Is a motor pool a no hat no salute area?

If there is NO sign designating a No Hat/No Salute zone....then guess what? You wear your cover and you salute.

SGT (Join to see), just to provide context to what SSgt Christophe Murphy and MSG (Join to see) indicated, there has to be local policy making an area a "no hat" and/or no-salute zone.

You see these types of areas where saluting can be repetitive and reduce the effectiveness of the act or work being performed. For example academies and work areas that see a lot of traffic or saluting can impede work. These types of things are clearly established by local policy (i.e. the commander or facility directors with authority to do such).

There is a school of thought that indicates that maybe the Motor Sergeant or Motor Pool NCO can dictate such a policy. I disagree, policy decisions rest squarely with the Commander whose oversight includes the facility. No matter how obscure, there is always one.

If there is a sign, there is usually a policy reference number, if there is not I would question the authenticity of the sign and in such cases would just keep the PC on.

At the end of the day, unless you are shoulders deep in an engine compartment, the PC should probably be on your head. Disclaimer, in cases where the TM indicates that personal protective equipment must be worn while in or around a certain type of equipment, a "no-hat" policy is void (i.e. equipment that requires an ACH if the engine compartment is open).

Does your unit have a policy letter or are there any signs posting that state it is no hat/no salute? I'll go with no. So then you wear the cover you salute and the SFC was right to correct you.