Posted on Dec 14, 2018
SPC Practical/Vocational Nursing
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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?
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SPC Russ Bolton
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I would be very respectful to say that they aren't saluting the person just showing the respect for rank
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SSG Alfred Woods
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Ok, the Major may have been speaking about the way the Lt. was addressed and it would seem as though the Major's sense of directions as to the military courtesy would be in question, not to mention, the Major may have a liking towards the female Lt. So, from that sense, aggressiveness would not be in question and the PFC, should have been stopped and informed of his\her duties to recognize an Officer, with greetings, by rendering a salute. Information of unit and chain of command from the PFC, should have been gathered and the chain of command be notified of the incident, should actions be warranted. Also, sense the Major felt there was too much aggressiveness in question of what happened, perhaps his chain of command would want to know why he wasn't willing to ensure soldiers remain compliant to the UCMJ.
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CPL Justin Higgins
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In my honest opinion the proper regulation concerning this matter is always what is appropriate. However utilizing situational awareness and properly reading the situation is also key. Notice your rank is similar and neither one of you is an NCO. Had you been an NCO then corrective action would always be necessary whether or not the Major approved.
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GySgt Personnel/Administrative Chief
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You did right. The only time in my career I was stopped was at Camp Pendleton. My battalion CO, a LtCol was approaching me after he had been jogging. He was dressed in a tee shirt and had no cover. As we were passing he stopped me (politely) and why I didn’t salute. I told him I didn’t know he was an officer. He reached for his head and realized he wasn’t covered with his rank. He said “carry on, I was just testing you”. I was kind of scared at the time, but was assured by my squad leader everything was ok.
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1SG Ernest Stull
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There is no excuse for not saluting an officer,Just as there is no excuse for not saluting the Flag when it is being presented or during Retreat, but as always someone will always lower the standards. I am old school so I would have said hey numnuts come here what you didn't see the two officers there, or are you blind. Now salute them and move out. and if I offended any one get over it buttercup.
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SSG James Green
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Retired SSG James R. Green, U, S. Army. I don't know what happened to my other posting, Correct me if I'm wrong but essentially it was an explanation of the military practice of rendering the hand salute. It dates back to the Medieval period of history. When a Knight, whether on horse back or on foot, approached another Knight or a person of nobility, said Knight would raise his helmet visor with his right hand to display his face to identify as friendly. By using his right hand he also displayed no weapon in his hand. This act of raising the right hand and bringing it to ones forehead how the hand salute began. It was intended to be an act of mutual respect. does anyone want to correct me?
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SSgt Paula L Glover
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You did it the right way. You asked a question about it.
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SSG James Green
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the military custom of saluting goes all the way back to the medieval period of history. When a Knight approached another Knight or other noble person, they would be required to raise the visor of their helmet to expose their identity and to display their empty sword hand. This was the way to demonstrate that they are a friend and they come in peace.
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SSG James Green
SSG James Green
>1 y
My point was that the act of saluting is intended to be an act of courtesy
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SSG James Green
SSG James Green
>1 y
SSG James Green - When an officer returns the salute, it is an act of mutual respect.
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SPC Leonel De La Cruz
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There is no other way but directly and to the point. Since when has the soft touch become part of our military. You speak to warriors with strength and civilians with kid gloves. I'm surprised you didn't drop this private. You're not gonna do our country any favors by treating military personnel like civilians.
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SGT Larry Blosser
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More than 50 years ago I was an E-5 patient at the "Old" Walter Reed for followup treatment after eye surgery for the wound that got me a Purple Heart in the Nam. Of necessity, both eyes had dilating drops daily. One sunny afternoon, when I was walking between buildings, wearing clip-on sunglasses over my regular sunglasses, and with tears rolling down my cheeks, I was stopped by a Medical Corps Captain (female, not that it matters) and given a royal a** chewing for not saluting. Circumstances were, I thought, pretty obvious and that was one case where the officer might have let it pass.
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SGT Larry Blosser
SGT Larry Blosser
>1 y
Or maybe "thanked me for my service" -- which we never heard anyone say...
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Sgt James Gross
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I would have asked politely why she didn’t salute, and then requested the salute. If she still refused to salute then I would have requested her CO’s name and rank and talked to him about it.
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Sgt Chad Myra
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As an Enlisted member I can say you were in the right. Sadly, there's no way of correcting someone without being a little bit rude.
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MSG Signal Support Systems Specialist
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In Iraq, a soldier and I were walking into Al-Faw Palace when General Cone(3star) at the time and his entourage were walking out. I saluted this wall of blinding brass but he didn't. I quickly corrected him on the spot as well as had him run past and salute. We did our business in the palace and returned to our office. For further correction I had the soldier stand outside our HQ and salute and give the greeting of the day to every NCO and officer for about an hour or so. During that hour a Maj came in and ask why this PFC was out there doing that. I explained what happened and he said I was too excessive. I politely reply "Well Sir, there is Officer business and NCO business, unfortunately this is NCO business" He promptly walked out of my office and watch my soldier salute and give a greeting of the day.

Long story I know but I believe your intentions were correct and with time you'll know how to handle these situations differently in the Unit you belong too.
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Capt Al Parker
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I can remember not being saluted. The E3 (Air Force) boss a Major decided that the E3 “forgot” he had to salute officers. Both we’re African Americans. I just wrote it off as an Anti White respect thing. From that point on I had no dealings with the Major.
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SFC Program Manager
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Since you stated "My hospital has both services", you may want to check the "No Salute" policies in the area. Some military hospitals have no salute areas because of the large number of officer and enlisted. Just because no salute is rendered, it is not necessarily disrespect.
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CDR Keith Schnier
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Yours was a proper question. The Major was incorrect.
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Sgt Heriberto Salinas
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I to once had an incident concerning not saluting an officer. I was walking to the chow hall against the wind, and was leaning forwards into it and looking down. A major was walking the opposite direction towards me and stopped me as I was passing him. I lifted my head up as he said "excuse me, but you forgot to salute me", as he pointed out his ensign on his collar. I thought that was tactful. I apologized, and saluted him. I walked away appreciating the fact that he was polite about it. I've heard stories that some officers can be pricks about it, and others can careless. What can you do, lose sleep over it?
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MAJ Fred Peterman
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I was an 2LT walking on the other side of a 4 lane street at Shepard. I didn't recognize a Captain walking on the other side of the street until he called out and walked across the BUSY street , dodging traffic, and spoke to me "loudly and sharply" (I don't "yell" at people).
I cane to attention, saluted, and said that I had NOT recognized he was a captain. He said , since I was a 2LT, that I must "be new", "(I had a number of service ribbons. 3 rows probably.")
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MAJ Fred Peterman
MAJ Fred Peterman
>1 y
In Bosnia, I was a Major at Camp Commanche. There were (I believe 3 majors and 2 LT Colonels. If I recognized one of the LTCsI saluted them. If they were in PT gear I saluted them. I knew who they were. If I recognized rank of a senior officer from another service or country, I saluted them.They returned my salute.
I returned salutes and greetings of many many soldiers
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CWO3 Retired
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SPC Khyle Ball, You we’re right to confront and instruct the PFC about proper behavior and saluting an officer. The Major was wrong to say that it was aggressive. May guess is that hasn’t been around Marines a lot. Especially Chief Warrant Officers.
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1stSgt Jody Canfield
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Excuse yourself from the officers if possible then as the offender to stop for a second. Address the issue quietly and privately. Go back to the officers or resume what you were doing. "Chastise in private, Praise in public"
-Retired First Sergeant
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SPC Greg Campbell
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was walking with a group from Sullivan to the PX and this lady was coming towards us. when she was right abreast of us the eagles became apparent. we stopped got her attention and saluted with the greeting and a parade ground salute. she returned the salute and told us no big deal, us combat unit troops had probably not 'seen one of us before' she accepted our apology and everyone went about their business. had to go get that pogie bait.
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SGT Ronald Audas
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Where did this PFC do her basic training?
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SGT Drill Sergeant
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I would've asked that private the same thing. Locked him up and everything. Then I would've kindly told the Maj. That he earned the right to receive the proper greeting.
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SGT Eugene Brooks
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As a Sergent I ran into this problem several times. My way was to ask the little imbecile if he or she knew what an officer was and what he/she was supposed to do when they saw one. Most of the time I was told they were supposed to salute them. I would point out the officers they had disrespected and ask them what they were going to do about it. I would then tell them to go over to the gentlemen Salute them and apologize to them for their lack of respect.
How ever in some cases, you have to be rather aggressive in your approach. In the old days when I joined the Army and my platoon Sergent would have taken me out back behind the barracks and do a little dance in my behind. So get real Major, your in the army now and you don't sweet talk an enlisted man or woman or even other officers below you and gain any of their respect.
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SFC Information Assurance Ncoic
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You did exactly what you were supposed to do. In fact the MAJ needed a brief lesson on saluting. I've been in that situation where a 2LT walked by I stood up and saluted him. A PVT walked by and didn't. I stopped him and did the same thing you did. Then I said hold on Sir, don't go anywhere. I told him that he has a responsibility to enforce the standard as well. Once you allow Soldiers to get away with the smaller things a new standard has been created.
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PO3 Robert Jones
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That because we have become so soft, The Maj. was incorrect the under class need to respect upper offices. you could explain it is correct to salute officers when passing and they in return should also do so.
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CPL Michael Headrick
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Ask the non saluting party if he did not notice or see the officer. If the situation needs it I would make a deal out of it. Respect is a must.
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SGT Nel Despradel
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I am not surprised at all. The new generation of officers and enlisted just pass you by as you do not exist. It’s sad to see an tradition, courtesy and customs gone. I am working as a contractor now for the NG and don’t know how difficult is to say Good Morning when walking by, mainly when you are in CIV and everyone else is on uniform. And their NCO’s are doing the same.
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SPC Joel Alioto
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I was deployed in Baghdad headed to a F.O.B. and the esteemed officer told me to "go around the I.E.D. clearing team, I have to pee". I obeyed him. We survived. But I wouldn't have peed on him to put him out if he was on fire after that. I always obeyed his orders to the letter but I did not salute him after that for about a week. Our Sargent Major asked me why.
I explained the reason. And he in a father like way said " Son you salute the rank, not the person". After that I just looked at there rank and saluted it and never had a issue after that.
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MSgt Bruce Hutchinson
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That’s aggressive? Wow
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LTC Ken Connolly
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What you did was "Segeant's Business". The Major was wrong and should not have butted in. Hopefully though you saluted the Major and said yes isir/mam, went on your business and continue doling the right thing.
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PFC Alma Ramirez-Sherrill
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Maybe she had a bad and didn't notice the officers. Or in certain hospital areas are no salute - such as in Ft Sam when I was stationed there. Get over yourself and remember you are deal with a person. Yes, your uniform deserves the salute - sometimes the person does not - but uniform does. And learn to deal with people with respect and you will get it back - or at least your uniform will.
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PO1 Anthony Sam
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Honestly you did not do anything wrong but she should been made to salute a tree until it returned her salute back.
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SGT Karl R Lechten
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I would have shared my 'CHITOS' with her or...… gotten her a bunch of flowers and suggested its sheer courtesy to SALUT an officer (in a rather complimenting voice...…………….. without make a lot of 'BALLY-HOOOOO. The MAJOR was RIGHT for she …. could have something more important on her mind-
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HN Cristian Guerrero
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I was fresh out of Corps School, I was really scared when I get to Bethesda Naval Hospital, one day I was in a hurry and because I was fresh I saluted anything brown, I saluted a Chief she just laughs and told me:-Shipmate, we don't salute Chiefs only officers. But we always got yelled out from officers fresh from Annapolis. In the end, we learned to recognize them and just take another route,but I think that there are better ways to correct someone than to yell on a hallway full of patients.
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CPT David Medley
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We've become to soft; It may hurt the Armed Service's !
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PFC Alma Ramirez-Sherrill
PFC Alma Ramirez-Sherrill
6 y
Not soft - just realizing that is a human being in the uniform.
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SFC Phil Geiger
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I had this happen numerous times while I was a senior NCO. I was walking into our BDE HQ and a CW3 was about 10 steps in front of me. A PFC came out of the HQ and didn't salute. As the Chief turned around to say something, I said "I got it chief'. He turned around and went into the Bldg. I then reminded the PFC of basic military customs and courtesies. It should be the NCO who makes the correction if one is around. Drill Sergeants teach this in basic tng and is NCO business. I know, I know there is no such thing as NCO business (whatever), but we need to police ourselves (enlisted ranks) so our officers have the utmost trust in us.
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SGT James Hammons
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It would be good to pull them aside and take it as a training opportunity. Sometime soldiers especially privates just need a little help. If it was a SGT then it is different. But privates are already nervous.
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Capt Al Parker
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Edited 6 y ago
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.
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CPT Agustin Gracia
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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.
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