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So, a military etiquette thing that has always caused me to wonder. Especially since JBLM put Soldiers back on the gates.<div><br><div>(Military) Gate guards salute Officers after checking their id. I always return the salute, whether in uniform or not. 90% of the time I am in civvies, swinging by before/after work or on my lunch break. </div></div><div><br></div><div> Am I technically right to return the salute while in civvies? I'm going to continue regardless, as it seems rude not to return a salute. <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>
Customs and Courtesies
Saluting
Military police
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 114
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After 9-11 my unit was assigned gate guard, I did a few shifts with them, and it really messed up the saluting sometimes.
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When in high school the old retired Colonel who was our Commandant of Cadets would even salute the parents of the cadets, particularly the moms, when they stopped to chat with him. He was a tough old bird and the commensurate gentleman. My father who was an LTC explained to me a long time ago that the salute was the highest form of greeting exchanged between soldiers. A solidier may be required by regulation to salute you and you are required by professionalism and common courtesy to acknowledge that salute. If the regulations of your service prohibit a salute they certainly don't prohibit an appropriate verbal response. Your soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen deserve that respect. I have always practiced the salute in uniform or out. I am now a 100% permanently disabled veteran. My DOD ID card is the same color as the dependents ID and very siniliar to it. It does however list my rank. Most gate guards even when they appear to read it fail to notice that. The ones that do salute. They get a "Thank you!" as well as a salute. Salute, it is the soldierly way of saying "Hello!"
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Lt Col Mitch Fadem
Bruce, yes, if you read my comment I have the same problem. Our cards do give our rank by designation. In your case it should read "DAVPRM/O3". If any of the gate guards actually read the card they will see that you are an officer. We did not lose our rank when we were discharged. That only happens if we resign our commission. The odd thing about the dependents cards is that my wife and sons have "LtCol" on their cards and my older son even got saluted one day. I think that many of the young soldiers and airmen have attitude problems.
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Absolutely. Salute rendered, salute returned. I think it is very unprofessional for Officers not to return salutes...and for enlisted not to salute Officers.
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I always recall something along the lines of not saluting while driving a vehicle or in control of a vehicle due to safety concerns.
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Lt Col Mitch Fadem
When you are stopped at the gate entrance to a military installation you are not driving... you are already stopped. Render the the salute and show respect.
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The President does it so why not? The salute is a symbol of respect. It was given as such.
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I always return a salute. I figure not to, would be snubbing the guy at the gate, who probably is not the most excited person to have that duty, especially when having to stand out there all day in hot summers and cold winters.
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well considering I'm a civilian and medically retired as a specialist, I was never entitled to a salute to begin with.
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Of course you should. It is a sign of respect for them and for the Military Branch they serve in and the Base that they are the first thing you see of it.
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I always salute Gate Guards in return. I have saluted Enlisted Soldiers who were carrying an object in both hands because I know they would have saluted me if able.
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