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

What you said is completely within your right, however, what tone did you use...were you assertive or did you yell at her?? But the wording was perfect.

You did the exact correct thing...unless you came off like a Marine DI to a recruit.

In the Infantry especially when I was in a Ranger Bn, the proper way to correct someone who failed to salute an officer, was to "make them push Georgia down to Florida", i.e. pushups, you pick the number of repetitions. My second enlistment was in the medical corps as a Cardiac Specialist & I was stationed at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. The expectations & means of correction are definitely lower in those duty assignments, sadly, in my opinion. However, even at the medical center, I always maintained the same standards & expected them of those around me. By the way, not a good plan to become a popular person!

I ran into this as a 3 days out of basic army PV2 at DLI. I failed to salute a Navy Lt. Actually I never saw him, but anyway instead of it going to my E5 class leader it went to my SFC Platoon SGT. I got chewed for it but at the end of the day the SFC spaced us all out so that the LT had to salute each one of us individually. The school area was a no cover no salute area the next day. I did apologize to the LT and found out he was not the one who had an issue with it as he had never seen me either. He was over the Russian school and was a very nice guy. He sought us out often wanting to know how we felt about our training and wanting to know if we had any suggestions that might improve it. Later as an NCO I had to correct this very thing a time or two. I always took them aside and explained their mistake. I never observed it where I thought it was anything other than an honest mistake. If I had felt it was done out of disrespect it would have been an entirely different situation.

You were right to be aggressive. It’s our job to uphold the military code of behavior. If the major wants to be lax about it that’s on him, you did what was right.

It was not stated if the Maj. was a Medical Officer or not. It may make a difference. Most, not all, are direct commissioned, as are most Jag. Officers, and are not as disciplined/educated in customs and courtesies as others are. (No offence to anyone) They may not take the same approach as an E-4 or an OCS graduate.
Medical and Jag Officers are not there to maintain good order and Discipline! They are specialists in their trade. That is not an excuse for not bringing to the attention someone who does not render a salute when appropriate. Indoors or out. Local policy or not!
I can recall many occasions when someone much Jr. to me would pass by not saluting. My solution was to stop the individual and say. "I'm sorry Specialist or CPT.t but I failed to notice your right arm was broken". (With a smile on my face) A salute was always given and often with a smile returned.
The trick is to be able to make a correction without being a jerk. In a serious training environment as in Basic, AIT, Air Borne and Ranger Training etc. expect failure to salute to have unpleasant consequences. With my boot up your rectal orifice. In some schools there is no rank and no salutes are exchanged. Everyone gets to eat the same dirt with worms included.

About Direct Commissioned Medical and Jag. Officers in a combat environment. Read and Comment.

Situation: After two days of contact and loosing most of your platoon, you are the only NCO standing.
Everyone senior to you is a medical casualty or dead. You are a combat arms NCO E-5. Only one officer is among the survivors and a LTC. medical Surgeon. You are no longer Combat Effective as an unit. MISSION: Get back to friendly lines to take care of your wounded, refit and rearm.

Who is in command? You or the LTC?

Do you salute when the enemy can see who you are saluting?

(This based on an actual event in WW ll)

you wont be able to correct them, not with the members in service now, seems like they are all whiners, if you get firm with them they will say you are harrassing them and you will be reprimanded not them. The military has changed, no more discipline anymore, they will be offended.

I wouldn't say that was aggressive but what do l know, I'm just a retired SFC.

You were in the right and I for one am proud to hear we still have soldiers who hold others to the standard. It’s becoming a rare thing.

I would've excused myself from the officers, caught up to the troop in question, and in a normal tone "locked her up." Quickly informed her of her infraction, got acknowledgement back from her that she understand her error , released her and moved on.