The Military Salute

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Salute symbolizes recognition, respect
By: Staff Sgt. Carissa Lee

Military history is rich in traditions that stem from many different cultures and periods of time. Over the years some traditions have been altered slightly to reflect the current times, but one that has remained the same is the military salute.

There are different versions of exactly how the salute came to symbolize what it does in today's military -- a sign of respect and recognition. However, most military historians agree that the history of the salute originates from the late Roman times, when assassinations were common.

According to one military history website, Roman citizens who wanted to see public officials had to approach with their right hand raised to show they were not holding a weapon. Knights in armor raised their visors with the right hand when meeting a comrade. This practice gradually became a way of showing respect and in early American history, sometimes involved removing the hat. By the early 1800s the motion was modified to touching the brim of the hat and has since become the hand salute the military uses to this day.

The salute is a sign of respect and recognition. All military personnel in uniform are required to salute when they approach and recognize persons entitled to a salute. The salute is an exchange of greetings, with the junior person always rendering the salute first. When rendering or returning a salute, the head and eyes should be turned toward the person being saluted.

The following are examples of when a salute shall be rendered:

Salutes are not required when:

Common sense dictates the requirement to salute in most circumstances, however, any military person who recognizes a need to salute may do so anywhere at any time.

The salute is one of the military's most honored traditions and should not be treated lightly or with irreverence. It is one of the most recognized signs of showing respect and reflects the military's colored traditions and history.

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To properly render a salute the individual raises the right hand smartly in the most direct manner while at the same time extending and joining the fingers. Keep the palm flat and facing the body. Place the thumb along the forefingers, keeping the palm flat and forming a straight line between the fingertips and elbows. Tilt the palm slightly toward the face. Hold the upper arm horizontal, slightly forward of the body and parallel to the ground. Ensure the tip of the middle finger touches the right front corner of the headdress. If wearing a nonbilled hat, ensure the middle finger touches the outside corner of the right eyebrow or the front corner of glasses. The rest of the body will remain at the position of attention. This is count one of the movement.

To complete count two of the movement, bring the arm smoothly and smartly downward, retracing the path used to raise the arm. Cup the hand as it passes the waist, and return to the position of attention.

[Moderator]

Saluting is one of the most common and basic forms of military courtesy. It is basically an exchange of greetings between military and/or uniformed services personnel.

The history of saluting has many plausible origins. Some believe that during the Age of Chivalry when 2 knights met, they raised their visors to expose their faces. This allowed the Knights to recognize their allies vs. their enemies. The raising of the visor was always performed with the right hand. During the Middle Ages, men wore heavy capes to conceal their swords. When 2 men would great each other they would raise their right arm to show that it was not on the sword hilt. Greeting someone without raising your right arm could potentially mean that you are about to attack. During the days of the Borgias, assassination by using a knife or dagger was common. When greeting someone the right hand was raised to show that the person was not concealing a dagger.

The current salute used by naval personnel has its origins from the British Navy who in turn borrowed their hand salute from the British Army. British as well as French soldiers will salute with their right hand turned outward. Some believe that this custom allowed the person being greeted to see there was no weapon in the hand of the person.

Since the first days of military organizations, juniors have always uncovered when addressing seniors. This was done by touching the hat or cap with the right hand or taking it off. If the person was not wearing a hat or cover, they would grab a lock of hair.

In the late 19th century, Queen Victoria decreed that the hand salute was to be used instead of taking your hat or cap off. This decree came about because military members would uncover in the presence of the queen during official ceremonies and this was considered unsatisfactory.

Whatever origin of the present day hand salute you subscribe to, it is extremely important that you are able to render and properly return a hand salute. Failure to do so not only reflects negatively on the officer but the Corps as well. People have often asked "What do you never get a second chance to make?" The answer is "A first impression". This holds true for your ability to properly render a hand salute. It has been said that a sloppy salute is worse than not saluting at all. Your technique and your confidence to apply your saluting skills are directly proportional to how much you practice.

Execution of the hand salute is performed as follows: the right hand is raised smartly until the tip of the forefinger touches the lower part of the headdress or forehead above and slightly to the right of the right eye, thumb and fingers extended and joined, palm to the left, upper arm horizontal, forearm inclined at 45 degrees, hand and wrist straight; at the same time turn head toward the person saluted. To complete the salute, drop the arm to its normal position by the side in one motion, at the same time turning the head and eyes to the front.

Salutes are usually rendered between 6 and 30 paces. If you are running, you should slow down to a walk prior to saluting. If you are standing, you should face the individual to be saluted, come to the position of attention, then render a hand salute. Salutes are also exchanged when two members first meet and again when the conversation is completed just prior to departing.

Salutes must be rendered and returned to all members of the Uniformed Services: The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

If two officers or an officer and enlisted member approach with the intent of conversing, salutes are exchanged and then also after the conversation is completed. Forgetting to salute after conversation has ended is a common mistake. It is the junior person's responsibility to initiate this courtesy prior to departing just as the junior person should salute if passing someone senior to them.

Saluting when not in uniform and uncovered is not usually performed by members of the Naval Services. You may see this practice in the Army and/or the Air Force. If you are saluted and you are not in uniform or in uniform and not covered, tradition dictates that you do not salute. Instead you may great the person saluting you with "Good Morning", "Good Afternoon", or "Good Evening" depending on the situation. If you approach someone who is senior to you and you are in civilian attire, you do not salute. Instead, you may say "Good Morning Sir or Ma'am" depending on the situation.

As stated before, the junior person must salute the senior officer present. This is straight forward if there are only two individuals present. Confusion can arise if there are more than two people present and of different officer ranks. The general rule that applies is that you always salute the senior officer no matter how many other officers are present. If you are outdoors and with a group of officers an/or enlisted and an officer senior to all the officers present approaches, all of the members must stop what they are doing, face the senior officer, come to the position of attention and render a hand salute. To avoid missing a senior officer passing close aboard you must be attentive to people around you while outdoors.

If you are attending a Military Funeral in uniform, there are certain courtesies that must be adhered to. You will render a hand salute if you are in uniform and covered (wearing your hat) during the following situations:

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If you are attending the funeral in civilian attire, you will come to the position of attention and remove your headdress if appropriate and place it over your heart. If no headdress is worn, you will place your right hand over your heart.

Military members who are Active Pallbearers assigned to carry the casket will remain covered and do not salute during the ceremony.

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Saluting the "Colors" refers to paying tribute to the United States Flag. There are two daily ceremonies in which uniformed service personnel will salute the colors (national flag). The first is at the beginning of the day at 0800. This ceremony involves raising the national flag while the national anthem is played. The second is at sunset, and consists of lowering the national flag while Retreat or the National Anthem is played.

During both situations if you are outdoors, you must stop what you are doing, face the flag or the direction in which colors are being held, come to the position of attention and render a hand salute. You must hold this salute until the last note of the music; then you may proceed.

On Army and Air Force installations it is customary to stop your vehicle, get out, come to the position of attention, and render a hand salute if colors or retreat is sounded. On Naval or Coast Guard installations and colors or retreat is sounded, you must stop your vehicle and sit at attention until the last note of the music is sounded; then you may proceed. If you are in doubt as to sit at attention or exit your vehicle, it is better to be formal than disrespectful. Therefore it is recommended that you exit your vehicle, face in the direction where colors are being held, come to the position of attention and render a hand salute.

Whether you are driving your vehicle or walking through a military installation, you should never dash under cover to avoid paying respect to the flag. Dependents and civilians should face in the direction where colors are being held and stand at attention (placing right hand over their heart is optional). Talking during colors or retreat is forbidden and considered disrespectful.

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Saluting a Flag Officer's vehicle is an essential component of military courtesies. If you are on a military installation and a vehicle approaches carrying a flag with one or more stars on it, you must stop, face the vehicle, come to the position of attention and render a hand salute. You may drop your salute once the vehicle passes. The flag signifies that an Admiral or General is riding in the vehicle.