Posted on Jul 23, 2014
LTC Paul Mullins
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I know that the most common (and I was always told it was an incorrect one, we were not in the British Army) is, "Carry on."

Basic and PLDC were a long time ago, but I thought the proper response was either, "As you were" or "At ease."

And yes, I did try looking it up in Customs and Courtesies, Drill and Ceremonies, and of course Google. No luck so far.
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LTC Paul Labrador
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I've always been under the impression that "Carry On" and "As You Were" were both appropriate if you were merely walking through. "At ease" if you were going to stay and address them.
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CDR Thomas Gatliffe
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I always used "As you were" to basically say "continue with whatever task you were engaged in when I entered" when coming into an active work space. I would say "stand at ease" if I was there to pass on information or address them in some direct way.
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LTC Hardware Test Engineer
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I always have hated that. wastes time for everyone to have to stop working just to come to attention every time an officer comes in. I always try to preface my entry with a loud, "Entering at ease" so I don't disrupt workflow.
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What is the proper response by an officer when a room/building is called to attention?
COL Vincent Stoneking
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Carry on.
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Maj John Bell
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Edited >1 y ago
Army custom may be different but in the Navy and Marine Corps, 25 years ago, "Service Etiquette" or "The Blue Jackets Manual" was our reference.
_"Carry on" or "As you were" means quietly go on about your business, pay no mind to the senior officer unless addressed by him/her or their party, except to make way if necessary.
_"At ease" is the same as on the parade deck. Don't move your right foot except to make way for the senior officer and his/her party, keep your mouth closed unless addressed by the senior officer or a member of his/her party, hands behind your back, focus on the senior officer.
_"Seats" means take a seat, mouth closed, focus on the senior officer, stand if addressed by the senior officer or a ranking member of his/her party.
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MSgt Roger Lalik
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Edited >1 y ago
Carry on or as you were. Depending on circumstances you may need to add an "I'll be an the area the rest of the day, or next 3 hours or what ever. This relieves the enlisted in that building/room of having to jump to attention every time you pass through to the coffee pot.
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LTC Hardware Test Engineer
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I always prefaced my arrival with a very audible "entering at ease"
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COL Mike Walton
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Unless one is delivering a message such as "Everyone to the street for accountability" or "Stand by the Commander" or my favorite, "Colonel Sanders" (we REALLY had a Colonel and his last name was Sanders!), the appropriate responses are "As you were", "At Ease", "Carry on" or "(element) Attention!"
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SP6 Colon McBride
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I believe that the response was "Carry On" UNLESS THERE WAS SOME SPECIFIC REASON THE OFFICER WAS THERE. It would seem to me that that response would only be because of the respect factor toward an officer and the personnel training he interrupted.
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MAJ Integration Officer
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Varies by service.
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CPT Current Operations Officer (J33)
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I have a similar but not completely related question. As an officer, I've been in situations in which a larger area or building was called to "At ease" when a CSM or 1SG walked in. What is my response?
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MSG(P) Michael Warrick
MSG(P) Michael Warrick
11 y
Out of respect sir for them you should as the other Soldiers !
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CMSgt James Nolan
CMSgt James Nolan
11 y
CPT (Join to see) MSG(P) Michael Warrick
Without arguing the differences between services.....2LT Cho, if you are in the room and the 1stSgt walks in, the troops should not call the room, because you are already there. The day you were commissioned, you outranked me even though I started wearing the uniform in '85. You as an Officer should definitely respect the experience that your SNCOs have, however, you should not stop what you are doing because I walk in the room. The troops should not call it, because you are in the room ahead of me. Just my .02. That is in a small area where their situational awareness should let them know you are there. Larger space, different ballgame. As an example, I called the room when a General came in, not knowing that they did not do that at CentCom at the time. He went to attention, then started looking around assuming that there was a 3 star on deck.....I got briefed (politely) on the rules and that work would never get done.....
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CPT Current Operations Officer (J33)
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11 y
I guess I should have clarified. This was in a large area like a lobby of a building. I'm pretty sure staff duty knew there were officers there, but they called At Ease.
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CPT William Jones
CPT William Jones
>1 y
CPT (Join to see) - It is called if it is a mix of people in a room.( different rules like for room full of piolets and things like that). but if called for the Bn CO it wouldnt be called unless somebody from high headquarters enters like XO or CO.
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