What’s the proper way to correct someone when not saluting an officer?

I was a SPC 4 and badly wounded!! My right hand was not so good so I would salute with my left hand!! It was a good salute!! Only one officer ever stopped me to tell me we salute with our right hand son!! I said yes sir, I know that but my right hand has a small problem!! He asked to see my hand and I showed him!! one deformed finger, one finger missing from burns!! He asked how and I told him land mine Vietnam and he said son you can salute me left hand any time!! That was the end of it!! A good person!!! Dave

Depends.It the person flat out did not notice the officer then a polite way to correct is warranted. If the person just acted he or she did not care or like a no big thing then a good old Marine dressing down is needed.It also depends on that persons attitude when stopped.. One can tell which is which.One should always be aware of who is approaching.Saluting goes with the uniform.Not saluting is about the same as ducking into a bldg when raising or lowering the colors..Saluting is a sign of respect

There is not a way to be aggressive. You grab that Private and skull drag him across the gravel parking lot.

BLUF: You were correct and the Major was wrong.

SPC (Join to see) - Without having been present, I can only guess at the 'aggressiveness' of your behavior. Perhaps more like a drill instructor? Don't stop insisting on proper behavior, but be sure to temper your assertiveness. If you are not in the direct chain of command over the personnel in question, you should treat them more like an equal that you are having a conversation with. There is very little difference between a PFC and a SPC.

I've been on both sides of that experience. As a young Army PFC I was walking down a road close to a tactical training area. Across the street from me was a lieutenant colonel wearing battle dress and talking to some other similarly dressed individuals. I was straight up garrison-attired. Like millions of privates in eras before I walked past and pretended I didn't see him. He called out, "Soldier, do you fail to salute all officers, or are you just making an exception for me?" I responded "Sir, I was taught we don't salute in the field." He immediately replied "You don't look like you're in the field to me!" at which point I came to attention, executed a half right face, and presented my best parade ground salute, which he returned. When he said "Carry on!" I executed a half left and went back to going where I was going.

Fast forward 10 years. I was a Coast Guard officer at Fort Bliss Texas walking down the street. An Army SSG practically brush shoulders with me as he walked right past. We were the only two people on the street. I called out "Excuse me Sergeant, it's still customary to render military courtesies to other services." His response was classic. "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize you're an officer." I'm guessing the gold braid and eagle on my cap and the stripes on my shoulder boards weren't obvious enough. "yes Sergeant, I'm an officer. I know they teach rank recognition in Basic Training. I know I learned it when I went through Fort Dix." At this point he looked at my 3 rows of ribbons and saw my AAM. He apologized and saluted, I returned it and we both went on about our business.
The point of me telling both stories is that the correction needs to be made appropriately depending upon the individual. If he'd said something along the lines of "Good Afternoon Sir, my mistake!" I probably would have said good afternoon, returned the salute and been on about my business. I don't expect a SSG to make the same excuse as a Private, and he needs to be held to a higher standard. I think you handled the PFC appropriately, and I would hope if a petty officer or NCO had done that, you would have held them to a higher standard as well.

I understand why the Major reacted that way, but the issue is not about his worthiness. It is about the order of the military world, wherein this contract among service members is bigger than their own worthiness. In that salute (AND ITS RETURN) there live centuries of mutual respect and commitment to get the mission done, to recognize the value of both the person and the rank, and to both give and receive orders that are lawful, important, and worthy of the honor of the uniform.

I'm afraid, if in garrison, I'd be a little aggressive in my correcting the PFC. As a Marine NCO, It's our job to correct and instruct junior Marines, and other juniors. That PFC could be charged with "Disrespect to an Officer", 2 counts, under the UCMJ. Not correcting is doing that PFC a disservice.

One of my all time favorites was while attached to an engineering battalion in Germany in the early 80's. The CSM, my boss, and I were planning an upcoming trip in our first floor office with the windows open. Suddenly you hear someone bellowing about proper military courtesy and failing to salute. The three of us moved to the window and watched as this 1LT was chewing the PVT. Then the 1LT decided to have the PVT salute him 100 times and count each one out loud. At 5, the CSM excused himself walked outside and approached. As the CSM left the office, the LTC entered to check on the planning and joined us at the window.

The CSM saluted the 1LT and had the PVT stop and stay at attention. Then the CSM chewed the PVT for improper salutes. "You NEVER drop the salute until the officer returns it. Now, start over again and do it right!" Whereupon the CSM excused himself and returned to the meeting.

Not sure who got corrected there, the 1LT or the PVT. I suppose if you are going to teach, you should do it right. It is also a lesson in discipline as a leader: make sure you can handle the consequences you assign for an infraction.

(Yes, we were laughing all the way to 100... after closing the windows.)

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