CPTs and LTs, do you avoid people in order to not salute?

CPT (Join to see) Remember what the salute is: a mutual exchange of respect with another SM. You are honoring and acknowledging his/her service.

When they space out to make you hold it as described by some of those here, enjoy it. Pause and acknowledge each one individually, smile at them, be in on the joke, not the butt of it. Know that they have done you a courtesy to connect with each of them when they thought they were tricking you into holding your hand up longer.

CPT (Join to see) Just get ready for your Joes to space out so you have to salute every one of them. Though sometimes you feel you just want to walk on the opposite side of the road to not salute , remember the responsibility you now have and example you exhibit. Congratulations on the upcoming commission!

I never did it on purpose, especially in my unit AO.

I appreciate the honor and I did not deny that to my troops, even when they lined up in a single file line at 6-pace intervals. I just...kept that right hand up there for them.

Was it a pain for me? Sure. Did it lift up my soldiers and give them a respectful giggle at my expense? Yep...and that's why I did it.