Do I need to render a salute to an officer when my hands are occupied?

Sir with all due respect I wish I was able to vote down on your blog.
Really is the captain so power hungary, or officers or anyone that matters are so power hungry that a not and greeting would suffice?
Now to the person who is walking outside with both hands full, your being silly, you know military decorum. You couldn't hold the binder under you arm and mug in the same hand with the knowledge that you will likely need to either salute or give a handshake. Now I am not sure how big the binder was or the coffee mug. Were you on your way from office to your car, or car to work. In away both parties need to rethink what happen.

TSgt James Warfield - If you re-read the posting, it was the CSM that demanded they drop everything and salute, not the CPT. That being said, no reason that they couldn't shift the mug to the other hand and hold the binder under their arm as you stated.

Maj Gail Lofdahl - hadn't thought about it in years but I still do the same, born out for almost 30 years and still try to keep my right hand free

Not certain what you mean by "No requirement", has nothing to do with "Best Practices". It makes sense that if your hands are full and it is impossible to free the right hand, "Best Practice" would be to give a polite greeting and quietly go about your business. Take note of the words "Full" and "Impossible" - Any officer that criticized this behavior would be a power hungry fool at best.

1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR) - So agree.

If you're carrying something heavy...no....like in a work crew but a folder and cup of coffee which can moved...yes.

Common sense is sometimes so rare it almost qualifies as a super power.

SGT(P) Jody Hall - I tried to walk slower so the officers wouldn't be in Front of me. They reach the 4 way intersection in front of me as I made a right turn to cross the street. They were on the opposite side of the street. It was a 1st LT and a 2nd LT. The 2nd LT gave me crap as to why I didn't sulot them.

SPC Elbert Comstock - Once again, I wish I could use the down vote.
I am sorry what ever an officer said is not correct. Officers are bound by regulations just as everyone else and more so. I this officer was offended because this person hands were full and the officer didn't get their proper salute then there power hungary and we have to many leaders across the spectrum ( government ) that are more concern about status then their job and support of the constitution.

COL Guy Campion a greeting back and I have the common sense to know he can’t salute due to his hands are full.

Capt George Wolf - Good one.....but as much as I LOVE coffee, it would have been in my other hand.