Master these first
- 01 When to salute, and when not to.
- 02 How to report to an officer, indoors and out.
- 03 How to address officers, NCOs, and warrant officers.
- 04 What to do during Reveille and Retreat.
- 05 What to do when the National Anthem plays.
- 06 Walking on the left of a senior.
- 07 Calling a room to attention when an officer enters.
The hand salute
The salute is the most recognized military courtesy. The junior person renders it first, with a greeting: “Good morning, Sir.” Render it to officers about six paces out, or within speaking distance if you make eye contact and their path brings them close. You salute commissioned officers of any U.S. service, officers of friendly foreign forces, and Medal of Honor recipients regardless of rank.
You do not salute in civilian clothes, when carrying something with both hands, in a formation (the formation salutes only on the command “Present, ARMS”), in public places like theaters and churches, or in combat conditions. And you do not salute indoors, with one exception: reporting.
Reporting to an officer
Reporting is one of the few times you salute indoors. In an office: remove headgear, knock, enter when told, march to within two steps of the desk, halt, salute, and report: “Sir (Ma’am), Private Jones reports.” Hold the salute until it is returned. When the business is done, salute again, hold until returned, face about, and leave. Outdoors, it is the same without removing headgear.
Addressing seniors
The short version, covered in full in the ranks note: officers are “Sir” or “Ma’am.” Sergeants E-5 through Master Sergeant are “Sergeant.” A First Sergeant is “First Sergeant,” and anyone with “Sergeant Major” in the title is “Sergeant Major.” Warrant officers are “Chief.” When you walk with a senior, you take the left; the right is the position of honor.
The flag: Reveille, Retreat, and the Anthem
Reveille sounds at sunrise as the flag is raised; Retreat sounds at sunset to end the duty day, followed by To the Color as the flag comes down. Outdoors and in uniform, face the flag (or the music if you cannot see it) and salute on the first note, holding until the last. In a vehicle, stop, dismount, and render the courtesy. During the National Anthem in civilian clothes, stand at attention with your right hand over your heart; veterans and service members not in uniform may salute.
The flag itself is never allowed to touch the ground, is illuminated at night, and is folded into a triangle of thirteen folds. Once folded, it is treated as a cased Color and is not saluted by passersby.
Why this matters before you sign
None of this is hard. It is just unfamiliar, and unfamiliar is what makes a new Soldier hesitate. Walk in already knowing when to salute and how to report, and the first week stops being about not embarrassing yourself and starts being about the training.
SOURCES: AR 600-25, SALUTES, HONORS, AND COURTESY · TC 7-21.13, THE SOLDIER’S GUIDE · AR 840-10, FLAGS, GUIDONS, STREAMERS, AND TABARDS · PUBLIC LAW 110-181 (SALUTE BY VETERANS OUT OF UNIFORM) · CURRENT AS OF PULSE CHECK DATE