Which service has the best salute?

Saying it's not the branch, but the individual is a cop out taken to not admit the obvious. Yes, I too, have seen poor salutes across the board. Just as I have seen great salutes across the board.

Reality is... Marines take much more pride in these things than other branches. It is trained and engrained from day one. Therefore on a much greater scale you are more likely to see a great salute from a Marine. And conversely more likely to see a poor salute from anyone that did not attend "boot camp" aka commissioned officers...

It is not a question of the service, but that of the individual rendering the salute. I witnessed sloppy salutes from all branches and ranks and sharp ones from them as well.

I served in both the Marine Corps and Army and the Marine Corps wins hands down. Twenty years later I would hear in my head the instructions of the proper salute that I learned at Parris Island.

My hat off to my brothers and sisters in the USMC

Yes it is suppose to be the same in all branches and being Drill Sergeant in the Army I wish I could say the Army has the best . But the Marines instill pride in there Marines that the other branches just don't.

As an armed forces, we are all tought the basic salute and what that standard should be. However amongst the branches Drill Teams, the Marines are hands down more meticulous in the teaching and performance of rendering the hand salute.

I would say the Marines even though I was Army. I can't imagine a Marine rendering a sloppy salute. Striking one's breast with a closed fist and shouting "Hail Caesar" is probably frowned upon. I once saluted a 2LT while he was downshifting his MGB in order to turn a corner. Yet I was still awarded the Good Conduct Medal.

Too subjective...we ALL do...

In My opinion, the Marines tend to have the sharpest and proper salute. I see some salutes in the modern Military otherwise that that often make Me wounder just what they teach. i had learned to salute in a Military Academy where that had been properly taught and upon working gates etc in the Military had had many senior Officers, Colonels and even Generals stop to comment on how sharp My salute was. We took a lot of pride in a proper salute and Military bearing. Squared away uniforms, salute, and proper hand signals to direct traffic though entry point to the installation was part of Military Police duties for the Air Force, Army and Marines and created a proper display of respect and professionalism.

Those who have responded that they have seen both sharp and sloppy salutes from all are correct, as far as that statement goes. I am prejudiced, but I honestly think the Marines make a bigger point of training and insisting on sharp salutes than the other branches. On the other hand, back about 1980, when my wife was stationed at Treasure Island, the "rent-a-cop" gate guards issued salutes that made this Marine proud. I suspect there was a Marine imbedded somewhere in that organization.