How much do you know about customs and courtesies of military life?

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Kuehnl and Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Kimball
  • 673d Air Base Wing
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Check yourself, troops: Customs and courtesies are an important part of military life. Test your knowledge of military customs and courtesies with this "True or False" quiz.

[Answers are at the bottom of the page.]

Q1. On base, during the sounding of reveille/retreat, Soldiers (in military uniform or civilian attire) are required to exit their vehicles and render proper honors?

Q2. On base, during the sounding of reveille/retreat, Airmen will remain in their stopped vehicles and remain silent, rendering proper honors?

Q3. Soldiers and Airmen are required to salute staff vehicles displaying rank placards without regard to the service of the senior officer?

Q4. Soldiers wearing the Army physical fitness uniform are required to render the salute to officers?

Q5. Airmen wearing the Air Force physical fitness gear are NOT required to render the salute to officers?

Q6. While refueling your vehicle at the AAFES Shoppette, military personnel in uniform are required to wear their headgear?

Q7. Military personnel in uniform under a covered sidewalk (i.e. entrance to JBER-E Fitness Center, the Joint Military Mall, etc.) that extends from the front of the building, are required to salute?

Q8. While actively exercising outdoors, if reveille or retreat sounds, you are required to stop exercising and render the proper honors?

Q9. When exiting your vehicle parked in the driveway of your home, you are required to wear your headgear from your vehicle to your home?

Q10. Soldiers are required to salute officers and warrant officers of other branches of service (USAF, USN, USMC, USCG)?

Q11. Air Force personnel are required to salute officers and warrant officers of other branches of service (USA, USN, USMC, USCG)?

Q12. U.S. military service members are required to salute officers of friendly foreign nations (e.g. Canada)?


Scroll down for answers


A1. True (Field Manual 3-21.5, Drill and Ceremonies, Appendix A, para A-5.c. and USARAK Pamphlet 600-2, Arctic Warrior Standards, para 8.d.(1))

A.2. True (Air Force Instruction 34-1201, Protocol, para 2.21 and 8.1.6.2)

A.3. True (FM 3-21.5 Appendix A, para A-4; USARAK Pam 600-2, para 8.b.(1); and AFI 34-1201, para 8.1.3)

A.4. True (IAW Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, the Army physical fitness uniform is an official military uniform)

A.5. True (AFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel, Figure 2.6, Note 11)

A.6. True (the overhead cover of the gas station does not constitute "indoors")

A.7. True (the covered sidewalk is considered "outdoors")
A.8. True (AFI 34-1201, para 2.21)

A.9. True (AR 670-1 and AFI 36-2903, Table 2.8 ... you are still in effect even in your driveway)

A.10. True (AR 600-25, Salutes, Honors and Visits of Courtesy, para 1-5.b.)

A.11. True (AFI 34-1201, para 8.1.3)

A.12. True (AR 600-25, para 1-5.e. and AFI 34-1201, para 8.1.3)