Why is Vice President Harris being saluted?

2024-08-04T17:00:37-04:00

Why is Vice-President Harris being saluted by uniformed military personnel as she board Air Force Two? It is my understanding that only the CIC and the Secretary of your own military branch gets saluted. That is what I was taught in my Air Force Leadership Development Course. I was also told that Pelosi when she was Speaker of the House tried to insist that she should be saluted.

Response by COL Randall C. made Aug 4 at 2024 5:49 PM

2024-08-04T17:49:14-04:00

This isn't something unique to this administration.

While the Vice President is not in the chain of command, the military personnel do it as a courtesy.

Actually, it would be more accurate to say that the Services extend the courtesy to the VP and that the military personnel do it because they've been instructed to do so.

I believe the Air Force is the only Service that specifically states the Vice President will be rendered a hand salute (AFI 34-1201*, section 8.1.1.1) in applicable settings, while the other Services only specifically state the President.
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* AFI34-1201 - https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/saf_ds/publication/afi34-1201/afi34-1201.pdf

afi34-1201.pdf

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Aug 4 at 2024 6:26 PM

2024-08-04T18:26:04-04:00

I agree that only the Chain of Command rates a salute.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Aug 5 at 2024 2:20 PM

2024-08-05T14:20:34-04:00

Common courtesy and respect for the office.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Aug 7 at 2024 3:14 PM

2024-08-07T15:14:52-04:00

"The President, as Commander in Chief of the armed forces, is always saluted. Other civilians may be saluted by persons in uniform when appropriate, but the uniform hat or cap must not be raised as a form of salutation."

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/verify/vp-salute-protocol-is-the-vice-president-in-military-chain-of-command-kamala-harris-salute-military-fact-check-fox-news-commander-in-chief-saluting/65-f89b1ebe-f14d-4989-9e59-87c64c798e57

They can salute other civilians but only have to salute POTUS - and the POTUS does not have to return the salute. That didn't even start until Reagan.

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-03-24/pentagon-kamala-harris-doesnt-have-to-return-salutes-if-she-doesnt-want-to

VERIFY: Explaining the saluting protocol of the vice president

One viral news story said VP Kamala Harris 'broke precedent' when she forgot to salute the military while boarding Air Force Two. But did she break any rules?

Response by 1LT Larry Bass made Aug 8 at 2024 10:44 PM

2024-08-08T22:44:18-04:00

How about her VP pick's false resume details?

Response by SrA R. Brian Ruether made Aug 28 at 2024 11:48 AM

2024-08-28T11:48:34-04:00

You can salute anyone you respect.

Response by MSgt Gene B. made Aug 31 at 2024 4:48 PM

2024-08-31T16:48:38-04:00

Remember the first rule of saluting that you learned in boot camp? "When in doubt, salute."

Response by SSG Rick Miller made Sep 11 at 2024 6:11 PM

2024-09-11T18:11:22-04:00

What harm does it do? Civilian VIPs have been getting saluted forever and a day. The salute shows respect for the office, not necessarily the person.