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

Happened to me, the A2c's boss a Major came up with the reason is that thee A2c forgot he had to salute officers. It's not forgetting it's a poor Discipline problem.

Hi Command Seargent Major (or anyone in a leadership position) do you believe in leading by example? If the person is not a leader I would ask them, "is there anything wrong with your right arm?" A salute is a military courtesy that demonstrates the importance of situational awareness, discipline, respect, leadership, and combat readiness in a high performance culture. As a civilian, I no longer salute, but I do render a cordial greeting and make eye contact with everyone that walks by me. A leader is always on display.

Ask if it is a no salute zone. If it is a salute zone, tell the soldier they need to pull their head out of their fifth point of contact and salute an officer when within 6 paces.

Not correcting the private in front of the officers.

was the Army Major a doctor? Doctors frequently do not have training in military discipline. I saw this frequently as a young Marine officer back in the dark ages, as our medical personnel we re all furnished by the Navy, for which we are eternally very grateful. The Navy doctors had a much different relationship with enlisted personnel than Marine line officers did. Not saying the Major was correct but it would explain his attitude.

The other issue may be that they saw the LT and tried to fly under the radar. I remember when I was an A1C at lackland, me and my Wingmen used to always get chased down by groups of butter bars that were fresh out of The academy. And they would harass both the Tech Schoolers and trainees. So another possibility would have been that they didn’t want it to happen again.

I would say, “ Excuse me PFC, when was the last time you had an eye exam?” Whatever he answers, I would say, “ You need them checked again, because you past a ofr without saluting.” Unless if it’s life or death, it doesn’t require meanness or hostility. Use humor. There was an old joke about a military person coming back to base drunk. As he was stumbling down the sidewalk, he was trying to find his lighter to light his cigarette. It was very dark and he saw a figure in front of him. He said,” Hey buddy, you got a light?” The figure replied “yes” as the light from the lighter got to the military persons cigarette, to his horror, he realized it was a General. The military person snapped to attention and blubbered his apologies. The General stated, “ That ok son, just be grateful I wasn’t 2nd Lieutenant .” Sometimes we get distracted, our minds are elsewhere. If it isn’t life or death, use humor

This boggles the mind. Since when should a SM NOT receive on-the-spot correction for something like that?! I don't thing there is any better way of addressing that. Now, had you been an NCO, the conversation probably could have been handled while the PFC was in the front-leaning rest. That's how it was handled in my day, anyhow....

You need to correct that behavior at the time it happens and find out who there chain of command is to fix this disrespect to any officer, Some people have forgotten you salute the rank that is on the person , Also once this happens the person should be made to research the reason we salute and the history behind it, an they should be made to stand in front of there chain of command and read the history of why we salut.I myself have this happen when I was walking with a Lt and stopped the person and corrected this behavior

A Captain was one of the reasons I left the Air Force. I had 3 days before reenlisting and I was walking to the BX at Hamilton AFB when the Captain was also walking toward the same door of the BX. I did not salute him as he was at 20 feet away from me and I would have had to turn sideways. He dressed me down because I did not salute him. He embarrassed me for that. After that I did not reenlist. He was just being an egomaniac. Of course I had no respect for him. I have a 30% disability for PTSD for assault 3 times.