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

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.

SPC Khyle Ball, We were all trained to salute no matter the service affiliation. First off is you cannot change has happened. I would have responded to the officer with yes sir and dropped the matter for the moment. Then I would have made it a point to understand what was written in AR 600-25 then I would have found out how that corresponds to the UMCJ. Article 88 is a catchall which is commonly used. Then you could revisit the incident if you chose. In any case you will be better prepared to address the situation if it ever arises again. One thing is you can't correct the code if you do not know the code. Funny thing is we are all taught to salute and taken what we are told to what ever limit we feel is necessary to enforce it.

My advise to you is take this as a learning experience and equip yourself for the next encounter by learning the military requirements and what steps you can take if this requirement is not adhered to. Only then can you understand how to proceed if this ever happens again. Don't get me wrong a person can never know all the regulations but you can learn the ones that come up the most and that are important to you.

I was a Navy LT, so maybe I have a bias. I would have said, "Soldier (sailor), stop where you are. These gentlemen rate a salute from you." No sarcasm, no brow beating, just a "do it."

We must correct things we see wrong on the spot or the issue is not taken with importance. Most people don't like to make waves but we must hold those in error responsible. You were right to correct on the spot. If the private did not see the rank, then let it be a lesson for them to be create more awareness around themselves. As for the Officer, enlisted personnel don't correct Officers, let that be another question sometime.

Tell them if you don't want to salute to just cross the street or turn your back to the officer before they get to close,

Addressing it is Extremely Important. Attention to detail is a trait the Military prides itself, and is one of many reason the service separates itself from Civilians. A PFC in many cases are new and inexperienced, I think what you did wasn't, however tact is also a Military trait as well.

My response would have been to speak in a loud clear voice, "Your f***ing right arm better be god d*** broken because having your head up your a** is no excuse for not seeing this officer. You better render a proper salute right god d*** now before I make the rest of your day f****ing miserable." And if the officer with me said that I didn’t have to be so aggressive about it, I would have replied, "Yes Sir, you are correct."

Of course I retired during the last century, so you folks might do things differently these days.

Why would you worry about being, "aggressive". Rules are there for a reason. Said PFC should have been locked up and received the, "donkey bar b que", of her life. I would say the same if she had been a he. It should be done out of sight and hearing range of the officers. None the less it should be DONE.

There was time where where that would be an immediate write up and earning the PFC KP duty. Senior leadership needs to address this along with the NCO Corps.

In today's military respect and earned privileges as an officer mean less than before. I assume the Major was a doctor. I am assuming the Lt. is a woman nurse. Based on these assumptions, the doctor is probably less interest in protocol as Hawkeye is in Mash the TV show. The nurse has worked hard for her degree and feels slighted. ( My total guesswork) In truth she is correct but the Major outranks her and anything said may go against her. I suggest that you say and do nothing. When you become a Major, remember the incident, act accordingly.

You were right, leadership is aggressive in nature. The Maj has the luxury of focusing on His/her job and probably walking around with hands in pockets as well... When I was a young Private I stood at Parade Rest for Specialists. If your NCO's are spineless I'd just let it go.

You were right and officer was wrong. I would have corrected the EM, sent him on his way and the I would have talked to the Major and informed him "with all due respect, Sir" the next time I am correcting someone please do not interrupt.

The Army Maj was wrong - there is nothing aggressive about requiring the customs and courtesies be enforced. The PFC wasn't paying attention, given the benefit of the doubt, not out of disrespect so it was just a wake up for her.