Military Salute
I saw how the above started the other day on the tube.
Anyone else know?
Sage1
Anyone else know?
Sage1
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Yes. I understand its origin. I was asked that question on my SGT and SSG promotion boards. It's considered basic knowledge for Privates in the Army. 0 -
yes, it is compulsory learning in the australian army..and i assume the airforce and navy as well. 0 -
yes, it is compulsory learning in the australian army..and i assume the airforce and navy as well. 0 -
Had to learn it in the Navy and before that in ROTC.
Lance0 -
No one knows the precise origin of today's hand salute. From earliest times and in many distant armies throughout history, the right hand (or "weapon hand") has been raised as a greeting of friendship. The idea may have been to show that you weren't ready to use a rock or other weapon. Courtesy required that the inferior make the gesture first. Certainly there is some connection between this old gesture and our present salute.
One romantic legend has it that today's military salute descended from the medieval knight's gesture of raising his visor to reveal his identity as a courtesy on the approach of a superior. Another even more fantastic version is that it symbolizes a knight's shielding his eyes from the dazzling beauty of some high-born lady sitting in the bleachers of the tournament.
The military salute has in fact had many different forms over the centuries. At one time it was rendered with both hands! In old prints one may see left-handed salutes. In some instances the salute was rendered by lowering the saber with one hand and touching the cap visor with the other.
The following explanation of the origin of the hand salute is perhaps closest to the truth: It was a long-established military custom for juniors to remove their headgear in the presence of superiors. In the British Army as late as the American Revolution a soldier saluted bv removing his hat. But with the advent of more cumbersome headgear in the 18th and 19th centuries, the act of removing one's hat was gradually converted into the simpler gesture of grasping the visor, and issuing a courteous salutation. From there it finally became conventionalized into something resembling our modern hand salute.
As early as 1745 (more than two-and-a-half centuries ago) a British order book states that: "The men are ordered not to pull off their hats when they pass an officer, or to speak to them, but only to clap up their hands to their hats and bow as they pass."
Whatever the actual origin of today's hand salute, clearly in the tradition of the US Army it has always been used to indicate a sign of RESPECT - further recognition that in the profession of arms military courtesy is both a right and a responsibility of every soldier.
Compiled by the
U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps Historian
Fort Lee, Virginia0 -
^ Well, a tip o' the cap to you, sir! 0 -
FWIW- a left handed hand salute (other than rifle salute while at right shoulder arms) is not considered proper EXCEPT for members of the horse cavalry who are dismounted beside their horse. Since you will be to the left of your mount, and your right hand is holding the reins..... 0 -
hand salute or military salute....with canon?
hand salute can be dated back to the time of christ where roman and greek soldiers rendered the free hand to show it was void of a second weapon or dagger. the british actually have the most appropriate hand salute with palm facing outward.0 -
bobski, the "outward" facing salute used by the british, and still by all commonwealth countries came about like was said before, by ye old time knights meeting another knight and lifting their visor with their right hand =sword hand.. to show their face to the other knight..if you imagine lifting the visor, it just comes about naturally that your hand is facing up....this was done to show friendly intent..., it was also showing your respects to another knight, who may have outranked you in medeivel days,in those days to meet another knight and not lift your visor was an act of agression...it also explains why in most commonwealth countries people still drive on the left hand side of the road, as the sword hand was the right hand it meant that if you going in the opposite direction to another knight/stranger, you would pass him on his right hand side..therefore if he showed aggression you could whip out your sword and get stuck into him quicker...when the days of knights riding around died, it just stayed the same...you always made sure you passed on oncoming person/ horse/ vehicle on their right hand side...that is what all recruits are taught in the army here, but of course these days it is just showing respect to "an officer and a gentleman"..who are the modern day equivelent of the old time knights....i`m sure people will shoot me down in flames for me posting this, but as i said, this is what we are taught, and i was never stupid enough to argue with an officer, they would most likely get you peeling onions[:)] 0 -
yes, i know, but....it goes way back further than before armor existed.
you know, like.....HAIL CEASAR?0 -
yes bobski, you are of course compltely correct. but the modern salute as used by the military now whereby a soldier salutes by raising his hand to his hat is based on the old time courtesy of lifting the visor...and to this day british and certainly australian soldiers do not salute unless they are wearing their hat..the modern day equivelent of head armour i suppose...it actually caused a few problems for australian soldiers who were in vietnam...when they would be in a situation where they would normally salute an american officer the australian soldier would just stand at attention instead of saluting if he was`nt wearing his hat, and a lot of american officers thought it was the australians not showing respect, the americans just (not all of coarse)didnt understand that we cant salute if we are`nt wearing a hat..it was the same in the japanese prison camps in ww2..the australians wouldnt salute the jap officers, and a lot of australian soldiers were executed for not saluting, it was explained to the japanese and orders were circulated to them thay they were not to discipline any allied prisoner of war that didnt salute because of it...some military customs are strange[:)]i do agree with you that saluting in one form or another goes way,way back into history..but i suppose that has just been a way of the lowly soldier to show respect for those of higher rank...which in earlier times came about because rank was earned by expirience. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
FWIW- a left handed hand salute (other than rifle salute while at right shoulder arms) is not considered proper EXCEPT for members of the horse cavalry who are dismounted beside their horse. Since you will be to the left of your mount, and your right hand is holding the reins.....
It's proper in the Navy to salute with the left hand if it isn't possible to salute with the right hand (if the right hand is injured). I think this also applies to the Marine Corps, but not sure.0 -
I thought the only person in the military to salute left handed was that navy dude with the sailor whistle who greeted sailors as they boarded ship? The reason was his whistle was in his right hand. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
FWIW- a left handed hand salute (other than rifle salute while at right shoulder arms) is not considered proper EXCEPT for members of the horse cavalry who are dismounted beside their horse. Since you will be to the left of your mount, and your right hand is holding the reins.....
It's proper in the Navy to salute with the left hand if it isn't possible to salute with the right hand (if the right hand is injured). I think this also applies to the Marine Corps, but not sure.
No, Marines just render the proper verbal greeting if the right hand is unserviceable or otherwise occupied. The left hand salute is used with a rifle at right shoulder arms or order arms, but is brought to the weapon rather than one's head.0 -
Piping an Admiral/dignitary aboard ship, you'll always see the bosun saluting with his left hand. Joe 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sarge_3ad
I thought the only person in the military to salute left handed was that navy dude with the sailor whistle who greeted sailors as they boarded ship? The reason was his whistle was in his right hand.
sarge, you're right about piping aboard and over the side, but we generally call the navy dude the Boatswain's Mate or Boatswain and we call the sailor whistle a Boatswain's Pipe. [:D] [:D] [:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by alltheway
Interesting post.
Sort of like tipping your hat to a lady, right?
Officer = Lady, right?
There is a big sign over the Officer's Club, "O Club", so we call them zeros.0 -
quote:Originally posted by cce1302
No, Marines just render the proper verbal greeting if the right hand is unserviceable or otherwise occupied. The left hand salute is used with a rifle at right shoulder arms or order arms, but is brought to the weapon rather than one's head.
You'll have to forgive me for being a little rusty, its been awhile since I completed my service, but I was under the impression that a Marine that, for example, lost his right hand was authorized to salute with the left.0 -
I guess it's OK to salute left handed if you dont have a right hand..
...Father Marquette lost several fingers on his right hand (gnawed off by an Indian squaw after he was captured) and was able to secure permission from the pope to use his left hand to do church services. Back in the day, only the right hand was allowed to touch the bread/wine, etc. Joe0 -
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
FWIW- a left handed hand salute (other than rifle salute while at right shoulder arms) is not considered proper EXCEPT for members of the horse cavalry who are dismounted beside their horse. Since you will be to the left of your mount, and your right hand is holding the reins.....
It's proper in the Navy to salute with the left hand if it isn't possible to salute with the right hand (if the right hand is injured). I think this also applies to the Marine Corps, but not sure.
I agree with you James. All personnel rating a salute must be rendered this courtesy, unless specifically noted where these salutes are not required, such as when one is involved with phycical fitness activities. Additionally, provisions are made for Navy and Marine personnel to follow all Army and Air Force customs when, say aboard their facilities, which might require a Sailor or Marine to salute indoors "uncovered" or "get out" of vehicles and salute during colors, rather than remaining in the vehicle and saluting like we do aboard Navy and Marine installations.0 -
I agree with you James. All personnel rating a salute must be rendered this courtesy, unless specifically noted where these salutes are not required, such as when one is involved with phycical fitness activities. Additionally, provisions are made for Navy and Marine personnel to follow all Army and Air Force customs when, say aboard their facilities, which might require a Sailor or Marine to salute indoors "uncovered" or "get out" of vehicles and salute during colors, rather than remaining in the vehicle and saluting like we do aboard Navy and Marine installations.
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You salute while seated in a vehicle?
I always just stopped and looked towards the flag.
I also followed Navy customs regardless of who base I was on.
Different times I guess or one of us was wrong. [:D]
AC0 -
quote:Originally posted by acdodd
quote:Originally posted by kimi
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
quote:Originally posted by 11b6r
FWIW- a left handed hand salute (other than rifle salute while at right shoulder arms) is not considered proper EXCEPT for members of the horse cavalry who are dismounted beside their horse. Since you will be to the left of your mount, and your right hand is holding the reins.....
It's proper in the Navy to salute with the left hand if it isn't possible to salute with the right hand (if the right hand is injured). I think this also applies to the Marine Corps, but not sure.
I agree with you James. All personnel rating a salute must be rendered this courtesy, unless specifically noted where these salutes are not required, such as when one is involved with phycical fitness activities. Additionally, provisions are made for Navy and Marine personnel to follow all Army and Air Force customs when, say aboard their facilities, which might require a Sailor or Marine to salute indoors "uncovered" or "get out" of vehicles and salute during colors, rather than remaining in the vehicle and saluting like we do aboard Navy and Marine installations.
You salute while seated in a vehicle?
I always just stopped and looked towards the flag.
I also followed Navy customs regardless of who base I was on.
Different times I guess or one of us was wrong. [:D]
AC
If you are a Marine, and you are not wearing your cover while you are in uniform in a vehicle, such as a car, a truck, a cattle-car, etc, then you are out of uniform in violation of uniform regs,and therfore subject to the UCMJ. [:D][;)] However, if you were a Sailor, then trust me, I understand! [:D]
As for the salute while seated, I could well be wrong, cut me some slack, I'm in my mid-60s, so it's been a day or two since I have been there and done that! [:D]0 -
acdod: Saluting situation or not?:
You are an enlisted person in a car as the passenger, aboard base, and your boss, say, a major is driving, who is also in uniform. The vehicle is stopped at a red light, and it is the nearest car to a crosswalk, and a naval Captain enters the crosswalk and begins to pass to your immediate front. Who salutes, if anyone?0 -
If i remember correctly you have to be standing , to return a salute. This reminds of when my squadron was in Sicily. We messed with this zero in charge of the mess hall for a month, on are way from the hanger to the mess hall we would string out to ten feet apart, there were twenty of us.We made the zero return are salute one at a time. One day while tearing apart a jet engine i hurt myself.Normally one noncom can salute a zero for a group of two or more, but the zero was on to us. Two of us grouped up and my buddy did the saluting.The zero didn't buy it, and put me on report.I had to go to sickbay. They found out i had a bad case of bronchitis.I spent two or three weeks in the hospital, the day i was checking out , i light up a smoke. The doctor,( also a zero), that had been taking care of me thought that i was lighting up for the first time in two or three weeks.No one ever told me not to smoke all the time i was in sickbay.Don't get me wrong there was a bunch of zeros i'd of followed to hell and back, they were good men. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by acdodd
I also followed Navy customs regardless of who base I was on.
Different times I guess or one of us was wrong. [:D]
AC
If you are a sailor on an Army installation for official business or attached to an Army unit, you should follow Army customs. If you're ever in that situation somebody should familiarize you with the Army way of doing things before you go. If you just happen to be on an Army installation to go the PX, you should honor Army customs if you know them, but I doubt anybody would make a big deal if you err by following Navy customs. If you're on an Army installation on personal business you would probably be in civilian clothes anyway.
Saluting customs aren't a lot different for Army and Navy. The Navy and Marine Corps don't salute when not covered. On board ship you only salute junior officer once per day. Other than that, they are pretty close to the same.0 -
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
quote:Originally posted by sarge_3ad
I thought the only person in the military to salute left handed was that navy dude with the sailor whistle who greeted sailors as they boarded ship? The reason was his whistle was in his right hand.
sarge, you're right about piping aboard and over the side, but we generally call the navy dude the Boatswain's Mate or Boatswain and we call the sailor whistle a Boatswain's Pipe. [:D] [:D] [:D]
Thanks James for setting me straight. I'm just not familiar with the Navy terms, and I could never figure out Navy Rank insignia. Too much green in my blood and not enough gray. [:D]0 -
its a boatwains 'call,' not a pipe. the 'boats' would clock you if you called it a pipe.[:)] 0
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