Posted on Dec 14, 2018
What’s the proper way to correct someone when not saluting an officer?
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I was walking with a Navy LT and an Army Maj. (My hospital has both services) from the USO across the street to the hospital and a PFC passed and didn’t salute. I stopped and asked her, “Do enlisted soldiers not salute officers anymore?” The Maj. with me said I didn’t have to be so aggressive about it. What’s a better way of addressing it without coming off as aggressive?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 388
You did the right thing. As sometimes happens (I'm assuming the Major was medical services) they're not used to the basic military customs and courtesies of any service since they were probably direct commissioned and later had some quick shake and bake school. If the Major was not direct commissioned then it was a flat out mistake on his/her part to be that direct and, to that point, you just say "yes Sir/Ma'am" and carry on bringing the minor exchange to your CoC.
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The last time I checked the regs., all enlisted, up to E9 will salute all officers, yes including 2LT. However, as our society and military moves towards a more "sensitive" military, one in which we don't hurt anyone's feelings. We forget to enforce basic military courtesy and respect, for fear of a potential IG complaint. Call me old fashioned, but I learned a long time ago while serving in the Marines, that we salute the rank, not the man/woman wearing. And yes, the major in the posting was/is wrong; it is that precise attitude that landed us on this posting to start with...
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Saluting is an exchange (greeting) between members of an honorable profession. Choosing not to salute or not to return a salute is just dishonorable and disrespectful. When I was a Tech Sgt (USAF), I encountered just to opposite where an enlisted member saluted and two medical officers turned their heads. I very "politely" approached the officers, with salute I held until they returned it. Then I prefaced everything I was about to share with the magic words, "With all due respect gentlemen." The rest of my talk was not very polite. Then I saluted, turned, and left with their due respect.
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You did exactly right. The Major was in the wrong. It's unfortunately part of this newer "feels first" military.
Aggressive would have been walking back, locking the PFC into position of attention demanding name and unit and then turning it over to their CoC to correct and re-train.
Aggressive would have been walking back, locking the PFC into position of attention demanding name and unit and then turning it over to their CoC to correct and re-train.
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The only thing I would have done differently was I would have taken the PFC off to the side to do the corrective action. Other than that I think you were perfectly right in what you did.
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I actually had to handle a situation or two like this. The way I addressed the situation was, "Hey PFC get back here". When the PFC returned and saw the officer he rendered the proper salute. If he hadn't, I would of required that he do so at that moment. Then I asked "Why the hell didn't you salute the commissioned officer the first time when he was so damn close he could have bitten you? Now IF, by chance the knucklehead works in an environment like the Pentagon where half the services don't even wear a cover and there is no saluting, you may understand their ignorant behavior, but then remind them that they are not there anymore and they need to pay more @#% attention to their %#$@% surroundings! ("Of course I may have used more colorful language back in the day so as to not make the situation boring.)
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Continue saluting. You are showing respect to the rank and not the person
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I would tell them be more aware of their surrounding. It doesn't matter what branch a strip is strip, a Bar or bars, oak leaf, FUll bird and a star is a star in any branch. When In doubt salute and away
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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.
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.
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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.
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I agree with you- an enlisted is SUPPOSED to salute I'd have made her drop and give me 20
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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.
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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.
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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.
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