Do I salute officers off base?

Salutes are required when you're in uniform. They're exchanged on- and off-duty and on- and off-base. Salutes are exchanged when meeting outdoors and must be rendered during ceremonial occasions and in public gatherings when the National Anthem or the bugle call “To the Colors” is played.

Do I salute officers out of uniform?

You don't have to salute indoors, except when you report to a superior officer. If either person is wearing civilian clothes and you do not recognize the other person as a superior officer, salutes are unnecessary. Use common sense.

Do you salute an officer outside?

Army and Air Force members render the hand salute when reporting inside and outside to an officer or president of a board. If under arms and inside, Marines and Navy members will render a salute.

Do you salute an officer in public?

When an officer enters a room, the first enlisted person to recognize the officer calls personnel in the room to attention but does not salute. A salute indoors is rendered only when reporting to an officer. Walk on the left of and slightly behind an officer or NCO of superior rank.

Do you salute if you are not military?

"Civilian personnel, to include civilian guards, are not required to render the hand salute to military personnel or other civilian personnel. "Salutes are not required to be rendered or returned when the senior or subordinate, or both are in civilian attire."

Customs and Courtesies - Saluting/Greeting.m4v

Can a civilian salute an officer?

Enlisted personnel in uniform are required to render the military salute in the presence of commissioned officers, warrant officers, and authorized civilians, such as the US President. However, the salute is only rendered indoors when reporting to an officer.

What is the protocol for saluting?

Specifically, a proper salute goes as follows: Raise the right hand sharply, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm facing down, and place the tip of the right forefinger on the rim of the visor, slightly to the right of the eye.

Is it OK to salute in civilian clothes?

When in uniform indoors, stand at attention, face the flag and remain silent, but you don't salute. However, if the participants are primarily civilians or in civilian clothes, you may recite the Pledge of Allegiance if you wish.

How should a civilian address a military officer?

Generally, when speaking directly to an officer, it is customary to refer to him or her simply as “Sir” or “Ma'am,” rather than by rank and last name. You should avoid addressing the officer or any Soldier just by rank (e.g., “Colonel,” “Lieutenant,” or “Sergeant”), as this is often considered rude.

Who is entitled to a salute?

Those persons entitled to the salute are commissioned officers of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and commissioned officers of allied nations in time of war. It is also customary to salute officers of friendly foreign countries when recognized as such.

How far away do you salute an officer?

An officer should be alert to give, or return, a salute or verbal greeting. Salutes are exchanged when as close as six paces (always far enough away to allow the senior officer time to respond), and within a maximum distance of 30 paces (about 75 feet).

How do you say hello in military?

Errr... - (U.S. Marines) An abbreviated or unmotivated "Oorah". Often used as a form of acknowledgment or greeting. Yes, we really do walk around saying "Errr" at one another in the way normal civilized humans say "Hello."

Does a lieutenant outrank a warrant officer?

The LT absolutely does not outrank the sergeant major or first sergeant. Sure, on paper, all Army officers outrank all enlisted and warrant officers in the military.

Do you have to salute an officer of a different branch?

Yes they do. At Buckley Air Force Base in CO, there's a lot of Marines and of course Air Force personnel. I've seen Marines salute Air Force officers just outside of the gym (when they're in uniform). I believe they also salute officers from other countries if they are higher rank than they are.

Do civilians have to call officers sir?

If you are a civilian, you aren't obligated to use any specific salutation with anyone. That said, if you want to be respectful, addressing someone by their rank is probably the best, and if you don't know the rank, then sir/ma'am would be ok I imagine.

Why do Army officers call each other by first name?

The use of first names implies a personal relationship, something that may not be advantageous for the troops to adopt. If senior officers referred to junior officers by their first names, the junior ones may feel more at liberty to question orders due to the perceived personal interaction.

How do generals address each other?

Commissioned Officers: Address all personnel with the rank of general as “General (last name)” regardless of the number of stars.

Why do soldiers wear the flag backwards?

Basically, the idea behind the backward American flag on Army uniforms is to make it look as though the flag is flying in the breeze as the person wearing it moves forward. During the Civil War, both mounted cavalry and infantry units would designate a standard bearer, who carried the flag into battle.

Do you stand at attention for Taps?

Taps-10 p.m.

Upon hearing Taps at a military ceremony, proper protocol dictates those individuals in uniform render a salute until the music is complete. Civilians should remove their headgear and place their hand over their heart.

Can civilians salute at a military funeral?

Former military members not in uniform may salute. However, civilians should not salute. As a sign of respect, civilians should instead remove any head gear and place it over their heart.

Do you salute an officer without a hat?

The second is that military members in full uniform salute. Civilians, those not wearing headgear, and those indoors do not salute superior officers. There is one exception to the “no salutes indoors” rule–when a military member is ordered to report to an officer, a salute is rendered with or without headgear.

Do military personnel salute out of uniform?

Recent legislation gives Veterans the lifetime privilege to salute the flag. This privilege is also extended to all active duty service members while not in uniform. They may now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the National Anthem or during raising, lowering or passing the American flag.

What does left hand salute mean?

Left Handed Salutes. Actually only the Naval services (Navy and Marine Corps) are authorized to salute with the left hand when necessary. This usually means when your right hand/ arm is incapacitated due to injury but it can also apply at other times.

Can you wear your military uniform after discharge?

A person who is discharged honorably or under honorable conditions from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force may wear his uniform while going from the place of discharge to his home, within three months after his discharge.