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

I'll just say the CSM was wrong and so was the Soldier, should have just switched the mug to the binder hand and saluted and then everything would have need fine. No need for the CSM to stop a jr. enlisted and make a correction on the spot, he should have asked the Officer to give him a second and pulled the Jr. enlisted aside and done the arse shewing in a little toned down way. Then after making sure the other enlisted soldier knows they screwed up, he should have continued on his way with the Officer. Then told said Officer he took care of the problem.

Having shattered my right elbow twice while in the Army, causing me to have six (and counting) operations on my right arm (the third two weeks before my medical discharge), I spent a lot of time in a brace or cast that precluded my rendering a correct salute to a higher rank or returning the salute to a lower rank. I would normally salute left-handed unless I was carrying something. In that case, I did a modified head bob and a tilted arm raise. The CSM probably felt you could have transferred the cup and rendered the salute without spilling or dropping it.
Have you ever seen someone walking with things in both hands (empty cups, soda bottles, or other things that could be carried in one hand) to follow the letter, if not the intent, of the regulation?

CPT William Jones I don't know if you know just how big a "binder" can be!

PFC Kimberly Staiti - you are right I dont know but ill bet it weighed less than 5 pounds if larger it would need to be divided and have two volumes.

Yes, whenever possible and to this day, I only carry things in my left hand

LTC (Join to see) - If that CSM had time to dress you down for a minor uniform infraction, it seems he could have made time to offer some assistance in your difficult situation.

CWO5 Jeffrey Backus - It's my gun hand.

And I still generally have my right hand free, 23 years after my ETS date.

Lt Col Charlie Brown - It was mission critical Military gear. Without it in the control tower, the flight school had to be shut down.

LTC. Brown, I disagree with your assessment on this subject. Sometimes our duties don't dictate how or why we do the things were doing in the Military. And to try and perform our duties just to try and make sure some Officer and or Higher ranking NCO doesn't chew our arse over what were doing atm. Is bad advice, advice like that could want to make good soldier's not to want to stay in the Military over the lame subject at hand. All the details are not given as to why or who gave the first reprimand. Seems like the first Person who gave the Reprimand clearly didn't know or understand the D & C regulation entirely and could have been wrong. Was the binder the Sgt. was carrying a big heavy binder that Supply Sgt.s use in Supply, No clear evidence at all, and most people on this board answering to this Post are just guessing at what they presume was the situation.

MSgt Dale Johnson - Girls, what can you do?
;)

It's a joke people.

Okay, How about a military vehicle that approached me from behind and the flags weren't visible from my position. I was looking down and was walking down a steep hill with a broken sidewalk. I got chewed on for a half hour for not saluting when they came from behind me.