Posted on Nov 18, 2023
Do you call attention/at ease for officers/NCOs who are not in uniform?
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I have looked through AR 600-20 and AR 600-25 however I have not been able to find an answer on this though i may have missed it. My company office is the first floor of our barracks so while doing cq we frequently have company commander's and 1sgs come in and out however not always in uniform, do you still call the appropriate courtesy even if they are in civilian attire? If anyone can point me to the correct regulation that would be much appreciated.
Posted in these groups: 
Customs and Courtesies
Customs and Courtesies
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 9
Short answer: Unless there is a local policy that says different, it's appropriate to call the room to attention or "at ease" even when the commander or 1SG is in civilian clothes.
The longer answer is that you're not going to find anything official saying "Yes" or "No" (unless it's a local policy), but you need to harken back to your days of basic training about honors, customs, and courtesies in order to 'connect the dots'.
Honors are salutes and recognition rendered to our and other nations, representations of those nations, individuals of merit or rank, and circumstance (such as honoring a fallen service member). Honors are formalized and follow (mostly) strict protocols such which individuals are due honors and what form those honors take.
A custom is a usual way of acting in a given situation or circumstance. It's a practice that has been established for so long that the customs of our military have become its common law. Violations of customs will bring a response. For some customs that will be the view that to offender is ignorant, careless, or ill-mannered while violation of other customs will bring official censure or disciplinary action. Examples of some are "jumping" the chain of command, avoiding courtesies and honors (run to the building to avoid retreat, turning around to avoid saluting, etc.), etc.
A courtesy is an act or verbal expression of consideration or respect for others and vary in treatment on the formality of those expressions. 'Military courtesy' being different from 'civilian courtesy' in that it was developed in a military atmosphere and has become an integral part of serving in uniform. The essence of military courtesy is mutual respect and self-discipline. We show courtesy to our superiors as recognition for the increased authority and responsibility they have and we show courtesy to our subordinates in recognition for the vital role they perform in the organization.
Now to tie it all together (this wasn't a gratuitous history lesson).
As Army Command Policy (AR 600-20*) states for military courtesy, "Courtesy among members of the Armed Forces is vital to maintaining military discipline. Respect to seniors will be extended at all times". "All times" does not mean "just when they are in uniform".
This is reflected in the custom and courtesy of a salute. As AR 600-25 states, "All Army personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled to the salute." A salute is rendered to them regardless if they are in uniform or not (a salute is not required to be rendered or returned by the individual if they are in civilian attire).
This is also reflected in the courtesies when interacting with an officer of superior rank. It doesn't matter if they are in civilian clothes or uniform - the General is still "sir", I still stand at attention when addressing them (maybe a 'relaxed attention' if in an informal setting or I am interacting in a social environment), and I walk to the left of them if we're together.
So too goes for the for the military courtesy of calling a room to attention when a senior officer enters (or "at ease" for the senior NCO). It is done upon recognition of the individual and just like the other courtesies, the clothing the individual is wearing does not matter.
The rendering (or lack of rendering) of a courtesy reflects more on the individual than it does on the recipient as military courtesy is an important indicator of a person’s bearing, discipline, and manners.
-----------------------------------------------------------
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN32931-AR_600-20-004-WEB-6.pdf
The longer answer is that you're not going to find anything official saying "Yes" or "No" (unless it's a local policy), but you need to harken back to your days of basic training about honors, customs, and courtesies in order to 'connect the dots'.
Honors are salutes and recognition rendered to our and other nations, representations of those nations, individuals of merit or rank, and circumstance (such as honoring a fallen service member). Honors are formalized and follow (mostly) strict protocols such which individuals are due honors and what form those honors take.
A custom is a usual way of acting in a given situation or circumstance. It's a practice that has been established for so long that the customs of our military have become its common law. Violations of customs will bring a response. For some customs that will be the view that to offender is ignorant, careless, or ill-mannered while violation of other customs will bring official censure or disciplinary action. Examples of some are "jumping" the chain of command, avoiding courtesies and honors (run to the building to avoid retreat, turning around to avoid saluting, etc.), etc.
A courtesy is an act or verbal expression of consideration or respect for others and vary in treatment on the formality of those expressions. 'Military courtesy' being different from 'civilian courtesy' in that it was developed in a military atmosphere and has become an integral part of serving in uniform. The essence of military courtesy is mutual respect and self-discipline. We show courtesy to our superiors as recognition for the increased authority and responsibility they have and we show courtesy to our subordinates in recognition for the vital role they perform in the organization.
Now to tie it all together (this wasn't a gratuitous history lesson).
As Army Command Policy (AR 600-20*) states for military courtesy, "Courtesy among members of the Armed Forces is vital to maintaining military discipline. Respect to seniors will be extended at all times". "All times" does not mean "just when they are in uniform".
This is reflected in the custom and courtesy of a salute. As AR 600-25 states, "All Army personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled to the salute." A salute is rendered to them regardless if they are in uniform or not (a salute is not required to be rendered or returned by the individual if they are in civilian attire).
This is also reflected in the courtesies when interacting with an officer of superior rank. It doesn't matter if they are in civilian clothes or uniform - the General is still "sir", I still stand at attention when addressing them (maybe a 'relaxed attention' if in an informal setting or I am interacting in a social environment), and I walk to the left of them if we're together.
So too goes for the for the military courtesy of calling a room to attention when a senior officer enters (or "at ease" for the senior NCO). It is done upon recognition of the individual and just like the other courtesies, the clothing the individual is wearing does not matter.
The rendering (or lack of rendering) of a courtesy reflects more on the individual than it does on the recipient as military courtesy is an important indicator of a person’s bearing, discipline, and manners.
-----------------------------------------------------------
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN32931-AR_600-20-004-WEB-6.pdf
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Until the Commandet and 1SG say otherwise, follow proper protocol and call Attention/At Ease, regardless of attire.
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I'm going to go with a "yes" on this one. Regardless of how they are dressed they still hold their rank and are authorized the proper customs and courtesies. As others have said, respect the rank and show the proper respect to it unless told otherwise.
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