Posted: 12/11/2006 10:53:51 AM EDT
| A few days ago a buddy of mine was bloused for not saluting an officer while going up the stairs. I was always under the impression that one does not salute while going up or down the stairs as its impractical to be on the 'lookout' for officers while you are moving up ro down the stairs. Can someone show me specifically in and FM where it says Yea or Nea? |
In my experience, no saluting in doors. I've had officers tell me not to worry about missing a salute on stairs for pretty much the reasons stated... but then again there are also those "Bow before me for I am an academy grad. Kiss my ring" types... *shrug* Always some assholes out there 
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I forgot one thing... If you have your arms full, you are ok with missing the salute but you must address the officer. It may not be written, but it is a "common sense" thing. when I was carrying the gear to the motor pool during an alert with both arms full (6 M231s, vehicle night sight, my weapon, my rucksack) and I addressed the officer correctly and he laughed and saluted me back. This happened often. The first time I didn't now any better I started to put down the gear for a proper greeting the officer told me "don't worry about it, you got your hands full", we laughed and carried on. Again, it may not be correct or written, it would depend on the officer/location/situation. |
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Don't salute on stairs if you think it is unsafe for some reason, i.e. narrow steps, carrying something in one hand and using the other to hold onto the rail, etc. If you think it was not appropriate to salute but the officer does and chews your butt, just say "Roger Sir" and move on. It's too small an issue to loose sleep over. You are still required to "render the apprpriate greeting of the day" though. I've had my ass chewed out by a bunch of officers that couldn't get over themselves and the fact they were an officer for extremely menial issues. There is a difference to maintaining good order and dicsipline and being anal. Here's an example. You must wear head gear when out doors. So when do you put it on, before you pass through the doorway so you straight once you get outside? But then for a split second you're out of uniform indoors. Do you wait till you pass through the doorway to don your headgear? Then for a split second you are out of uniform outside. This is trivial, anal crap and I wouldn't give it another moments thought. Sometimes you will get your butt chewed even though you are not violating any regulations. Just an officer having a bad day and he saw you first. |
| If you see the 1SG or CSM stop them and explain what happened and see what they say. I know my last CSM was awesome and didn’t take any shit from the officers; especially the LT’s and was always available to help mentor the soldiers. If the officer gave you crap about it then he is an idiot and probably one of the officers everyone in the Brigade knows is an asshole. I bet if it was an E-7 or above he wouldn’t have said shit. Just put that one incident behind you and drive on. |
We had a fix for those types, we would get the platoon spread out 5-10 feet between each of us and every one would give him a proper salute and greeting. After a while they would get tired of saluting 30 times in a couple of minutes. |
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I know TANGOCHASER is old enough to remember, but how many others were in before Direct Deposit, when you were actually mailed a paycheck and could report to the Pay Officer on pay day to cash it in! That was one instance a lot of folks don’t remember, where saluting indoors was required. |
Yes I remember: Spec4 Barzyz reporting for pay... 
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I remember those days, we had a Lt. lose the payroll for a couple of hours once. He had visions of bad things happening until he found it. |
why does this bring back a faded memory? What unit were you in? |
Oh, that pic brings back memories! The guy tagged as pay officer, hanging out in the Day Room cashing pay checks! If I remember right our Pay Officer wore a pistol. ETA: Was that pic taken in Germany? |
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Quib, yea, that was in Germany, 1986. The Lt wore a 45 and the escort has one 30rd mag. in the 18mts I was there, I got tagged as the escort once. We had some cool Lts, the one in the picture was a real joker. I used to tell him. "reporting for the beer money" and he would laugh his ass off. |
Have I showed you this site: usarmygermany.com/Sont.htm |
Children... children... children... I remember having to report for pay and receiving my pay in cash, and having to salute upon approaching the pay table. And... payday was interesting at Camp Red Cloud, Korea. The pay convoy would arrive looking like something from the old TV program, Rat Patrol. M151 with mounted M60 front & rear. With the gunners hanging on to the the M60s and wearing gas masks! I wish I would have gotten a photo of that! |
This happened in Hawaii in '81. At the time I was in F. Co. 25th CAB. |
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Remember the big long lines in the gym with multiple pay stations? I've been in so long, I was a payroll guard as an E5. My LT got mad at me when he saw my soldiers and I clearing our weapons at the end of the day. He never new we were locked and loaded. Apparently he thought carrying $37,000 in small unmarked bills was not enough reason for armed guards. Here's a kicker. I saw this same LT in Korea 10 years later and he was wearing E7 rank. WTF? I spoke to another NCO that knew his history and apparently he did something stupid as a company commander and got a soldier killed. He resigned his commission but was allowed to stay in the Army as an E7 to make it to retirement. Anyone ever here of that happening? |
That's what I'm talking about. |
Checks! I remember reporting to the pay officer to receive my pay in cash. Yeah, I know I'm old. 
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In the KISS army, you only salute when a kick ass metal riff is being played. The salute is the devil sign made by one or both hands (depending on how kick ass the riff is) and and wagging your tongue like Gene Simmons. You can do it indoors or out or on stairs, a moving sidewalk an escalator or even an elevator. 
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you have now!  that is a great web site.... lots to read there. |
I love that site it brings back so many memories from my 13+ years over there! There are also some good links you should check out on his links page. |
you get paid for being in the military!?! I have fond memories of walking down disney road (bagram) and i had a 1star and a few full birds behind me, JUST BARELY and i would salute officers and it would throw off the timing for them to salute the general. yes.......spc is the greatest rank in the army.
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That E7 must have had a collection of photos documenting all kinds of nun and llama stunts featuring flag rank officers. I've got a 1lt as a company CO in the guard who resigned his comission before he got passed over a second time for O3. He droped to E4 Corporal and finished his 4 year degree, then applied for and got his comission back. |
We either got paid before or after everyone else.
Nobody should break balls for recieving a salute. It's a fine military custom. It's no mistake saluting an enlisted man if you don't recognize the rank insignia. |
Nothing like being E4 when its dusk and being saluted by another E4 or an E5. Or being in BT/AIT/OSUT and being saluted by your 1st Sgt.! 
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