Posted on Aug 19, 2016
"You don't salute the person, you salute the rank": Do you believe in this age old saying?
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Responses: 47
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.
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.
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SCPO (Join to see)
Agreed. Though for me, the only acknowledgement they would get was a sir.....And nothing further.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
SFC (Join to see) You and I would have gotten along just fine. I also had the same conversation, but it was with a Captain.
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LTJG (Join to see)
I guess i do it backwards then. From the time i was enlisted to now, i call the officers i respect by their rank and those i do not know or do not respect by sir/ma'am.
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SFC (Join to see)
LTJG (Join to see) - Personal choice, I guess. My old MasterGuns always told me "Sir is a sign of respect. If I don't know you, or don't respect you, why should I pretend I do?"
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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.
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Capt Michael Greene
Absolutely agree. When I returned salutes, I felt common dignity. While I knew that I was the officer, I also knew that being an enlisted person was, well, a noble calling.
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Yes except MOH recipients. Then you always salute the man as well as the medal!
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LTJG (Join to see)
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From Major Winters himself " Cpt Sobel, Major Winters, CPT Sobel we salute the rank not the man. CPT Nixon grins at Major Winters.
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SSG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - Ah that was the only Band of Brothers Camp Tocca original that I was not able to meet. I met the other on a USO tour on my deployment.
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SPC Carlos R.
SGT (Join to see) - Just saw the last chapter of the series again last night. What an amazing generation.
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I can think of several officers that i did not respect. i saluted them anyway.
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SGM (Join to see)
You don't a choice. We have to salute. Like / Dislike..Respect or not....It's protocol
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Of course, CPT(P) (Join to see), 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
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
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SFC (Join to see)
I remember saluting the stickers. Missed it one time and had a dependapotomus get out of her car and follow me demanding "her" salute because "my husband is...". I walked back to her car and saluted it and reminded her the car rated the salute, not her. I was so pleased when they stopped that stupid tradition. Well, that and vehicle stickers in general.
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PO2 Brian Harringgton
i would of said mam you don't have any rank I love dependents of all ranks they think they were king minus I had this one lady while on a flight from naples to the USA wanting to take my window seat she tried to pull the rank thing on me still an e4 and her husband a chief I said so what should you be in the front of the plane instead of being at the back of the plane becuse that is where all the O"S and chiefs are at anyway she just clamed up but as working the gate I get it all the time my husband is so and so I even told a wife of ADM I don't have to let you through this gate without an ID I had to call the ADM to varify as to ask him if it was his wife once varified I called the watch commander and he gave the blessing to let her through the gate she was mad but hey 100 precent ID check is a 100 precent no matter as to who you are and for all you military spouse get one thing you don't have rank the ID is a privilage not an entiletelment
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You salute the rank. Once trust and respect are established, it becomes the person behind the rank.
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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.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSgt (Join to see) , it always seems to me that the ones I really respect and don't mind paying that respect to, tell me to relax as I am going to parade rest. Unless I had goofed... then some other positions would be given.
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Never had a Problem saluting any officer although I did question the Sanity and Mental Competence of a few.
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