Why do you think newly commissioned officers give a silver dollar to the person that renders them their first salute?

Interesting thread. Thanks for posting it, LTC Paul Heinlein. I've always known about this tradition, but never really asked "why?". I'm hoping to pin 2LT bars on my daughter in a few years. (she's a high school senior applying for ROTC). I told her about this tradition and jokingly told her that I was going to get into uniform and pin her bars so I could recoup $1 of my investment.

Not sure why, other than tradition, which is often reason enough.

That being said, this is picture of myself, along with 2nd Lt (now Captain) Bridges, our XO at his graduation from OCS in 2009. He is digging that silver dollar out of his pocket. It was absolutely my honor to receive the first salute, as we had previously deployed together, and lived together, when I was a SSgt, and he was a SRA. This is what makes the Guard awesome. He already had his degree as a SRA and when the opportunity arose to chase a commission, he took it and has been running with it ever since.

For the last 6+ years, I have had the privilege of serving as First Sergeant and have the honor of working for him as he made that difficult transition from E to O. I only hope that the advice provided through the years has helped, because I cannot think of a better way to end my career than by guiding a young LT into a position where he will successfully take command of a unit.

That silver dollar is front and center in one of my coin displays, and is one of my prized possessions.

I have heard that it was originally a way for a new officer to thank the NCO who had trained him prior to commissioning. The story goes that the officers knew that they wouldn't have been prepared to take on their new responsibilities without the skills and knowledge passed to them from the NCO who was responsible for their training. Since the NCO received lower pay and the officers felt they had more knowledge, the new officer would give a silver dollar as a small attempt to offset the pay difference. A real silver dollar is actually worth quite a bit of money, but nowadays most people just pay homage to the tradition with a $1 coin.

I've heard a second half to that, please tell me if anyone else has heard it. That is, if the officer (former ENS/2LT) makes flag or general officer, the person who has their silver dollar returns it to them? Not sure that it honors the spirit of giving a silver dollar, or that it even happens (are many alive still when the whippersnapper makes flag??), but just wondering if anyone else had heard that.
My dollar went to one of my grandfathers, and to a crusty old USMC GySgt in my church, who lied about his age and was a Navy UDT during WWII (forerunner of the SEALs).

I attended Norwich University, The Military College of The State of Vermont. Our Oath was administered outdoors and as soon as that was done we filed into the administrative building to sign the paper. As we exited the building four of the NCOs who had been responsible for much of our training for the past four years were waiting in a line. As each brand new 2LT exited the building, one of the NCOs would step forward and salute him. They each took turns and at the end of the exercise each of them had a nice bit of cash in their pockets. This was back in 1967 and paper currency was in vogue.

Some of really did used to stand in line to collect silver dollars after OCS graduations...we donated the money to Army Emergency Relief. When I was commissioned, I had the opportunity to do things in reverse...took forever to find a real silver dollar!!

My story... I spent 8 1/2 years enlisted as what’s now known as a TACP or JTAC. After commissioning I drove over to my old Basic Military Training Squadron with the single minded purpose of finding the “right” NCO. After I explained my mission to the Executive Officer, she found the Drill Sergeant who currently had the best performing flight of recruits. He rewarded me with the perfect salute and I rewarded him with my silver dollar in front of his flight. I swear he was floating on air! That was thirty five years ago and I still remember like it was yesterday....

I was commissioned in San Antonio. That young SGT who gave me my first salute as a Commissioned officer was on cloud nine that day. It was a form of respect in a time honored profession. A

I had the pleasure of rendering the first salute to my two sons. One US Army the other US Navy.

I had the privilege to be part of the silver dollar coining ceremony for two 2LTs in my career. Both were former Specialists in my company that I was the Detachment Sergeant at the time. Both selected me to thank me for providing training as a Soldier. I was more than honored to be the first to salute each new officer. As it was both turned out to be fine officers. One is now retired and the other continues to serve.