# Military protocol: President greets Marine One guard **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190 "2009-02-16T23:53:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/1 "2009-02-16T23:53:40Z")
I was taken by some footage of President Obama boarding the Marine One helicopter last week. He stopped before entering, and turned to the guard standing there. The guard was typical Marine: sharp, crisp, alert, and at full-starch attention. The President returned his salute, and then put his hand on the Marine’s shoulder. He began speaking to the lad, who very gracefully relaxed his stance and turned slightly to clasp the President’s outstretched hand. His verbal response to the President was very short, maybe two or three syllables in terms of lip movement. He then returned to his attention position with an extra snap, and a stifled facial expression almost bursting with pride, as he restored his salute. The president then boarded the chopper. Here are my questions: 1. Did President Obama break military protocol by speaking to the Marine? 2. How might he have addressed the Marine. Would, “Hello, soldier,” be wrong — i.e., does soldier imply Army? 3. Was the Marine right to engage the President’s dialog? Should he have ignored the President and remained erectly standing? 4. When the Marine spoke to him, what did he likely say? Something like, “Thank you, sir.”? 5. If the Marine did break protocol, would he be punished? Wasn’t the President the one who was really responsible for the event? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/2 "2009-02-16T23:57:07Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > I was taken by some footage of President Obama boarding the Marine One helicopter last week. He stopped before entering, and turned to the guard standing there. The guard was typical Marine: sharp, crisp, alert, and at full-starch attention. > > The President returned his salute, and then put his hand on the Marine’s shoulder. He began speaking to the lad, who very gracefully relaxed his stance and turned slightly to clasp the President’s outstretched hand. His verbal response to the President was very short, maybe two or three syllables in terms of lip movement. > > He then returned to his attention position with an extra snap, and a stifled facial expression almost bursting with pride, as he restored his salute. The president then boarded the chopper. > > Here are my questions: > > 1. Did President Obama break military protocol by speaking to the Marine? > > 2. How might he have addressed the Marine. Would, “Hello, soldier,” be wrong — i.e., does soldier imply Army? > > 3. Was the Marine right to engage the President’s dialog? Should he have ignored the President and remained erectly standing? > > 4. When the Marine spoke to him, what did he likely say? Something like, “Thank you, sir.”? > > 5. If the Marine did break protocol, would he be punished? Wasn’t the President the one who was really responsible for the event? As commander-in-chief, I assume the President could have told the Marine to be “at ease.” ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/3 "2009-02-17T00:12:18Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > 1. Did President Obama break military protocol by speaking to the Marine? The President is not a member of the military and is not required to follow any protocol. The custom of Presidents returning salutes at all is actually a fairly recent invention. > [@](#): > > 1. How might he have addressed the Marine. Would, “Hello, soldier,” be wrong — i.e., does soldier imply Army? “Soldier” would be wrong, but perfectly understandable, for a civilian to say. “Marine” would be acceptable, though it would be more acceptable to address him by rank. > [@](#): > > 1. Was the Marine right to engage the President’s dialog? Should he have ignored the President and remained erectly standing? When a superior addresses you, you answer him. These aren’t the guys in the fuzzy hats outside Buckingham Palace. > [@](#): > > 1. When the Marine spoke to him, what did he likely say? Something like, “Thank you, sir.”? It’s a mystery which will haunt you until the end of your days. > [@](#): > > 1. If the Marine did break protocol, would he be punished? Wasn’t the President the one who was really responsible for the event? There was no broken protocol, so no. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/4 "2009-02-17T00:20:59Z")
No, in fact it’s nice that Obama acknowledged him. I got tired of the Prez walking by these guys like they are furniture… ---
**Author:** ![Lungfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d78d45/32.png) [@Lungfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lungfish)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/5 "2009-02-17T01:10:36Z")
[President’s First Marine One Trip - Says Hi to Marine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaicB4aelfQ) Made the Marines’ day I bet. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/6 "2009-02-17T01:27:10Z")
He certainly looked proud. Thanks for those answers, Friedo. And you’re right about number 4. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/7 "2009-02-17T02:18:33Z")
I would think that the Marine would have been in a great deal more trouble if the President had reached out his hand and the Marine snubbed him. ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/8 "2009-02-17T02:25:55Z")
Generally speaking, POTUS does not give direct orders to military personnel below the level of the JCS members - it would be POTUS - Chairman,JCS - JCS - Service-specific leadersip … yada yada yada. Orders are generally given with one’s specific chain of command. And to call a Marine a Soldier - Ack! USMC - Marine USA - Soldier USAF - Airman USN - Sailor At least he’s trying. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/9 "2009-02-17T05:45:56Z")
What difference does it make if Obama is in the chain of command? If a four-star general wants to exchange a few words with a private, he’s free to do so - and the private better answer him. Anyway, every time a President visits a military base, they always spend a couple of minutes chitchatting with the troops. I don’t see why different rules should apply to Marine details. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/10 "2009-02-17T05:52:57Z")
_Newsweek_ once said that the Corps always has a Marine in dress uniform waiting _wherever_ Marine One touches down. Bill Clinton was once surprised on a visit to the Grand Canyon to have an immaculate Marine salute him at the foot of the stairs when he debarked, out in the middle of nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/11 "2009-02-17T06:03:49Z")
> [@Lungfish](#): > > [President’s First Marine One Trip - Says Hi to Marine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaicB4aelfQ) > > Made the Marines’ day I bet. I’m no lip-reading expert, but “Thank you, sir” is my best guess as to what it looks like he’s saying. ETA on watching the clip again: I can’t figure out why the Marine kept saluting after Obama saluted back, and then continued after Obama shook his hand. It seems rather odd to keep saluting towards nothing as your Commander in Chief walks up the steps behind you. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/12 "2009-02-17T06:10:01Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > 1. Did President Obama break military protocol by speaking to the Marine? > > 2. How might he have addressed the Marine. Would, “Hello, soldier,” be wrong — i.e., does soldier imply Army? > > 3. Was the Marine right to engage the President’s dialog? Should he have ignored the President and remained erectly standing? > > 4. When the Marine spoke to him, what did he likely say? Something like, “Thank you, sir.”? > > 5. If the Marine did break protocol, would he be punished? Wasn’t the President the one who was really responsible for the event? 1. No. The position of attention is designed for receiving intstructions (or other conversation) and responding to it. The whole point of being at attention is to, you know, pay attention to something or someone. And it wouldn’t matter anyway if the prez did break protocol. He does what he wants. 2. It would be offensive to call a Marine a soldier. I’m a soldier. He’s a Marine. If you want my respect, get it right. If I were a Marine and the POTUS or other high-ranking official called me a soldier, I’d outwardly let it go but inwardly think them a complete and utter boob. Same goes for if they called me a Marine, though I’ve never heard of the mistake being made that way. It’s quite common for me to tell a civilian “I’m a soldier” and they ask “Which branch?” My answer is always has a touch of education in it- “The only one that has soldiers in it- the Army.” 3. I’d say we was obliged to answer the president. Technically, if he wasn’t put at ease, then the Marine shouldn’t have moved, except to speak. That is, he should still have had his hands down, eyes forward. 4. Usually, a service member meeting the president is like a movie star visiting a children’s hospital or the pope coming to a church in the suburbs. It’s huge. They most likely bantered something like “How are you son?” “Oh gee gosh, sir, I’m so honored!” Well, at least that’s what the Marine was thinking. 5. No, he wouldn’t be punished. We’re people, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/13 "2009-02-17T06:17:14Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > I’m no lip-reading expert, but “Thank you, sir” is my best guess as to what it looks like he’s saying. > > ETA on watching the clip again: I can’t figure out why the Marine kept saluting after Obama saluted back, and then continued after Obama shook his hand. It seems rather odd to keep saluting towards nothing as your Commander in Chief walks up the steps behind you. When passing the flag, you don’t drop your salute until 6 paces after the pole. That always looks weird to me too. This Marine probably has some special instructions on when to drop it WRT Marine One. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/14 "2009-02-17T06:21:35Z")
That’s so cool! I’ll bet that Marine was busting his buttons 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/15 "2009-02-17T06:26:12Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > _Newsweek_ once said that the Corps always has a Marine in dress uniform waiting _wherever_ Marine One touches down. Bill Clinton was once surprised on a visit to the Grand Canyon to have an immaculate Marine salute him at the foot of the stairs when he debarked, out in the middle of nowhere. What an effective use of our tax money! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/16 "2009-02-17T06:31:09Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > What an effective use of our tax money! You think the President goes anywhere without a security detail first securing the area? ---
**Author:** ![Westrogothia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@Westrogothia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Westrogothia)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/17 "2009-02-17T07:10:21Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You think the President goes anywhere without a security detail first securing the area? A friend of mine had a job for a few months driving Secret Service/Staff around town before a meeting that GW Bush was attending. Not only do they secure the area they do quite a lot of recon apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/18 "2009-02-17T10:51:24Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > 1. I’d say we was obliged to answer the president. Technically, if he wasn’t put at ease, then the Marine shouldn’t have moved, except to speak. That is, he should still have had his hands down, eyes forward. Wouldn’t that be awkward for the President, though — someone ignoring his extended hand? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/19 "2009-02-17T10:53:49Z")
> [@cerberus](#): > > And to call a Marine a Soldier - Ack! … At least he’s trying. To be fair, he didn’t call the Marine a soldier as far as I know. I was just asking a hypothetical. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/20 "2009-02-17T11:09:24Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > You think the President goes anywhere without a security detail first securing the area? But he was an immaculate Marine standing at the foot of the stairs to salute him – not part of any security detail. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190.md?page=2)