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Since when do civilians get to salute? I'm a USAR CW2, but during the day, during the week, I'm a civilian contractor working for the FBI at the Academy campus on Marine Corps Base Quantico.
My bag with my FBI contractor badge was in the back seat of my car this morning, and so I had to use my USAR ID (which identifies me as a CW2) to get through the gate this morning. The CIVILIAN gate guard saluted me.
Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot, over?
UPDATE: I promised I'd ask, and the civilian guard was there again. I did indeed ask. No he wasn't a veteran. No, he wasn't prior military. Why does he salute officers then, since he's a straight up civilian? Because the base commander ordered it to be so.
Um, no. Saluting is a MILITARY custom, not a civilian one. If there's a military gate guard, and I've misplaced my contractor badge and use my Army Reserve CAC to enter the base, fine...let the guard salute, and I'll gladly return the salute.
Civilians? No. It's OUR custom, not theirs.
My bag with my FBI contractor badge was in the back seat of my car this morning, and so I had to use my USAR ID (which identifies me as a CW2) to get through the gate this morning. The CIVILIAN gate guard saluted me.
Whisky, Tango, Foxtrot, over?
UPDATE: I promised I'd ask, and the civilian guard was there again. I did indeed ask. No he wasn't a veteran. No, he wasn't prior military. Why does he salute officers then, since he's a straight up civilian? Because the base commander ordered it to be so.
Um, no. Saluting is a MILITARY custom, not a civilian one. If there's a military gate guard, and I've misplaced my contractor badge and use my Army Reserve CAC to enter the base, fine...let the guard salute, and I'll gladly return the salute.
Civilians? No. It's OUR custom, not theirs.
Saluting
Civilians
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 25
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CW3 (Join to see) - Whisky Tango Foxtrot???? It is called Romeo Echo Sierra Papa Echo Charlie Tango....
First, saluting is not an activity that is prohibited to anybody who is not military. It is a sign of respect. I don't understand why anybody gets their panties in a knot over it.
Having dealt with and commanded/managed/supervised civilian gate guards/security police over many years, both on active duty and since retirement, I have never told them to salute or not to salute, although in Korea, the Korean civilian gate guards of military installations were required to salute all officers by the Korean 4-star DCINC of Combined Forces Command.
I have found that former military personnel (which many of the gate guards are) will usually salute officers, as a sign of respect. While not required to do so, it reflects their professionalism in their duties. Rather than wonder or complain about it, you should praise it. I'd make it a point to commend the individual to his supervisor, which serves to encourage such professional and respectful behavior.
Also, if saluted, you should always salute back, if doing so does not interfere with the safe operation of your vehicle. It is simple common courtesy.
First, saluting is not an activity that is prohibited to anybody who is not military. It is a sign of respect. I don't understand why anybody gets their panties in a knot over it.
Having dealt with and commanded/managed/supervised civilian gate guards/security police over many years, both on active duty and since retirement, I have never told them to salute or not to salute, although in Korea, the Korean civilian gate guards of military installations were required to salute all officers by the Korean 4-star DCINC of Combined Forces Command.
I have found that former military personnel (which many of the gate guards are) will usually salute officers, as a sign of respect. While not required to do so, it reflects their professionalism in their duties. Rather than wonder or complain about it, you should praise it. I'd make it a point to commend the individual to his supervisor, which serves to encourage such professional and respectful behavior.
Also, if saluted, you should always salute back, if doing so does not interfere with the safe operation of your vehicle. It is simple common courtesy.
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LTC Stephen F.
COL Jean (John) F. B. it would nice if you had Aretha Franklin singing R-E-S-P-E-C-T after your Romeo Echo Sierra Papa Echo Charlie Tango.... opening salvo :-)
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
Aretha Franklin - Respect [1967] (Original Version)
Aretha Franklin - Respect Song written by Otis Redding Album: I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You [1967] _________________________ RESPECT (oo) What you w...
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LTC Stephen F.
COL Jean (John) F. B. - Well done my friend. It would be nice if there were a lot more R-E-S-P-E-C-T across this nation these days.
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COL Jean (John) F. B.
One of the most popular and critically acclaimed soul vocalist, songwriter and musician representatives of the R&B style known as Southern soul. Legendary mu...
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CW3 (Join to see)
If the 'civilian" is prior military then a salute can be proper as a sign of respect.
I wear civilian clothes and have a ponytail which I grow to donate to locks of love and don't look very military. However i salute everybody who salutes me, I salute when the National Anthem of the USA is played and I salute the passing of the national Colors.
If the 'civilian" is prior military then a salute can be proper as a sign of respect.
I wear civilian clothes and have a ponytail which I grow to donate to locks of love and don't look very military. However i salute everybody who salutes me, I salute when the National Anthem of the USA is played and I salute the passing of the national Colors.
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LTC Stephen F.
MSgt (Join to see) - Here are two older images. First image is ponytail I sent to Locks of Love in 2013 and next image is before my darling wife cut the ponytail.
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 Charlie Poulton SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris RamseyCPL Eric Escasio
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell Capt Tom Brown CW5 Charlie Poulton SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright Maj Marty Hogan PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SP5 Robert Ruck SCPO Morris RamseyCPL Eric Escasio
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SSgt Robert Marx
LTC Stephen F. - That looks to be a substantial amount of hair down your neck! I would think that would be warm.
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A salute is a sign of respect. Civilians are not required to salute - but they are also not prohibited from doing so.
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