Customs and Courtesies

A custom is a social convention stemming from tradition and enforced as an unwritten law. A courtesy is a kind, polite, considerate behavior often linked to a custom. A military courtesy is such behavior extended to a person or thing that honors them is some way. For example, the position of honor has always been to the right. This originated from the medieval swordsmen who always wore their weapons on the left side and drew them to their right. The strongest and most experienced warriors were given the place of honor to allow them easy access to their weapons. Additionally, this practice has carried over to today in relation to saluting.

To allow ease of saluting, the senior person walks on the right. Most military customs and courtesies evolve from long-standing practices or have some historical significance. For example, the U.S. flag is folded in a triangular shape to represent the tri-corner hat of early American patriots. The lowering of the flag to half-staff comes from the naval custom of lowering sails upon the death of a crewmember to indicate that things were not "ship-shape."

NOTE: CAP military style uniforms include Service Dress, long and short sleeve blue shirt combinations, BDU, and Flight Suit for which military customs and courtesies apply. The CAP blazer is considered civilian attire and all customs and courtesies observed while wearing this blazer should follow civilian attire procedures.

Saluting

As with other customs and courtesies, saluting has evolved from history. The ancient knights used the gesture of raising the face visor on their helmets as a greeting. This move signified friendship and confidence as it removed the sword hand from the weapon and provided vulnerability in the suit of armor.

The salute is a respectful greeting exchanged between members of the same profession. It's an everyday courtesy based on mutual respect and is one of the traditions that binds military personnel together.

 

 

General Rules For Saluting

Salutes are rendered as a courtesy and are required between those officers junior and those senior in rank. If individuals are equal in rank, salutes may be exchanged. There are no set rules regarding how close or how far away a junior must be in order to render a salute. When a junior recognizes a senior, the junior will initiate a salute. There will usually be a verbal greeting exchanged by both members and the senior member will return the salute. This action occurs very quickly, usually within a distance of six paces.

You're not expected to initiate or to return a salute if it's impractical or dangerous to do so. The salute is intended to be a dignified military greeting, not a test of manual dexterity. Therefore, you aren't required to give a salute when encumbered (that is, when both hands are full), but you should make a verbal greeting. While CAP members are required to salute military officers of higher rank, military members are not required to salute CAP members, although it is often done as a courtesy.

Saluting Indoors

Reporting. Salutes are exchanged indoors only when a junior-ranking member formally reports to a senior officer. Initiate the procedure by knocking on the door and obtaining acknowledgment from the senior. Then proceed in a military manner until you're about two paces from the senior or the senior's desk. Stop, salute, and report. When the conversation has ended, come to attention, report out, salute, and depart by the most direct route in a military manner.

If you're in frequent working contact with a senior, the senior may waive the saluting requirement or may require a salute only the first time you enter his/her office each day. You'll still be expected to salute when reporting to other senior officers.