"You don't salute the person, you salute the rank": Do you believe in this age old saying?

2016-08-19T21:01:55-04:00

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 9:06 PM

2016-08-19T21:06:18-04:00

Yes. But the ones I didn't care for knew it as I would only use their rank. If I didn't respect the individual I never called them sir or ma'am, same for ones I didn't know. Had that discussion with a lieutenant at Benning, at the BX, when he lost his lid when I saluted him and said "good morning, lieutenant". He told me the proper greeting was the greeting of the day followed by sir. I told him the proper greeting was the greeting of the day followed by rank.

Sir is a sign of respect. If I don't know someone how can I respect them? Not calling someone "sir" isn't disrespectful, neither is using their rank.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 9:18 PM

2016-08-19T21:18:32-04:00

I can think of several officers that i did not respect. i saluted them anyway.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 9:21 PM

2016-08-19T21:21:27-04:00

The only person worthy of a salute from me is a Medal of Honor recipient. The rest is just rank. My theory on officers is that of a mushroom. Feed them shit and keep them in the dark!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 9:24 PM

2016-08-19T21:24:16-04:00

As said below true for a lot as one does npt even know the other.

However, there are a few that I saluted out of respect also.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Aug 19 at 2016 9:46 PM

2016-08-19T21:46:46-04:00

Nope, you have to salute the rank per regs, doesn't really matter behind that TBH

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 19 at 2016 9:51 PM

2016-08-19T21:51:14-04:00

Of course you do. If a good officer, it includes your respect. If an Alpha Hotel, you don't invite further interaction. Either way it serves the purpose.

Response by MGySgt Rick Tyrrell made Aug 19 at 2016 9:57 PM

2016-08-19T21:57:15-04:00

Of course you believe it! Why would you short change a tradition?

Response by SGT James Hammons made Aug 19 at 2016 10:13 PM

2016-08-19T22:13:30-04:00

As with everything, the politics has invaded the military. Although I am out now there is a lot of things that went on before I got out that I thought was changing to much like micromanaging. But after I got out I found there is a large amount of respect for the military. Soldiers should respect their leaders at all time even if there are disagreements. The Salute is a timed honored tradition. The solute is used when addressing officers. I believe any officer that leads from the front is respectable. I also believe that if there are bad officers is is up to the officer corps to correct the issue.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 10:23 PM

2016-08-19T22:23:39-04:00

From Major Winters himself " Cpt Sobel, Major Winters, CPT Sobel we salute the rank not the man. CPT Nixon grins at Major Winters.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Aug 19 at 2016 10:33 PM

2016-08-19T22:33:56-04:00

I saluted officers from the day I trained in basic until the day I left the Service,so I guess yes would be the appropriate answer,Sir.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 19 at 2016 10:54 PM

2016-08-19T22:54:19-04:00

Never had a Problem saluting any officer although I did question the Sanity and Mental Competence of a few.

Response by SGT Paul Mackay made Aug 19 at 2016 11:11 PM

2016-08-19T23:11:52-04:00

yes

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 11:25 PM

2016-08-19T23:25:01-04:00

Sure it's true, but I've met plenty of officers I was happy to salute as well. And they're the ones that make the Army run. Same's true for giving courtesy to NCOs. I've stood at parade rest when I'd have rather thrown a punch, but I respected the rank. But, I've served with many NCOs that I didn't begrudge giving respect.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2016 11:30 PM

2016-08-19T23:30:05-04:00

since the military has became a social experiment nowadays. I think it would be interesting to make the salute optional. I think it would make a statement to those officers that don't deserve a salute. I like to use the CAPT Sobel vs CAPT Winters from Band of Brothers for example. You think them men would have saluted CAPT Sobel if they didn't have to. Gain the the respect of your men and earn your salute.

Response by LCpl Domingo Ariza made Aug 19 at 2016 11:47 PM

2016-08-19T23:47:07-04:00

Yes

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2016 2:09 AM

2016-08-20T02:09:23-04:00

Yes.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2016 3:14 AM

2016-08-20T03:14:42-04:00

I believe you're acknowledging each other as brothers-in-arms. People forget that both service members are being saluted. The custom is the junior initiates the salute and the senior returns it.

Response by CW4 Scott Kjendlie made Aug 20 at 2016 5:37 AM

2016-08-20T05:37:27-04:00

Absolutely, it's the way the rank structure is set up. You don't need to know or respect the person, but you do need to know and respect the rank if it is entitled to a salute.

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2016 5:39 AM

2016-08-20T05:39:21-04:00

Yes, the rank by standards has to be saluted.
But in my book I've always went by the saying real respect is earned and not given.
When respect is earned, that's when it actually means something.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 20 at 2016 6:38 AM

2016-08-20T06:38:09-04:00

Yes I do, you don't have to like the person, but you have to have respect for his rank.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 20 at 2016 9:19 AM

2016-08-20T09:19:04-04:00

Mostly true however there are some I'd salute regardless of rank

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Aug 20 at 2016 10:08 AM

2016-08-20T10:08:01-04:00

There were several Officers I just saluted their rank. there were many more that I saluted them as leaders who earned respect of their Marines.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2016 11:07 AM

2016-08-20T11:07:11-04:00

Yes except MOH recipients. Then you always salute the man as well as the medal!

Response by SGT Alicia Brenneis made Aug 20 at 2016 11:42 AM

2016-08-20T11:42:55-04:00

You salute the rank. Once trust and respect are established, it becomes the person behind the rank.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 20 at 2016 12:33 PM

2016-08-20T12:33:57-04:00

Of course, CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member, that's always been the case. It's more than an age old saying, it's regulation. It's not an option.
When I was in BCT in '69-'70, we were taught to salute cars that had blue officer decals on the bumper as we walked down the street. Half the time it was an officer's teenage daughter, giggling like crazy!
What were we doing? Saluting the rank. Maj Marty Hogan CW5 Charlie Poulton SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth CPT Aaron Kletzing

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Aug 20 at 2016 2:20 PM

2016-08-20T14:20:50-04:00

Respect the rank always; respect the service and nation second to none, but; the individual is not important, because we are taught selfless service.

Response by PO1 Richard Cormier made Aug 20 at 2016 2:41 PM

2016-08-20T14:41:50-04:00

Military etiquette requires the Salute. It does NOT matter what you think of the person in uniform (great leader or death defying lunatic).

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2016 3:44 PM

2016-08-20T15:44:36-04:00

Absolutely. This holds true with enlisted pay grades as well (not so much saluting, but respecting the pay grade ). I have known some clueless officers and have had some horrible enlisted leadership in my day, but you must always respect the rank - even if it includes biting your tongue clean off. To me, even if I was an E9 or a CWO5 and a dumbass new O1 put me on blast in front of our junior personnel, though that O1 will never forget their mistake - I would still render a salute because that's what I am required to do. I hold very tightly to customs, courtesies, and traditions. Though, an O1 must be out of their mind if they step on the toes of anyone E7 and above - at least in the Navy.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2016 5:36 PM

2016-08-20T17:36:51-04:00

old age or not, its respect of the rank not the person other wise why have rank

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Aug 20 at 2016 5:45 PM

2016-08-20T17:45:10-04:00

Always salute the uniform. That said, consider: For a week in 1975, I was a student at SERE school. We had no ranks. Nobody knew who were the officers or enlisted. Only the most senior officer and the most senior enlisted were known to us. There were no badges or ranks and no saluting. We turned out to be a perfectly good working group during that week. Leaders emerged naturally.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2016 9:36 PM

2016-08-20T21:36:31-04:00

You must render proper customs and courtesies depending on the rank.

For those who deserve it, You are happy to render a salute out of respect for the man.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Aug 21 at 2016 12:10 PM

2016-08-21T12:10:36-04:00

2LT. I salute as required. The better sulute is for those I respect. What I liked is the Marine that send Obame back out when he didn't return the Marines salute when he boarded the chopper. Great clip of film.

Response by PO2 Brian Harringgton made Aug 21 at 2016 9:33 PM

2016-08-21T21:33:42-04:00

only the rank keep in mind you have to have respect for the rank not the person you guys soupose to be bright a slaute is also a form of military greeting

Response by PO1 Jack Howell made Aug 21 at 2016 11:30 PM

2016-08-21T23:30:55-04:00

Yes. However, , when I salute someone that I have more respect for as a person, I tend to render my salute with more enthusiasm.

Response by SSgt Paul Esquibel made Aug 22 at 2016 11:40 AM

2016-08-22T11:40:46-04:00

I think it depends on the context of who you are saluting, if it's an officer to whom you don't know and have no idea as to their character or ethics then you would be saluting the rank, vs if it's officer you respect based off their proven qualifications as a leader then your saluting the man or woman and honoring them.

Response by MSG Michael Graham made Aug 22 at 2016 11:59 AM

2016-08-22T11:59:53-04:00

all I want to know is when did it change from saluting the rank to saluting the individual?? graduated basic in 1977. at that time you were taught you are saluting the rank.

Response by SPC Jill Drushal, RN, MA made Aug 22 at 2016 12:07 PM

2016-08-22T12:07:37-04:00

Absolutely! As a PFC, I taught an ROTC cadet about this etiquette. I was driving for advanced camp one summer in the 1990s. My commander and my NCOIC told all of the drivers not to salute the cadets because they weren't commissioned yet. One cadet was insistent that I had to salute him. I refused. He threatened to report me to his cadre. I said, "This is my full-time job. I am here all day, every day, supporting my family. You are here for eight weeks, 'playing soldier.' Then, you will go back to school and tell your classmates what a great time you had at Ft. Riley this summer. I will still be here every day, doing my job. I won't salute you until the day you graduate and receive your commission. Then, I will salute your rank, not you!" He ran to his cadre (a Major) and told him what I had said. I followed him and properly saluted the Major. I fully expected to have to explain myself. Instead, he asked me if the cadet's version of the events was correct. I acknowledged that it was. He informed the cadet that I was right. The Major proceeded to smoke the cadet and made him apologize to me. I never had any trouble with that cadet again!

Response by Lazaro Alcazar made Aug 22 at 2016 12:27 PM

2016-08-22T12:27:59-04:00

There is something that man or woman did to deserve that rank.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2016 7:02 PM

2016-08-22T19:02:29-04:00

Most of the officers I have had were good, a few were great, and two were so bad they should have resigned their commissions for the betterment of the force. Still, I saluted all of them regardless of if they were so awesome I'd let them date my sister or if they were so bad I wouldn't trust them to feed my goldfish over a long weekend.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Aug 22 at 2016 8:34 PM

2016-08-22T20:34:48-04:00

I rarely had any issues with officers. It was upper NCOs that would be golden or toxic.

Response by SSG Jim Foreman made Aug 23 at 2016 12:22 AM

2016-08-23T00:22:34-04:00

I always saluted the rank, just as we are taught. Some times I didn't respect the person, sometimes I didn’t even know the person. But I always respected the rank.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2016 1:31 PM

2016-08-23T13:31:18-04:00

All I can say is I've never met a Marine that didn't render a salute despite me being in an Army Officer. It's interesting that some the enforcers, or supposed to be for that matter, of the standard lean on social and emotional reasoning for why they bend the rules in military discipline. But that puts a Servicemember in a position where there is no deference of your years in service.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Aug 23 at 2016 3:08 PM

2016-08-23T15:08:00-04:00

No. I will salute the rank because it is the proper thing to do, but when I salute the person I'm not just going through the motions. I might be standing up a little straighter. There might be a little more volume behind my greeting of the day. I see a salute as a sign of respect. There is a big difference between showing someone respect because you have to and showing someone respect because you want to.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Aug 23 at 2016 4:52 PM

2016-08-23T16:52:04-04:00

At a minimum. Ideally you are doing both in an exchange of mutual respect and acknowledgement.

Response by Julia Kras made Aug 26 at 2016 5:31 PM

2016-08-26T17:31:54-04:00

I SOMEWHAT BELIEVE IN THAT. BUT THE SAYING ITS CONTRADICTORY BECAUSE IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE RANK YOU HAVE TO BE A PERSON

Response by SSG Jake Ragan made Aug 26 at 2016 11:28 PM

2016-08-26T23:28:43-04:00

Yes I do and I've always taught my soldiers that as well. A salute is a sign of respect and always has been a military custom and courtesy no matter how you feel about that person still render a salute

Response by SPC Gene Delgado made Aug 27 at 2016 3:21 PM

2016-08-27T15:21:39-04:00

I used to salute my platoon Sgt all the time... while we were on patrol in Afghan.