Who drops the salute first?
Asked by: Sid Romaguera II | Last update: March 16, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (12 votes)
In military and uniformed services, the junior member always salutes first when meeting or passing a senior member, initiating the greeting to show respect for the higher rank; the senior member then returns the salute, a tradition showing rank recognition, not inferiority. This applies between officers and enlisted personnel, and between junior and senior officers, with the salute given in time for the senior to return it.
Who lowers the salute first?
The salute (hand or head) must be performed first by the lower ranking personnel to the higher ranking personnel, and higher official is expected to return the salute, under all conditions except: Personnel who are driving vehicles. Personnel who are on sentry, patrol, observation duty or defending a specific point.
Who breaks salute first?
The lower ranking service member always initiates the salute to render respect to the rank. The senior member returns the salute in acknowledgment.
Who salutes, first officer or enlisted?
—Enlisted personnel salute all officers, and officers salute their seniors. Salutes are returned by persons saluted except when they are uncovered—the person saluted should acknowledge the salute with an appropriate greeting or a nod of the head.
Who can give your first salute?
The final part of the ceremony is the first salute. Each newly appointed officer selects a friend or relative who is currently or has served as an enlisted member of the armed services. This friend or family member presents the new officer with their first salute.
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What are the rules for saluting?
Military salute rules involve precise hand placement (right forefinger to eyebrow/visor brim), maintaining a straight wrist and horizontal upper arm, holding until acknowledged by a senior, and saluting first when meeting a senior officer, all while at the position of attention, demonstrating respect and professionalism. Specific actions vary slightly by service and country, but core principles emphasize correct execution, timing (6-12 paces), and etiquette like greeting and clearing the salute properly.
What is the 4 2 2 rule in the Navy?
The "4-2-2 Navy" refers to a common Military Service Obligation (MSO) contract for new enlistees, meaning 4 years of Active Duty, followed by 2 years in the Selected Reserve (SELRES), and then 2 years in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), totaling eight years. This construct, implemented for contracts after October 1, 2020, ensures sailors complete a significant portion of their service in the SELRES (drilling part-time) before transitioning to the IRR (inactive status), fulfilling the Navy's need for trained reservists.
Do all veterans get a gun salute at their funeral?
Honors typically consist of two or more uniformed service members folding and presenting a U.S. burial flag to the family, and playing of Taps. A gun salute by a rifle squad is reserved for veterans who retired from military service, service members killed on active duty, and Medal of Honor recipients.
Do lower ranks salute first?
Unless there's a high level decoration involved that means a lower rank be saluted first. Secondly; don't salute in a combat zone, you're asking for trouble. Finally; those who have to demand respect, are unworthy of it.
Do Medal of Honor recipients get to fly free?
Yes. The Recipients receive a special monthly pension, travel on military aircraft on space-available basis, have access to base commissaries, and are guaranteed burial at Arlington National Cemetery and admittance for their children to the military service academies.
Who gets a 13 gun salute?
Army, Navy and Marine Corps general officers may receive a battery cannon salute (17 guns for a four-star general, 15 for a three-star, 13 for a two-star, 11 for a one-star), if available.
Is it disrespectful to salute if you're not in the military?
Yes, it's generally considered inappropriate and potentially disrespectful for a civilian to give a military hand salute, as it's a formal gesture reserved for military personnel, but veterans can salute the flag or fallen comrades; civilians should instead place their right hand over their heart during the National Anthem or flag ceremonies as a sign of respect, or simply offer a verbal "Thank you for your service".
Who exits a military vehicle first?
When entering or exiting a vehicle, the junior ranking Soldier is the first to enter, and the senior in rank is the first to exit. When outdoors and approached by an NCO, you greet the NCO by saying, “Good morning, Sergeant,” for example.
Does a 2nd LT salute a 1st LT?
Some second lieutenants and first lieutenants do not salute one another; nor do they follow other proper customs and courtesies generally shared amongst those of different ranks.
Who is the only US president to receive a Medal of Honor?
Theodore Roosevelt is the sole U.S. President to receive the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously in 2001 for his valor as a Lieutenant Colonel leading the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War, fulfilling a nomination that was previously overlooked for decades.
Can veterans salute without a hat?
The United States Code, Title 4 and Title 36, now prescribes that “Members of the Armed Forces and veterans, who are present but not in uniform, may render the military salute” during instances which previously required removal of the headdress and placing the right hand over the heart to show proper respect for the ...
Why does the US military salute palm down?
Americans salute palm-down primarily due to tradition adopted from the British Royal Navy, where sailors with tar-covered hands hid dirt by turning their palms down to avoid showing them to officers; this practice became standard in the U.S. military, evolving from an initial palm-up salute to the current palm-down gesture by the 19th century, signifying respect and discipline.
Do enlisted ever get saluted?
(1) Enlisted Marines normally do not salute other enlisted Marines. They may give and receive salutes from other enlisted Marines when in formation and rendering reports. (2) If a senior remains in the area, but is not engaged in conversation with you, there is no need for a further salute when he leaves.
Which child gets a flag at a military funeral?
In cases where multiple children exist, families often wonder which child gets the flag at military funeral services. Military protocol typically designates the eldest child as the recipient, but families can make arrangements beforehand to designate a different recipient if circumstances warrant.
Why do they shoot 21 times at a military funeral?
A ship armed with seven cannons would fire all at once, and forts on land -- where gunpowder was more plentiful -- would respond with three shots for every cannon, totaling 21. Over time, this became the gold standard for honoring heads of state and military leaders.
Can wives be buried with their military husbands?
Yes, a wife can be buried with her military husband in a national or state veterans cemetery, as spouses and surviving spouses of eligible veterans are generally entitled to burial in the same plot, even if the veteran is still living or is buried elsewhere, with requirements usually involving proof of marriage and the veteran's service (like a DD-214). While the veteran receives full military honors, the spouse's burial is typically free (no plot/marker fees), with costs for funeral services borne by the family, and their name inscribed on the veteran's headstone.
What Navy job gets deployed the least?
Specific roles like Navy Systems Administrator and Air Force's Cybersecurity & Network Roles also tend to be less deployable. 3. Non-combat roles: Positions like medical personnel, mechanics, and logistical support often have a lower likelihood of being deployed abroad.
What is the oldest age to join the reserves?
Eligibility for the National Guard or reserves
Be between the ages of 17 and 42 (general requirement range; age varies by branch). Pass an armed forces physical exam. Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test.
Can an E5 date an E7?
The Navy policy also covers relationships between enlisted members and between officers. It puts chiefs (E-7 through E-9) in a separate personnel category and prohibits them from personal relationships with enlisted members E-1 through E-6 in the same command.