I am in the military. If a civilian waived to me I would understand that they are trying to communicate appreciation.
I am in the military. If a civilian waived to me I would understand that they are trying to communicate appreciation.
Also, Keeve is 100% correct. It is salutes by civilians espcially in the movies are usually embarrasing for me to watch. Also the look like complete idiots. If they are going to play a military role they should at least first educate themselves on proper customs and courtesies.
We have forums here for discussing the “why” of acknowledging military personell, and whether they are at risk here in the States, and whether they are “doing someone else’s job.” Please keep your comments in those forums.
Thank you.
Wow, I’m finally able to give meaningful information… must be a blue moon tonight.
Disclaimer: Writer is a US Air Force staff sergeant.
As far as the US/UK difference in attitude goes – I work with two British integrees at my army post (not that I’m in the army, but nevermindfornow), and AndyJ’s attitude was perfectly in tune… for a Brit. The British gents I work with are peerless professionals and their skill levels are well above what I expect from Americans of similar rank and experience (as is their paycheck, which may be a factor). However, they’re a lot less gung-ho military. AndyJ’s comment about “people waving at you on your way to work” is exactly in tune – for the British, it’s just a job, and the ones I work with do it exceedingly well. They are our comrades-in-arms, tsunamisurfer, and we respect them as such; they are no more outsiders to me than Marines would be. They just identify their jobs much less with Tom Clancy novels and war movies.
Or, to take the stereotype all the way, a typical US Army grunt would be excited at the chance to go out and shoot baddies. A typical British Army bloke is excited by nothing but beer.
As far as how properly to salute:
*Stand at attention (meaning your posture is sharp, chest out, chin up, heels together, toes pointing out at a 45 degree angle, hands cupped at your sides). Bring your right hand up sharply with your fingers straight and your thumb pointing in the same direction as your fingers (rather than tucked under or skewing off to the left somewhere). Touch the inside of your middle finger to the outermost corner of the brim of your cap, your eyeglasses, or your right eyebrow (in that order of priority – if no cap, use glasses; if no glasses, use eyebrow). The hand should be turned slightly toward you, never away from your face. Hold until any returned salute is dropped. (Not that the saluted person is required to return it; if they’re holding parcels, or otherwise not saluting, just drop it after a second. Flags and other exanimate objects will generally not return a salute.) Bring the right hand back to your side sharply.
When you are walking toward the person you’re saluting, you start your salute at about six to twelve paces away from him, and concurrently extend a verbal greeting. Do not salute fixed flags, but do salute carried flags, superior commissioned and warrant officers, and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Usually, enlisted personnel are not saluted unless special circumstances apply. It is never incorrect to salute someone, if you perceive a need.*
Obviously, those are the rules for enlisted people, YMMV. While a military person can (and would) be rebuked for improperly saluting, I can’t imagine any civilian being dressed down for any sincere show of respect and support for the men and women defending his country. I think US military people tend to be more sentimental about it, and get a little choked up at displays of public favor. Few of us were around when the military took such abuse after Vietnam (in fact, I wasn’t actually born before Vietnam was over), but the institutional memory lives on.
Sorry it’s a novel. 
Manhattan said:
Sorry Manhattan. We kinda simulposted. This is what I get for posting War and Peace.
I am going to attempt to:
1. Post without making so many errors.
2. Explain how to salute.
The salute is described in Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241. It states “The salute is a courteous exchange of greetings, with the junior member always saluting first. When returning or rendering an individual salute, the head and eyes are turned toward the Colors or person saluted. When in ranks, The position of attention is maintained unless otherwise directed”.
To render a proper salute you must first understand the three contact points. Two contact points apply when you are not wearing a hat and one for when you are wearing a hat. When not wearing a hat the contact point is the middle finger to the eyebrow or if wearing glasses the middle finger to the upper right edge of the glasses. When wearing a hat, the contact point is the middle finger to where the hat curves on the right side.
Now you need to be able to shape your hand correctly. This is simple. You need it flat and also slightly slanted towards your face. I’d say about 10 degrees more than flat.
Bring your hand up from your side. While doing this make your hand follows the buttons going up your shirt (no buttons then imagine) bringing your hand to the applicable contact point. Keep a 90 degree angle between your body and humorous. The snappier the movement from the saluters side to the contact point the better the salute.
Do not bring the salute down until the other saluting member brings down his or her salute.
I hope this was a good description.
A mate of mine used to find mooning to be a satisfying form of salute for American marines. Then one day, while we were in Heidelberg, he found he could only run slightly faster than drunk, off duty marines and decided there were better ways to spend a Saturday night. 
‰
I’m a 2LT in the Army. I’d like it if you just waved. It’s a nice gesture, and anyone in the military would most likely be happy to see the support in that fashion.
As has been said before, when civilians salute, 99% of the time, they do it wrong, and it looks dumb. Also, there are lots of people who salute as a joke. While you don’t mean it that way, I’m sure it could be taken that way. Technically, military personnel are not supposed to salute civilians. This includes returning a salute, so don’t be surprised if they don’t return it. However, a lot of people wouldn’t be that uptight about it if you did salute them properly.
Oh, one more thing…if you see anyone in BDUs, don’t ever say 'Hey…where are you, I can’t see you…you’re invisible!" We’ve heard it 4,000 times. And, it wasn’t really that funny the first time. 
Jman
Many thanks to deltopia and Poloin99. Now I gotta go practice it.