Why do gate guards/MPs salute non-front plated officers in vehicles?

2014-03-22T16:10:41-04:00

Baahhhhhh

Deleted because I failed to find it in the reg first. Sometimes people are just wrong. Thank goodness I looked it up before further embarrassment. I suppose I never fully read this paragraph on the first part of the sentence:

The practice of saluting officers in official vehicles (recognized individually by rank or identifying vehicle plates and/or flags) is considered an appropriate courtesy and will be observed. Salutes are not required to be rendered by or to personnel who are driving or riding in privately owned vehicles, except by gate guards who will render salutes to recognized officers in all vehicles unless duties are of such a nature as to make the salute impractical. When military personnel are acting as drivers of a moving vehicle, they should not initiate a salute.

Ok to save a little face - lol - when does it make it impractical? When 40k Soldiers are coming in to base during rush hour?

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Mar 22 at 2014 4:15 PM

2014-03-22T16:15:55-04:00

Seems that they would salute her because she is an officer. I don't see how plates, the type of vehicle, or her attire make a difference? I would expect the same even if she walked onto the base on foot and with no vehicle.

This isn't some honor guard detail. It's just basic customs and courtesies. Am I missing something?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 22 at 2014 4:16 PM

2014-03-22T16:16:37-04:00

Blue sticker gives away her Officer status..

Response by SSG Robert Blum made Mar 22 at 2014 5:09 PM

2014-03-22T17:09:26-04:00

SFC Jones, Glad to see you found the wording that requires it. As an MP, I can tell you that not only do we Salute after returning the ID card at gates, We Also Salute Officers at the end of a traffic stop. As an NCO if your not in uniform or you rank is covered by your seat belt, the MP would probably address you as Sir, But if the MP really looked at your ID, he/she saw your rank and should then as he/she hands it back you and says have a good day, or welcome to wherever "Sargent".  Now as for the impracticality during the morning rush, The salute doesn't really take that much more time.  I haven't worked a gate in nearly 9 years, but as I remember it the following driver actions tend to slow things down a bit: ID card not ready, Cant Find ID, Cant find First Gear, Driver Sets the Parking Break, Driver decides that while he/she is stopped that it is time to fiddle with the radio or look for a CD,  answers cell phone and then realizes that he/she is right in front of an MP, Takes his or her sweet time, and of course that driver that rear ends the car in front of him.   

Response by SPC Michael Hunt made Mar 23 at 2014 1:09 AM

2014-03-23T01:09:12-04:00

I pulled Gate Guard duty a few times and my motto was... "When in doubt, Salute."

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Mar 23 at 2014 1:53 AM

2014-03-23T01:53:32-04:00

Some people think we should salute officer wives. Now that's Baahhhhh!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 12 at 2014 7:12 AM

2014-05-12T07:12:58-04:00

My wife (my girlfriend back then) used to have a ball with this when she came to visit me while I was at OBC at FT Gordon. She would take my car and drive on and off post to watch the gate guards salute. The guards would recognize the parking permit sticker and salute. I told her to stop abusing her "authority". :-) On future assignments she would tell my troops to call me by my first name, which they would do for a few laughs. That's why we're celebrating 20 years of marriage this year!!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 12 at 2014 7:32 AM

2014-05-12T07:32:34-04:00

OK funny story re: my previous post.

We were down at FT Bliss"ful" for AT one year and My 1SG and I are outside on a covered deck, sans cover having the morning joe and going over the day's schedule. Some first LT comes up to us, salutes and asks us whether we saw the car that just drove by our HQ - the road is about 50 ft away from the building. As we were engaged in conversation, we both answered, "no, why, whats up?" The LT followed up with, "Well sir, my boss saw you out here and you didn't salute when we droved by and BG "so-n-so" is pretty pissed about that. I said, "Gee LT, we didn't see anyone drive by, blah, blah, blah...". About this time, as we're trying to contain our laughter, our Bn Cdr walks out and hears the conversation. LTC "Battling" Bruce Falcone just looks at the LT and says, "You have a nice day, LT".
The LT tries to rebut, But sir, I..."
to which LTC Falcone responds, "and best regard to BG<>".
"But sir ...",
"You have a nice day, Lieutenant!"
The stunned LT salutes and the 3 of us are busting a gut as he walks away.

Never heard anything more about it, apparently BG , never did remember his name, had more pressing matters to pursue that day. :-)

Response by MAJ Dennis Malone made May 28 at 2014 2:46 PM

2014-05-28T14:46:33-04:00

Raising one's right arm in a simple gesture of respect for all that person has accomplished is never a wasted effort. I knew the MPs and SFs at Forts Hood and Sill and Shaw Air Force Base knew well their duties and never failed in them.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2014 2:08 PM

2014-10-13T14:08:29-04:00

So, as an SP working gates pre 9/11, we didn't stop traffic during morning rush. We just looked at the base passes and out of courtesy saluted he blue officer passes (which is where the wives and kids used to get to believe that we owed them a salute).

It was never required.

Post 9/11 when we (for the most part) instituted 100% ID checks, we saluted officers upon recognition.

The only vehicles to get a salute while moving now should be properly plated staff vehicles, unless you know, respect, and care to make the effort to recognize the occupants.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 8:52 PM

2014-12-24T20:52:07-05:00

Most Air Force bases I've been to do ID card checks for every vehicle. Some do 100% (every passenger), most just check the driver's ID. If the gate guard checks the ID, he should be saluting officers, rush hour or no. It takes no additional time to render a salute (and no additional time for the officer driving to return a salute).

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Dec 24 at 2014 9:11 PM

2014-12-24T21:11:36-05:00

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member,

Read in the thread you wish you could delete your posted question. Truth is, this post will probably get you more influence points (from responses) than if you had posted the cure for cancer!

Response by PO2 Mark Saffell made Mar 7 at 2015 5:10 PM

2015-03-07T17:10:23-05:00

Life at sea on an aircraft carrier is so much easier. No covers worn at sea on The Enterprise. No salutes unless covered. Walking thru the hanger bay covered would wear an arm out with all the pilots. But we make up for it in port. Salute requesting permission to go ashore or onboard and the a salute to colors no matter of rank.