What rules address whenever a service member passes an officer of a different branch (Army soldier walks by an MC/Navy/CG officer)?

2017-06-18T01:46:01-04:00

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2017 1:50 AM

2017-06-18T01:50:57-04:00

As far as I know, you treat them the same. If their rank is higher than yours, you salute them. I worked at a provincial reconstruction team in Western Afghanistan and we had Navy Commander/O-5 as our base commander with his executive officer being a Major/O-4 in army Special Forces and the S3 was a Navy Lieutenant Commander/O-4 and I saluted all three of them all the time (before we deployed to a combat zone) when I was a captain when I was deployed 8 years ago. You treat them the same as you would any other officer. In a combat zone, you just say hello Sir/Commander, Lt Commander, Major etc.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2017 1:51 AM

2017-06-18T01:51:28-04:00

Salute, greet, carry on.

Response by SPC Sean Slaughter made Jun 18 at 2017 1:56 AM

2017-06-18T01:56:29-04:00

Treat them like an officer. Although if reporting to an officer of a different branch check that branches regs on reporting cause some you salute inside a building and some you don't. Also it's good to know the ranks and what they look like cause a few things are different such as the bars an Army, Air Force or Marine Cpt wear are LT bars in the Navy and a Navy Cpt is equivalent to an Army or MC/AF LTC. lots of small differences, but enough to catch an ass chewing if you aren't mindful.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jun 18 at 2017 1:59 AM

2017-06-18T01:59:01-04:00

No. You treat them just as any officer of your own branch. Render a proper greeting and salute if outside or in some circumstances under arms.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2017 4:00 AM

2017-06-18T04:00:38-04:00

As mentioned, salute and greet like normal. This is also the case for officers of foreign nations, although it is understandable if you can't recognize them as being an officer due to a particular country's rank insignia being so different that you are unsure. At a minimum, it's always good etiquette to greet any troop you pass regardless of rank and nationality.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Jun 18 at 2017 9:16 AM

2017-06-18T09:16:50-04:00

As far as I know, rendering a salute & greeting when passing is universal across all U.S. military branches.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2017 10:06 AM

2017-06-18T10:06:53-04:00

Regardless of branch, if they're an Officer, you salute.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jun 18 at 2017 10:13 AM

2017-06-18T10:13:09-04:00

AR 600-25 for soldiers.
1–5. Hand salutes and salutes with arms
a. For instructions on executing the hand salute, see FM 3–21.5, paragraph 4–4.
b. All Army personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled to the salute. Salutes will be exchanged between officers (commissioned and warrant) and enlisted personnel, and with personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard), the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service entitled to the salute.
c. The junior person shall salute first. Accompanying the rendering of the hand salute with an appropriate greeting such as, "Good Morning, Sir" or "Good Morning, Ma’am" is encouraged. Personnel will not salute indoors except when reporting to a superior officer.
d. The practice of saluting officers in official vehicles (recognized individually by rank or identifying vehicle plates and/or flags) is considered an appropriate courtesy and will be observed. Salutes are not required to be rendered by or to personnel who are driving or riding in privately owned vehicles, except by gate guards who will render salutes to recognized officers in all vehicles unless duties are of such a nature as to make the salute impractical. When military personnel are acting as drivers of a moving vehicle, they should not initiate a salute.
e. It is customary to salute officers of friendly foreign nations when recognized as such. The commanding general, U.S. European Command; the commanding general, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh U.S. Army; commanding general, U.S. Forces Korea and Eighth U.S. Army; commanding general, U.S. Army, Pacific; and commanding general, U.S. Army, Southern Command, are delegated the authority to establish policies for recognition courtesies prevailing locally for foreign officials. Should inactivation eliminate any of these commands, the authority will pass down to the next level of command. This authority will not be delegated further.
f. The President of the United States, as the commander in chief, will be saluted by Army personnel in uniform.
g. Civilian personnel, to include civilian guards, are not required to render the hand salute to military personnel or other civilian personnel.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 18 at 2017 12:50 PM

2017-06-18T12:50:21-04:00

LTC Jason Mackay provided an excellent answer. From my perspective, you render the hand salute when meeting an officer or warrant officer senior to you. Normally start the salute when about 6 paces away. Drop salute either when returned or when past the officer. Applies when outside and wearing a hat. Don't salute if prohibited, if doing so would be unsafe. Other times to salute:
-US Flag passes
-pledge of allegiance or National Anthem
-Reporting to an officer
-As ordered in formation
-if someone salutes you
-Raising or lowering flag on post or base

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 18 at 2017 1:33 PM

2017-06-18T13:33:23-04:00

I have to ask, what are they teaching you in boot camp these days? This should be common knowledge.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Jun 18 at 2017 1:51 PM

2017-06-18T13:51:46-04:00

You treat them just like an officer from your own branch. If outside you render a salute, render an appropriate greeting and keep on trucking. 27 years later and I can still do it without too much thought.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2017 11:53 PM

2017-06-18T23:53:02-04:00

Enlisted salutes Officers regardless of branch. If it shines salute it, When in doubt whip it out, Damn Navy gets me all the time. Their rank still confuses me after all these years.

Response by LCpl Shawn Jenks made Jun 19 at 2017 1:14 AM

2017-06-19T01:14:15-04:00

You salute

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2017 2:37 AM

2017-06-19T02:37:24-04:00

AR 600-25 Customs and Courtesies
At least for the Army

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Jun 19 at 2017 4:56 AM

2017-06-19T04:56:05-04:00

Assumed you meant overtaking as opposed to approaching.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jun 19 at 2017 11:46 AM

2017-06-19T11:46:56-04:00

Don't overthink it. Officers are officers. Render the proper salute in the proper context, and you're good.

Response by PV2 Andrew Schauf- Anderson made Jun 19 at 2017 6:55 PM

2017-06-19T18:55:47-04:00

I've been discharged for 7 years and my BCT was held at Fort Jackson, SC. However, I was only taught to salute the officers of the ranks that I have taught or familiar with.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jun 19 at 2017 10:04 PM

2017-06-19T22:04:52-04:00

When overtaking a Naval/Marine officer from behind the correct etiquette is a hand-salute with a verbal "by your leave, sir"

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2017 3:04 PM

2017-06-21T15:04:37-04:00

An officer is an officer regardless of branch. Their insignias are pretty distinctive.. If it's a bar, leaf, bird, or star...salute..

Response by SPC Ruben Marin made Jun 23 at 2017 1:47 PM

2017-06-23T13:47:43-04:00

As an MP we weren't required to salute at the gate bc we weren't considered hate guards. We did anyway, or I should most of us did out of courtesy. The DOD police were considered gate guards, but of course they don't salute bc they aren't military.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 1:58 PM

2017-06-23T13:58:34-04:00

I've not even been to boot camp yet and I know, regardless of branch, if you see an officer, they rate a salute so you do it

Response by Capt Bob Soldner made Jun 23 at 2017 2:13 PM

2017-06-23T14:13:15-04:00

Sadly, I never see the courtesy rendered by either enlisted to officers or officer to officer when I go aboard at NAS Jacksonville Fl. HOWEVER, I am always rendered the courtesy be the "gate guards" when entering or leaving the base. IT'S CALLED PRIDE'!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 2:15 PM

2017-06-23T14:15:10-04:00

I never saluted AF officers unless they are O-5 or higher.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jun 23 at 2017 2:21 PM

2017-06-23T14:21:32-04:00

Ok folks... esoterica time... Navy/Marines do NOT salute indoors unless under arms (covered) though courtesies may be rendered. What happens in mixed environments/joint commands?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 3:27 PM

2017-06-23T15:27:40-04:00

I would bet the reason he is asking is because they do not teach u the rank structure in other branches

Response by SGT Ron Egan made Jun 24 at 2017 4:55 AM

2017-06-24T04:55:25-04:00

You always salute bars and stars, oak leaves and birds.

Response by LTC Russ Smith made Jun 24 at 2017 9:30 AM

2017-06-24T09:30:50-04:00

This includes Guard officers and reserve officers the Marines, I their effort to before they are as white as SEALs, have an institutional disrespect for the other services that starts in boot camp. I was an enlisted Marine/0311 for three years, an Army NCO for three years, and a Army officer for a little over 20. If I hadn't been a Marine I probably wouldn't like them very much.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jun 24 at 2017 4:24 PM

2017-06-24T16:24:36-04:00

For Navy and Coast Guard you salute and holler "Anchors Aweigh Swabbie", Air Force you shout "Aim High Dude"' Marine you hide behind something until they pass.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2017 1:19 AM

2017-06-25T01:19:20-04:00

Um...duh...next topic.

Response by SrA Kevin Smith made Jun 26 at 2017 12:32 AM

2017-06-26T00:32:23-04:00

I was taught that an officer is an officer is an officer. If you recognize that an officer is approaching, the branch of service doesn't matter; a salute is not only appropriate, but mandatory.

Response by CPL Mark Andersen made Jun 26 at 2017 2:10 PM

2017-06-26T14:10:37-04:00

If it moves, salute it, if it doesn't, paint it.

Response by LTC Tj Shea made Sep 25 at 2017 10:42 AM

2017-09-25T10:42:30-04:00

I was taught to salute all officers, regardless of service or country.

Response by SPC David Abbott made Jan 26 at 2018 12:11 PM

2018-01-26T12:11:13-05:00

I was taught that you rendered an salute to any officer of any branch

Response by Col Richard Roessler made Aug 16 at 2018 8:49 PM

2018-08-16T20:49:27-04:00

Place your thumb on your nose and say ‘Bugga, bugga, bugga.’ This has got to be a joke, right?

Response by LT Terry Lober made Dec 11 at 2018 11:26 AM

2018-12-11T11:26:07-05:00

The junior renders a saliye. Branch of service makes no difference. For example, members of the National Health Service wear uniforms that look very much like Navy service dress blues. They wear rank on their sleeves, just as naval officers do. If senior they are entitled to a salute as well. You salute the rank, not the man or women.

Response by SSG Kenneth Ponder made Aug 8 at 2019 12:14 PM

2019-08-08T12:14:32-04:00

You salute, branch doesn't matter. Officer in uniform

Response by CAPT Edward Schmitt made Jun 26 at 2021 11:25 AM

2021-06-26T11:25:14-04:00

Salute, they are a superior officer regardless of branch