Where have salutes gone?

  • Published
  • By Capt. Joseph Coslett
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON --  During an Airman Leadership School graduation at a previous assignment, a Navy senior chief just gave a motivating speech to challenge the leaders of tomorrow. This was quickly followed by the introduction of the dead fish.

The installation commander gave the Levitow Award and other academic and professional awards for excellence, but the comments following the ceremony were about the commander's dead fish salute. The question I had the pleasure of answering was how come a colonel does not know how to salute properly?

The event opened my eyes to seeing many officers and enlisted alike avoiding or giving unprofessional salutes. I've seen the dead fish salute, the "Hey, how you doing?" salute, the quick tap, the half salute, the leaning salute and others. Maybe this is because I went through two different basic trainings, basic military training and officer training school, at which I learned how to salute. If I did not, I was immediately corrected.

Last time I checked, our last core value is 'excellence in all we do.' This means we should always strive to look professional and have on our game face. As an important custom and courtesy, the salute deserves no less attention, especially at the higher ranks.

In another case, I recently had the pleasure of experiencing an officer leaning on a truck actually salute me from a slouching position. He showed me the ever-so-popular "Hey, how you doing?" salute, which starts at about the shoulder and ends in a "hi" gesture movement. He never returned the mutual respect -- saluting should be automatic, not an afterthought.

The history of the salute varies, but one story dates back to the days of the kings and knights when it was customary for knights dressed in armor to raise their visors to friends for the purpose of identification. Another is British navy junior officers would uncover when addressing a senior. Gradually over time, the removal of the cap evolved into merely touching the cap, or if uncovered, the head, and finally into the salute.

Saluting is one of the oldest military traditions. It is a courtesy exchanged between service members when greeting, and a symbol of mutual respect. The salute steps are simple and if performed correctly look professional.

· Raise the right hand smartly until the tip of the forefingers touches the lover part of the headgear or forehead above and slightly to the right of the eye.

· Extend and join the thumb and fingers.

· Turn the palm slightly inward until the person saluting can just see its surface from the corner of the right eye.

· The upper arm is parallel to the ground; the elbow is slightly in front of the body.

· Incline the forearm at a 45 degree angle; hand and wrist are in a straight line.

· Complete the salute after it is returned by dropping the arm to its normal position in one sharp, clean motion.

I challenge you to not let complacency set in,  and to salute properly. It only takes seconds out of your day, but it is a representation of who you are. Are your people worth it? Are your fellow professionals worth it? Think about when our heroes pay the ultimate sacrifice and our outstanding honor guards render the proper salute to the member and the flag. You work with heroes every day. Are they worth it? Are they worth your time?


3-5. Hand Salute
...
The hand salute is a one-count movement. The command is Present, ARMS.

When wearing headgear with a visor (with or without glasses), on the command
of execution ARMS, raise the right hand sharply, fingers and thumb extended
and joined, palm facing down, and place the tip of the right forefinger on the rim
of the visor slightly to the right of the right eye. The outer edge of the hand is
barely canted downward so that neither the back of the hand nor the palm is
clearly visible from the front. The hand and wrist are straight, the elbow inclined
slightly forward, and the upper arm horizontal (1, Figure 3-5).

When wearing headgear without a visor (or uncovered) and not wearing glasses,
execute the hand salute in the same manner as previously described in
subparagraph a, except touch the tip of the right forefinger to the forehead near
and slightly to the right of the right eyebrow (3, Figure 3-5).

When wearing headgear without a visor (or uncovered) and wearing glasses,
execute the hand salute in the same manner as described in subparagraph a,
except touch the tip of the right forefinger to that point on the glasses where the
temple piece of the frame meets the right edge of the right brow (2, Figure 3-5).

Order arms from the hand salute is a one-count movement. The command is
Order, ARMS. On the command of execution ARMS, return the hand sharply to
the side, resuming the position of attention.

3-5

FM 22-5
...
e. When reporting or rendering courtesy to an individual, turn the head and eyes
toward the person addressed and simultaneously salute. In this situation, the
actions are executed without command. The salute is initiated by the subordinate
at the appropriate time and terminated upon acknowledgment (4, Figure 3-5).

f. The hand salute may be executed while marching. When double timing, a soldier
must come to quick time before saluting.