When do you drop a salute when walking past a ranking officer?

2LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 08:53:30 -0400

Does anyone have the actual regulations regarding the amount of paces you must walk past a ranking officer before dropping a salute? I haven't been able to locate anything in AR 600-25 except the distance when to render the salute. Thanks.

Response by SFC Michael D. made Jun 25 at 2019 9:38 AM

SFC Michael D. — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 09:38:58 -0400

As soon as he/she answers your greeting and drops his salute.

Example:

You are walking down a sidwalk approaching an Officer. You throw up that salute and say your greeting (whatever you use) "Rangers Lead The Way". He/She will return your salute and answer your greeting "All The Way" and drop their salute, you then drop yours.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Jun 25 at 2019 10:09 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 10:09:08 -0400

Once you have passed the officer and greetings exchanged.

Response by CPT William Jones made Apr 11 at 2021 6:55 PM

CPT William Jones — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 18:55:57 -0400

You drop your salute after he saluted you with his return. If he doesn’t return it shame on him. If you also tender a greeting you should make enough noise he knows you are there. If I see it and he is junior to
Me we will have a talk. If senior I’ll have to handle it differently

Response by CPT William Jones made Jun 6 at 2021 7:00 PM

CPT William Jones — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 19:00:32 -0400

You drop yours after he returns it. If he doesn’t and no reason for it I would have rendered another greeting in a very loud voice in hopes of embarrassing him. Nobody can do anything to you for following the regs.

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Oct 9 at 2021 12:15 PM

MSG Thomas Currie — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 12:15:46 -0400

Assuming everyone does everything correctly, you drop your salute immediately after the officer drops his return salute. If the officer cannot return the salute because his hands are occupied, you drop your salute as soon as the officer acknowledges your greeting.

If the officer fails to return your salute, despite you holding your salute and giving the appropriate greeting, you drop your salute as soon as you pass the incompetent clown.