When is it appropriate to salute indoors?

After reading many comments, one thing is abundantly clear, regardless of rank, time in service or branch, almost everyone is confused. One thing i distinctly remember from boot camp was that if a bulkhead (ceiling) is higher than 12', it is the same as being outside, ie...an airport. Therefore, cover on. With the cover on, a hand salute is appropriate. Now, with that said, i got out in 92' , i am certain things may have changed. One thing i will never do though is publically bust the balls of any service member, devil dog or not, for making a judgement call when he was probably just as confused as the rest of us and MOST likely had to make a split decision as these things are rarely staged. The Marine Corps stays out of the business of civilian functions and no civilian has any authority over military customs. Just sayin'.

Never saluted if we were uncoivered and we were never covered indoors for the most part.

I am horrified - in the Dress Blue A and B, if you have a cover on, your also have your gloves on. If you're covered, you salute. If you're uncovered, you stand at the position of attention.

You dont salute you are indoor Why the cover you beside the flag.

Each branch has different rules...

According to AR 600-25, Chapter 1, section 5, paragraph c: ...Personnel will not salute indoors except when reporting to a superior officer.

According to US Navy Regulations, chapter 12 & OPNAVIST 1710.7A, Naval personnel always salute, indoors or out. For the national anthem, all naval personnel, not in formation stand at attention and salute, if covered. If in formation, only the formation commander salutes. For a ceremony, the procedures for the specific ceremony will dictate the proper procedure.

The Marines follow the Navy in this instance. Unless ceremony procedures dictated otherwise, the Marine should have saluted. I have never seen a military person in uniform, covered, place their hand over their heart.

Good conversation, I can see the dilemma, and as an event participant I always try to shape the event so that we as the nations military are not embarrassed. However, sometimes we are required to perform in order to show support. I think an indoor salute (given the headgear) would not have killed him but then again he might have been following instructions form a more senior NCO (PAO).

There was a simple rule in the Navy; When covered, salute.

However, it's a minor infraction, and whether it's wrong or right, at least he's paying some form of respect.

When you are at these events as part of the ceremony you do what you are told. Very often your orders violate the uniform regs in some way. Sometimes they don't want you wearing gloves when you do that 50 foot flag display (flags are slippery in gloves), sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't want you wearing your cover even though you are not indoors (scrambling off the field with that big flag) and sometimes they do. Each event is different.

I have no idea what old boy is doing up with the singer instead of with the rest of the detail. Being out there alone as the center of attention he should be in full uniform and saluting.

I was raised where if the National Anthem was playing if in uniform and had a cover on you saluted. If indoors you stood at attention and faced the music. With this marines situation he should have been at attention at a minimum not with his hand over his heart period.Hand over the heart was only for the pledge of allegiance. Not sure when the hand over the heart thing came in to play. I believe it was after 9/11/01

Anyone who has been in the military for a while knows that there is a regulation or a rule for EVERYTHING! In this case, Title 4 of the United States Code is the "reg":

Title 4 United States Code:
§ 4. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag; Manner of Delivery.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”, should be rendered by standing at
attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the
left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain
silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.

The last sentence of this paragraph states what "should" be done by all uniformed military personnel. So, this rule leaves room for other variations, such as reciting the pledge with hand over heart. I am a JROTC instructor and recite the pledge daily with my cadets. When in uniform, I recite it while at attention, but do not place my hand over my heart. There are other instructors who do place their hand over their heart.

I believe that what is most important for this Marine and for all us is that we honor our nation properly and do what is appropriate in these situations. The nation is collectively looking to us when it comes to proper customs and courtesies.