Why is it now becoming an issue to stop your vehicle, exit, and render a salute during retreat? Is this enforced at your installation?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:36:29 -0400

I was taught from the beginning that this was the standard. If there is more than one military member in the vehicle, the driver stops, exits the vehicle and salutes while the passengers sit at attention for the duration of retreat. Has it taken the PFC Sheffey incident to bring the standards back to the forefront?

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Mar 12 at 2014 10:37 AM

SGM Matthew Quick — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:37:45 -0400

Back to the post-war, garrison priorities!

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Mar 12 at 2014 10:42 AM

SPC Christopher Smith — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:42:07 -0400

In basic it was clearly printed in my Blue Book that this was the pratice, I have yet to be on an installation where the practice was really enforced. Personally I don't think it is an issue if you happen to forget to do it once in awhile, but I understand the importance.

Response by SSG Roderick Smith made Mar 12 at 2014 10:51 AM

SSG Roderick Smith — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:51:16 -0400

When I left Fort Sill, they had started stopping all inbound and outbound traffic at the gates during flag call. Patrols were directed to stop in place, and stop all surrounding traffic. Its a shame that some Soldiers run for the nearest doorway, hide, or just plain ignore when honors are to be rendered. It takes 2 minutes. Do the right thing.

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Mar 12 at 2014 11:01 AM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 11:01:22 -0400

Well it has been standard since I was Active duty. As I see it it goes back to respect and disipline. The reason is, to show respect to the colors and to respect those who have come and died before us. To me it is an honor to serve and I pay respect not only to the memebrs of the service that have served before me but to my family that I have had that have served and died in the service of the country. Is it a hassle when you have to be somewhere off post and you get caught by retreat. Yes, but if we cant hold on to the customs and courtesies that we hold dear. Then how can we serve the country that we do. I mean if we cant teach the younger soldiers why we do things other that thats the way it has always been done, we are doing them an injustice.

Once at Ft Campbell retreat played the MP's would actually ticket you if you did not stop and render the proper salute. IN or OUT of uniform. But Ft CAmpbell is a beast of it's own. I watched as an MP stopped a car, made hime get out, salute, then after retreat pulled them off to the side of the road and issue him a ticket.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2014 11:03 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 11:03:29 -0400

I've always seen it enforced as well as enforced it myself. The only time I've seen a SM not adhere is when their radio was up to loud and they didn't notice that people were stopped. The big violators are civilians (contractors that know better included) and spouses.

Response by SFC Lawrence Marcus made Mar 14 at 2014 4:17 PM

SFC Lawrence Marcus — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:17:18 -0400

they (The MPs) used to enforce it here at Fort Carson. They would block all the exits (They still do that) and MP patrol cars would block the roads around base to force people to stop.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2014 5:56 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 17:56:11 -0400

Only time I've seen this was at FLW. They don't even play retreat at Ft. Bliss, unless your right outside of 1st AD HQ.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2014 6:10 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:10:51 -0400

At Fort Campbell, unless you happened to be driving right in front of division HQ we couldn't even hear retreat, so often business went on as usual. However, on the few occasions I happened to be driving in close proximity to HQ everyone would get out of their car without exception.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2014 6:27 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:27:13 -0400

SSG McCall,

Here in Bamberg Germany a very small community it is enforced. You know everyone and I am sure if you didn't stop here someone would chase you down to correct you.

V/r

1SG Haro

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2014 11:26 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 11:26:31 -0400

was taught as a young private at my first duty station to pay my respect to the flag. If I am in my car will place my flasher on and exit my vehicle and render my salute. I have my wife exit the vehicle out of respect as well. Soldier now a days only care about quickly getting home to get out of uniform. This has all become a issue since this young private posting on social media.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2014 2:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 14:11:38 -0400

SSG McCall,

This is NOT a standard across the board. My sister (an E3) "Spot Corrected" a Senior Master Sergeant (USAF) on Ramstein Air Base. My Poor PFC Sister was then "Corrected" as this Senior Master Sergeant spouted off some Air Force regulation. I asked my father in law (retired Air Force) if he had ever had to exit a vehicle...The answer was no. It is not a requirement here on Fort McCoy that I know of (I have never seen anyone even pull over), certain parts of Fort Bragg (Like All American), Redstone Arsenal etc. I think it comes down to what the Garrison wants (some garrisons understand that it may be a saftey issue if you have a high traffic installaion). I personally am fine with whatever the rule is. However, I usually do not HEAR the music inside of my van.

Response by MSG Cameron Davis made Mar 17 at 2014 4:05 PM

MSG Cameron Davis — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 16:05:19 -0400

Exactly! I was thought the same. The question you should ask though is how did we (NCOs) allow it to get to a point where it takes the PFC Sheffey incident to start enforcing the standards. That is what our job is as NCOs so the truth is that the fact it wasn't being done is a direct reflection on our failure. It is also a light path to what we need to do to make sure it doesn't happen again. We don't need a post policy the enforce a standard.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2014 9:17 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:17:06 -0400

But you can always find soldiers hiding not just in there cars but at the px or shopette waiting for the flag to lower before stepping outside so they don't have to salute. maybe we just have to go back to days of holding final formation to salute the flag before releasing soldiers from the duty day.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2014 10:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 22:53:25 -0400

I was driving on post Friday morning to take care of some work at 0625. The gate guards shut down entry and exit to the post to make sure people exited their vehicles and rendered the proper customs and courtesies. The car behind me kept his radio blasting and never exited the vehicle, I went to address the situation in a tactful manner because I noticed the person was wearing ACU's. I was sad to notice the person in the vehicle was a Senior NCO and caught an attitude toward me because I questioned his actions. I think it is an honor to serve my country and cannot believe that we have leaders that don't abide by or enforce standards....I feel sorry for their Soldiers!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2014 6:45 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 06:45:01 -0400

That was the standard when I was stationed at Ft Sill, Ok but I noticed when I got to Ft Bragg not so much.

Response by LTC Paul Mullins made May 9 at 2014 9:45 AM

LTC Paul Mullins — Fri, 09 May 2014 09:45:13 -0400

They enforce it here at Ft. Stewart. The CG has directed the MPs 2 minutes prior to Reveille and Retreat to block the 2 major gates and all personnel are required to exit their vehicles and render honors.

Response by SGT Christopher Hoffman made Jul 20 at 2014 11:34 PM

SGT Christopher Hoffman — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 23:34:45 -0400

With all respect to everyone, yes or no, here is a question I would love to have answered by all those who avoid giving honors to your country and your flag in whatever manner they choose to do it:

What is wrong with giving up two minutes of your day to give respect to what we live and breathe in this great country of ours, or some base we are a part of in another country? And not just our Reveille and Retreat, but that of our host countries as well?

Is it whatever the excuse or action undertaken worth not giving up those two minutes or so each day?

I say this not only because I will give that time for Reveille and for Retreat, but also for Taps and the honors and traditions taught to me as an eight-year old child by his grandfather, a retired major, when Taps was played across Lake Worth over at Carswell Air Force Base.