What is the Army saluting custom?

Sgt George Kinyaevsky — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 18:10:05 -0400

Question might seem a bit strange, but I'm transitioning into the Army and know there are a few differences between Marine customs and Army customs, and I don't want to give any bad impressions. For example, Marines only salute with a cover on, which means unless you're under arms you wouldn't salute indoors, etc.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jun 9 at 2019 6:30 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 18:30:43 -0400

We salute out of doors with or without a cover. (For instance in PT uniform). We also salute indoors when reporting (report for pay, which never happens any more, but is still on the books, report to the Commander, report to a board). We do not salute NCOs, unless reporting to a board, or ceremonially.

If your hands are full, you give greeting of the day, but don't salute. If officers hands are full, you still salute, but THEY give greeting of day instead. If running, you slow to a walk, salute, then resume running (unless doing organized PT). If in formation, only the person in charge of formation salutes.

There are a few other technicalities, but those are the basics.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Jun 10 at 2019 12:34 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 00:34:10 -0400

Same in the army. Plus inside the pentagon it is a no salute area

Response by CPT William Hoh made Jun 20 at 2019 8:35 PM

CPT William Hoh — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 20:35:01 -0400

You definitely do not salute indoors unless reporting for duty to a superior officer. You don't salute in the field for obvious reasons.

You had better damn well salute the General's car even if the general is not in it . Salute the flag I believe three steps before and hold it and untill you are three steps past. you can salute during the national anthem.

There's probably people better to answer this, but not many people bother reading the regulations. It should be pretty easy to get a copy.

They told us… When in doubt, salute. You can't get in trouble for doing it too much. You may get laughed at, but nobody gets really upset

Response by CPT Brian Reiss made Jun 30 at 2019 12:40 AM

CPT Brian Reiss — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 00:40:52 -0400

SGT, Army is slightly different in that we do salute a superior officer when reporting to him indoors.