Are you supposed to salute the flag while walking by it?

2014-01-14T13:14:59-05:00

Since I have been in one of the foremost custom and courtesies that have been drilled into me is saluting.  Whether it be officers or our nations flag and I have no problem making a correction (tactfully) when needed.  Now I have respecfully brought this up to multiple superiors where I work (which is not a designated no hat no salute area)  that when they walk pass that flag in the morning and evening they should be saluting it in accordance with FM 7-21.13 Chapter 4 Paragraph 23.  I have gotten this way after getting to my first duty station and being told to bring a 1SG in our BN the reg after i did not salute the flag.  Now am I misinterpreting this regulation or am I right in trying to ensure that my leaders set an appropriate example for my peers.  I have even had a couple of NCO's tell me that they have never heard of any such reg the whole time they have been in the Army and these are SSG and above.  Whats your thoughts?  Correct me if I am wrong.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2014 1:24 PM

2014-01-14T13:24:40-05:00

4-23 states:

When you are passing or being passed by colors that are being presented, paraded, or DISPLAYED, salute when the colors are six paces from you. Hold the salute until the colors are six paces beyond you.

I would like to look into this more since when I was at the OLD GUARD we never did this. My old unit was good at changing policy if an unnone regulation came to their atention, so my above statment could change if this is the proper way to interpret this reg.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Jan 14 at 2014 5:27 PM

2014-01-14T17:27:43-05:00

FM 7-21.13 I believe was first published around 2003. Prior to this I recall no mention of saluting the flag while walking. The actual regulation (AR 600-25) makes no mention that I could find. I can see why some of us old guys might not be aware of the change.

The FM does not provide a whole lot of clarity as to what passing the colors entails. AR 840-10 seems to indicate that displaying the colors is accomplished by flying it on the flagpole.

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Jan 19 at 2014 5:45 AM

2014-01-19T05:45:03-05:00

SPC Patrick - the key to this is that there are "flags" and there are "colors". Totally different items.

Read carefully in the regulation about what to salute - I think you will find most of the time it is the "colors", not the "flag".

And study up on what is displayed on a flagpole - "colors" or a "flag"

Response by SSG Richard McMurray made Jan 30 at 2014 11:59 PM

2014-01-30T23:59:56-05:00

I have heard many people state that they have never done this. I remember when I first when to the Warrior Leader Course that we told about this regulation. We were also informed that most people are simply wrong or as they put it "jacked up". Just because others are wrong, does not mean that we need to keep doing it wrong. I had developed the attitude as an NCO that it was my job to correct those who are wrong, no matter the rank. Wrong is wrong.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made May 6 at 2014 12:16 AM

2014-05-06T00:16:54-04:00

Correcting is one thing - how and when you do it is another. Discretion is the better part of valor. Are you doing it because this is your control mechanism, is it essential, and are you annoying people that otherwise do not need to be annoyed?

I have been married a long time. What I have found is that it does me no good to prove I am am right. And, the only thing I will accomplish if I do is that I am being pig-headed and I annoyed my wife for which there there are consequences.

So, what is important to you? And to others around you? It is good policy to follow your own belief without pushing others to do it if it is otherwise inconsequential. Lead by example, and educate by anecdote.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Oct 28 at 2016 12:00 PM

2016-10-28T12:00:20-04:00

You are not required or expected to salute a flag when You walk by it. A flag on a stationary pole needs to be saluted only when the National Anthem, or to the colors are played. In that case if You hear only the music face the music, if You can see the flag face the flag and salute. You are required to salute at all times when uncased colors are being carried past You by a color guard. There are no other requirements in any Regulation and anyone that told You anything to the contrary need to get their facts straight and if it isn't in the Regulations it isn't required or expected.

Response by LCpl Stephen Arnold made Mar 7 at 2017 11:24 AM

2017-03-07T11:24:00-05:00

There are no "Superiors", only "Seniors". I cannot imagine a scenario where a senior NCO or officer would correct you for saluting our nation's flag/colors/ensign/ol' glory whether the regulation dictates or not.

Response by Lt Col George Roll made Jun 1 at 2018 9:38 AM

2018-06-01T09:38:58-04:00

I am 25 years retired after a 30 year career. When I pass by our flag I still salute. Respect for our country and all who have served.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2018 9:09 PM

2018-07-13T21:09:29-04:00

As salute is only required at Revali, retreat, in a parade, National Anthem or funeral procession ( I think).

Response by SSG Dale London made Jun 22 at 2019 11:48 PM

2019-06-22T23:48:35-04:00

No, you are right. The FM says that. You ought to note, however, that the FM is not a regulation in and of itself, but merely a field manual. It is not the proper reference to cite. You need to quote from AR 840-10 which governs on this matter.
Now, how you go about an on-the-spot correction for a superior (NCO or Commissioned Officer), that is another matter. I would urge caution in making a big point of this. If your unit leadership is not bothered about this, you can rest assured that the installation leadership does not consider this to be a priority. You can rock the boat if you want to but I suspect the only one who's going to end up in the drink will be you.
There is attention to detail and proper military customs and courtesies, true. But there is also a healthy sense of self-preservation to consider. Choose your battles. Is this one you are prespared to fall on?
Being "right" is not always everything it's cracked up to be.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Jun 24 at 2019 8:58 AM

2019-06-24T08:58:25-04:00

We were always told you salute the American flag when you pass by, it much like when you pay your respects to an officer you meet or pass by as an enlisted soldier. This includes American flags flying outside of government buildings on a pole near your path of travel.

You render the salute when within 3 paces and hold the salute until three paces past the flag. It's such a small act of respect for a flag that a lot of men and women have died to protect. It makes you look sharp and squared away when you show this respect for our flag.

We should be more than willing to set the example even if it isn't called for or expected. God Bless you veterans and God Bless America!

Response by SSG Brian Carpenter made Sep 8 at 2019 12:33 PM

2019-09-08T12:33:51-04:00

SPC Patrick,

You are absolutely right in what you are doing.

Response by CPT Bruce Beattie made Jan 4 at 2020 10:52 AM

2020-01-04T10:52:32-05:00

When Trooping the Line during a parade the trooping party renders a salute to the colors which are stationary at that time!

Response by PO1 Woody W. made Feb 22 at 2020 3:28 PM

2020-02-22T15:28:06-05:00

Having been stationed with U.S. Marines, their protocol requires they "Salute all Officers and all Standards & Colors not cased." I believe this is the 10th General Order, of the 11 military general orders. They're exceptions in a duty status, however, every time they were returning to our command, they saluted the U.S. Flag <Colors> when on the flag pole. IMHO, the Marines are the SMEs on U.S. Flag protocol. Navy Regs <my branch> clearly states 1st time and last time seen during the work day on shore duty, and each and every time you arrive and depart a naval ship and/or vessel . When "Colors" is rendered, all in uniform stop, face the flag <or direction> and salute..... that's at sun rise and sun set on military bases.
This probably isn't the exact response you need, however it does show, one service salutes the colors/flag no matter what....
Regards....

Response by CWO5 Ray Lee made Apr 11 at 2020 5:38 PM

2020-04-11T17:38:27-04:00

General order 10: To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased. But then again the Army and Air Force only have 3 general orders.