Saluting
Saluting
Posted on Dec 14, 2020
Do I need to render a salute to an officer when my hands are occupied?
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This is the second time I’ve gotten reprimanded for this situation. I was walking with a binder in my hands, and a mug in the other hand. I walked past a CSM and a CPT, greeted both as I was unable to salute. CSM stopped me and demanded that I drop everything to salute the CPT. AR 600-25 states that I am not required to render a salute if I am carrying articles with both hands. What is the right answer?
Customs and Courtesies
Saluting
Officers
Enlisted
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 193
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hand whatever you are holding in your right hand to the CSM and salute......
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SSgt Joseph Baptist
CW3 (Join to see) - Used to do that with the equipment/log book bag for the Jeep/Humvee I drove. Release bag on forward arm swing, continue upward swing of arm to salute position, hold salute and give the greeting of the day, recover from salute and catch bag as it fell.
Of course, there were also times when the dumbfounded officer would be so enthralled by the sight of the bag soaring into the air that they would fail to return my salute (a huge violation of MC&C), the bag would fall to the ground while I still held my salute, and then my boss would jump all over that officer for not returning the salute from his driver. ;)
Of course, there were also times when the dumbfounded officer would be so enthralled by the sight of the bag soaring into the air that they would fail to return my salute (a huge violation of MC&C), the bag would fall to the ground while I still held my salute, and then my boss would jump all over that officer for not returning the salute from his driver. ;)
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Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis
CPT William Jones - Bill, I would like to commend you for your answer. It's the right one. Keep the right hand free at all times unless mission requirements clearly make it impossible to do so. You would be amazed at how much you could carry with just the left arm (well, Bill, maybe not you...you got it).
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Stop carrying stuff in your right hand. Was I the only one taught that the right hand was unofficially forbidden from carrying stuff? =o)
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CPO Jeffrey Bohemier
LTJG Sandra Smith - I continue doing more things the way I was taught via the military than not. That’s because those methods are simply better. It’s that simple. In most instance’s, the military does things better than civilians do.
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
In the USCG we were taught one hand is for you, the other is for the ship. Keep in mind being on a ship or small boat can be not unlike standing in a vehicle at speed over broken ground. Of course we had to be ready to fight a ship, not use a hand gun. Saluting was expected, but not under cover. Interestingly, at times, as a enlisted member, even officers were expected to salute me. Custom dictates that on boarding a ship, you salute the flag and then the quarterdeck. One the small ship I was on, (87 officers and crew), I stood OOD in port. So I was responsible for the ship, and would be on the quarterdeck to great any senior officers coming aboard. At times it was also appropriate to salute the person you were relieving on watch.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
CPO Jeffrey Bohemier - To this day after being first a Cadet then a member of the Armed Forces I still have the habit of keeping My right hand free and carrying items in my left hand.
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The right answer is not to put yourself in those situations if possible. Seriously.
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SGT William Benson
SPC Robin Price-Dirks - Situational awareness... You should have your head on a swivel near a roadway anyway.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
SPC Robin Price-Dirks - You don't have to turn around and salute anything coming up behind You and anyone that told You otherwise had no idea what they were talking about. I've taught and taken classes in Military Customs and Courtesies and that isn't and never has been required and if the individual that chewed You out had maybe He would have known better.
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