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

On the spot corrections are sometimes very necessary

There's no such thing as being too aggressive and especially to an enlisted who failed to perform one of the most basic drills taught in Basic Training under FM 22-5. U.S. Army drill and ceremony provides discipline, esprit de corps for more than 238 years. Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben, chiefly known in America as "Baron von Steuben" (1730-1794), was an officer in the Prussian Army from 1746-63 and a major general in the Continental Army from 1778-84.

As a Senior NCO, I will write down the name, rank, and Company Commander's name and company to report such infraction, which will result in a verbal reprimand and an Article 15.

Grab the PFC and give him some remedial training.

While this is an older question, I think we find that those in the Medical Corps are a bit more relaxed with customs and courtesies as they are more focused on the health care of our service members. In the grand scheme of things, the military will not cease to function, but a simple reminder of good order and discipline never hurts.

Has the military changed this much?

He was out of order he himself should have addressed the PFC.

I agree with you- an enlisted is SUPPOSED to salute I'd have made her drop and give me 20

I may be from the old school, but there are somethings in the military that should not be overlooked and should be agressively enforced. The salute is to show respect and differerence to a superior officer or from enlisted to officer of the uniform and the officers rank not the individual wearing the uniform. The given salute is also returned for the same reasons. come on guys this has never been changed. ED TAYLOR US NAVY AND US ARMY PO2/PO3 AN SGT TRAINING NCO,PATHFINDER, SUPPLY SCT, COMBAT ENG. BOSN MATE, HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPR. AND CB'S. Been there done that bought the t shirt and used it to shine my shoes.

You were definitely exercising general military authority by correcting this Soldier. The MAJ is entitled to their opinion, but every Soldier is charged with enforcing Army regulation. The only suggestion that I would make is that Soldiers should be corrected out of earshot of others, and approached in a manner so as to maintain the Soldier’s dignity, and it should be an instructive moment such as, “Private do you understand that AR 600-25 obligates you to render a salute to all commissioned and warrant officers?” Conversely, an example of an appropriate time to correct someone within earshot of others would be witnessing a safety violation where someone may be injured or worse or when a group must be corrected for the same infraction.

Seems pretty appropriate to me, I do it with my LTs as well when it rears its ugly head. It all comes down to customs and traditions. None of us is above it and none of us is exempt. I've seen a CSM go about elbow deep in a Trooper. He certainly got his point across and the decorum between Enlisted and Officer was clearly re-established. NCOs and in your case a SPC hold the line. It's what we do and sometimes your point has to get across clearly. I respectfully believe you did the right thing.