has to be some common sense applied while in theater.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Sep 30 at 2015 12:27 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 12:27:03 -0400

I didn't see this until my last tour in 2006. I wondered why we were providing snipers with targets. Granted in 2006 I was behind the T walls and stuff but still. I just didn't make sense then.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Sep 30 at 2015 12:27 PM

1LT Aaron Barr — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 12:27:37 -0400

Stupidity....

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 12:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 12:35:06 -0400

because even in a combat zone you must maintain stateside garrison rules and regulations.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 30 at 2015 12:42 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 12:42:15 -0400

Saluting in the field at all was a no-no. Greeting of the day, yes, saluting no. Hell, we generally didn't wear rank. You knew everyone you interacted with. There's a reason the CO has his picture plastered on the wall.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 12:54 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 12:54:37 -0400

We salute in combat zones because we are told to do so. It's stupid, but it's an order.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 1:10 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:10:03 -0400

It's the only exercise officers get while stationed at Bagram.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 30 at 2015 1:51 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:51:58 -0400

In early 2003, our SCO came out to check on us and I greeted him at the Blackhawk and just told him that I directed that none of my troops were to salute him. He thanked me. But fast forward a decade and cue the FOB life.....

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 2:04 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 14:04:30 -0400

Sir, we did not salute in the field in Vietnam. We had to in the rear areas.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 3:22 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:22:35 -0400

The main sidewalk leading from the ASMC and the base TOC to the DFAC was littered with so many officers you either had to tie your arm up in permanent salute or find a sneakier way around so you wouldnt have to salute so much.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 3:48 PM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:48:16 -0400

Any snipers aiming on us only had to look for the ones with multiple colors of Staedler alcohol pens. Dead give away. Sort of pen envy. Ever Lt had 10 or more jammed in his flak. XO had 2 or 3, skipper had 1 and it was black.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Sep 30 at 2015 6:25 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 18:25:25 -0400

In Vietnam we didn't except at Base Camp.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Sep 30 at 2015 6:51 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 18:51:37 -0400

Because they ran the big FOBs as stateside bases and not combat zones. I can only imagine how many of these people would of lasted two seconds in Vietnam. We also used our MP's to issue tickets to SMs not wearing their PT belts..

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 9:11 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 09:11:00 -0400

Only place I ran into trouble with this was on the Super Fobs like KAF. Which while yes, these super fobs were in fact in country, but a far disconnect from being forward deployed. I even encounter one capt who had came yelling at me after I failed to render a salute (not out of disrespect but force of habit from where I was)
Some were not so bad, a O5 on a separate occasion pulled myself and a buddy aside and said "I know this shit is stupid, but we gotta do it". Pretty sure he could tell from looking at us we were not native to KAF.

Response by LTC Lewis Cox made Oct 1 at 2015 7:37 PM

LTC Lewis Cox — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 19:37:36 -0400

Anyone who allows souldier said to salute them in a Combat area is NUTSHELL! YouRe saying to Enemy Snipers " Shoot him! He's an officer and leader!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2016 1:07 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:07:10 -0500

friend of mine served in Vietnam new 2nd lt demanded a salute from him, he stepped back 2 feet rendered the salute, you can guess what happened next

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2016 1:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:22:25 -0500

So they know who to give the Bronze Star to, Silly. You learn that as a private.

Response by CPL Eric Escasio made Nov 25 at 2016 1:31 PM

CPL Eric Escasio — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:31:54 -0500

I think we should modify the salute in combat zones like a chest salute done rapidly to hide the "sniper check" issue but still render the respect to officers, just my thought.

Response by SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM made Nov 25 at 2016 1:45 PM

SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 13:45:56 -0500

I always thought it was to alert snipers as to who to aim for!

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made Nov 25 at 2016 2:07 PM

TSgt Scott Hurley — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 14:07:13 -0500

I was told by my father, he is Vietnam Vet, they were told not to salute officers in country because their might be a sniper and they would know who the officer was. Of course a lot of enlisted knew more about operations than officers did since they went out on patrols more often without officers.

Response by SPC James Anderson made Nov 25 at 2016 2:48 PM

SPC James Anderson — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 14:48:57 -0500

I think it started with a 2nd Lt who was upset that he was not being promoted quick enough, one night he was struck with the thought of saluting his superiors while in a combat zone in order to get them killed. Walk the front line, salute someone, give enemy a target, bang, possibly get promoted and take his position. Rinse and repeat. 4 star in no time! Brilliant!

Response by CPO Albert Kennison made Nov 25 at 2016 5:15 PM

CPO Albert Kennison — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 17:15:36 -0500

I am a retired CPO, and am a Roleplayer for a company that works to train soldiers deploying to combat areas. I asked a MSG once why his men did not salute officers on the FOB I was working at, and was told the reason. Being in the NAVY for so many years, I didn't realize the target they place on an officer while in a combat area by saluting. I didn't have to worry about that at sea.

Response by LCpl Donald Faucett made Nov 25 at 2016 6:54 PM

LCpl Donald Faucett — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 18:54:30 -0500

Lol absolutely no saluting in the bush. If you do, don't worry you won't do it again

Response by SCPO William Akin made Nov 25 at 2016 9:40 PM

SCPO William Akin — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 21:40:37 -0500

Is this a trick question???

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Nov 26 at 2016 2:59 AM

MAJ Ron Peery — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 02:59:46 -0500

We were way downrange. Any time VIPs came out to see us (seldom), we hung signs all over the place...."Due to sniper hazard, this is a NO SALUTE ZONE." We also did not have clearing barrels. Weapons were hot 24/7. I liked the simplicity of life out there.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Reese made Nov 26 at 2016 12:01 PM

SPC Jeffrey Reese — Sat, 26 Nov 2016 12:01:02 -0500

When I was on Active duty in the 80's I had a LT that insisted on being saluted in the field. That lasted for about 1 day My self and 3 other enlisted passed him saluted with the statement sniper search sir! He stopped us asked us what we said we told him and why we said it that was the last time he was saluted in the field.

Response by SFC Marcus Belt made Dec 13 at 2016 10:42 AM

SFC Marcus Belt — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 10:42:07 -0500

Color-coded PT belts at Bagram; junior enlisted, NCOs, Senior NCOs, Company and Field Grade and General officers all were supposed to have differently colored PT belts...when it was realized that this was untenable, they decided enlisted/officer. When someone finally decided that this was still Afghanistan, the entire plan was shelved.

But we still burned intellectual capital to get to the right decision.

Who thinks this stuff up?

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Mar 18 at 2021 11:37 AM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:37:47 -0400

Unfortunately most of the force is stuck behind the walls of a FOB, if it wasn’t for the IDF, and they actually let you have loaded weapons you might as well be at Lejeune or Bragg. Once your outside the walls it would be incredibly stupid to wear or display rank, or to give the comm guy away.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jul 14 at 2021 6:25 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 18:25:51 -0400

Shoot him, not me, shoot him