Advice
Advice
Posted on Jun 27, 2023
Should retired officers, who are not in uniform, return a salute?
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Should retired officers, who are not in uniform, return a salute?
I see soldiers at the gate salute me when I come through, even though I present my retired ID card -- and sometimes when I show my contractor CAC. I get that it's respect to my retired rank, but only GOs retain their rank when they retire. And, since I now have a beard and am never in uniform, it feels weird returning a salute. What say you?
I see soldiers at the gate salute me when I come through, even though I present my retired ID card -- and sometimes when I show my contractor CAC. I get that it's respect to my retired rank, but only GOs retain their rank when they retire. And, since I now have a beard and am never in uniform, it feels weird returning a salute. What say you?
Saluting
Retirement
Respect
Advice
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 150
Suspended Profile
"Salutes are not required to be rendered by or to personnel who are driving or riding in privately-owned vehicles, except by gate guards (military personnel only) who will (AR 600–25) render salutes to recognized officers in ALL (emphasis added) vehicles unless duties are of such a nature as to make the salute impractical." Also, "salutes are not required to be rendered or returned when the senior or subordinate or both are in civilian attire."
If a military gate guard salutes you it is a courtesy, even if you are retired, and even though it's not required. Personally, I return the courtesy, just as I did when I was in uniform, and since I am at a complete stop it doesn't interfere with my ability as the driver of the car. Salutes are not "required" by either party, but they are also not prohibited. It would feel very wrong to me to be saluted at the gate and then drive off without having acknowledged the trooper's courtesy.
If a military gate guard salutes you it is a courtesy, even if you are retired, and even though it's not required. Personally, I return the courtesy, just as I did when I was in uniform, and since I am at a complete stop it doesn't interfere with my ability as the driver of the car. Salutes are not "required" by either party, but they are also not prohibited. It would feel very wrong to me to be saluted at the gate and then drive off without having acknowledged the trooper's courtesy.
show previous comments
LCDR Jerry Maurer
I stopped and asked, and was told I wasn't required to salute. I asked what the gate guard would prefer. He told me that he was going to salute me either way in honor of my service. I said in that case I should return his salute and he said he would be honored to receive it. Since then I always return a salute, simple courtesy and, quite frankly, as a lowly 0-4, it makes my day.
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MSgt Bobby Gene
Returning a salute is just a classy way to show appreciation to the courtesy rendered.
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MAJ Joe L
Well said.
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MAJ Stephen Barnard
SFC Michael Lindenbusch - It's also worth noting that different nations have different customs and regulations. For example, in the British Army you always remove headgear when inside a building, and you never salute when not wearing a hat / beret, whether indoors or outside.
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LTC Dallas Powell, I'm confused by your statement that "only GOs retain their rank when they retire". Why do you think that?
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1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR)
COL Randall C. Their thinking is incorrect -- As you already know, your rank changed to retired status and is denoted by adding the word (retired) after the rank, for example Colonel (retired) or COL(ret). However retired officers don't give up their rank, they are subject to recall to active duty in the event of national emergency with those retired most recently most likely to be recalled. By the way, I am First Sergeant (Retired) Dean McBride - I also retained my rank upon retirement and use it when the situation calls for it.
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CPT Daniel Cox
COL (Join to see) - I had a coin I bought when I was a teenager in the early 1970s that said,
"Once a King Always a King" on one side, and
"But Once a Knight is Enough" on the other.
"Once a King Always a King" on one side, and
"But Once a Knight is Enough" on the other.
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LTC Matthew Schlosser
1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) - You are a Master Sergeant (Retired), and not promotable. Once you are no longer in a 1SG billet, you revert to MSG. Your promotable status turned into a pumpkin when you retired. Please amend your username! It's more of an eyesore than people adding academic degrees to their usernames.
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