# 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:** 2
**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, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/21 "2009-02-17T11:19:15Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > But he was an immaculate Marine standing at the foot of the stairs to salute him – not part of any security detail. He \*was \*part of the detail. It’s just that all the other Marines were wearing camo. I just don’t see the added expense here. If you’re going to send a few dozen guys to a certain place, why would it cost more if one of them was wearing a fancy uniform? ---
**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, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/22 "2009-02-17T11:23:34Z")
The chopper is part of the Marine fleet. Why wouldn’t a Marine guard it? ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/23 "2009-02-17T11:33:26Z")
> [@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. The Marine who salutes POTUS when he embarks/debarks Marine One is always there because he flies on the helo with POTUS. He’s the doorman: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9y-9KMIp-dE/hqdefault.jpg "Marine One departure from White House") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y-9KMIp-dE) ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/24 "2009-02-17T11:46:23Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > But he was an immaculate Marine standing at the foot of the stairs to salute him – not part of any security detail. If some crazy pulls a gun on the prez as he disembarks the chopper, the Marine in the Recruiting Poster Uniform is likely going to be one of the first ones to throw himself in front of the boss and get him out of the line of fire. I don’t think it costs anything extra since the Marine already has the dress uniform, and either flies out with the chopper or got transported there with whatever presence is already there (and from what I understand, the President doesn’t get to pop a squat until the Secret Service has cleared the porta-john of potential threats) ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/25 "2009-02-17T12:32:28Z")
The Marine look terrified 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/26 "2009-02-17T12:52:15Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > 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. Right. Since in strict protocol, the President has to do **nothing** to acknowledge the salute, you hold the salute until he’s aboard. > [@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. > [@Liberal](#): > > Wouldn’t that be awkward for the President, though — someone ignoring his extended hand? \*\* Chessic\*\*'s point is “technically” correct, if the person addressing the Corporal were his CO or the Commandant of the Corps, or you and I while visiting. But this is the President himself who takes the initiative to turn to the Corporal and engage informally. The Marine, being in possession of some common sense (\*) adapted his reaction to the situation at hand. (\*and probably some instruction as to how to deal with the environment in which he’s serving – _“If the Big Cheese gets all casual and breaks formality, assume an unspoken at ease at the beginning and carry on at the end of the interaction, but God help you and your descendants if you forget who’s who in the conversation. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?” “Sir, YES, Sir!”_) It looks very brief, it could be that some aide mentioned to Obama about some significant event going on with the Marine, and he Boss turns and says something along the lines of “Corporal, I heard about , good luck with it/good job/I’ve told Col. Whatzisface to help you with it”, and the Marine goes “Yes sir, thank you, sir”. And of course, in the video link page, all the by-now usual ignorant comments are flowing… ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/27 "2009-02-17T13:30:35Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Right. Since in strict protocol, the President has to do **nothing** to acknowledge the salute, you hold the salute until he’s aboard. > > \*\* Chessic\*\*'s point is “technically” correct, if the person addressing the Corporal were his CO or the Commandant of the Corps, or you and I while visiting. But this is the President himself who takes the initiative to turn to the Corporal and engage informally. The Marine, being in possession of some common sense (\*) adapted his reaction to the situation at hand. > > (\*and probably some instruction as to how to deal with the environment in which he’s serving – _“If the Big Cheese gets all casual and breaks formality, assume an unspoken at ease at the beginning and carry on at the end of the interaction, but God help you and your descendants if you forget who’s who in the conversation. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?” “Sir, YES, Sir!”_) > > It looks very brief, it could be that some aide mentioned to Obama about some significant event going on with the Marine, and he Boss turns and says something along the lines of “Corporal, I heard about , good luck with it/good job/I’ve told Col. Whatzisface to help you with it”, and the Marine goes “Yes sir, thank you, sir”. > > And of course, in the video link page, all the by-now usual ignorant comments are flowing… I totally agree, and no doubt those guys are briefed on what to do if POTUS does X, Y, and Z. And had the Marine snubbed him, you’d never see that Marine again. Even if it had been one of the Clintons. Those guys, AFAIK, are pro’s to the core. There’s also the decent chance that Obama knows the guy’s name and addressed him that way. After all, he’s introduced to the crew of Air Force One and Marine One. He sees them often enough. And there’s nothing stopping him from doing that vice “Marine” or “Sergeant.” ---
**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, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/28 "2009-02-17T14:01:00Z")
> [@Scruloose](#): > > The Marine who salutes POTUS when he embarks/debarks Marine One is always there because he flies on the helo with POTUS. He’s the doorman… Y’know, I saw the recent National Geographic Channel special on Marine One and now realize that, but that’s not what _Newsweek_ said. Guess they got it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/29 "2009-02-17T14:36:12Z")
[hijack] Back in 1945 my father was stationed in Washington and had to pull some duty as presidential protection. He never did White House duty (I think that was a separate detail). He did do guard duty at Camp David (Shangri-La as it was called then). He told me that most of the guard points were in the middle of the woods. Every now and then the Secret Service would come around to check out the security. He said they were very friendly and offer to watch your post so you could grab a cigarette or something. If you took them up on their offer they would turn you in and get you in big trouble. He only saw the president once and Truman returned his salute. [/hijack] ---
**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, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/30 "2009-02-17T15:20:28Z")
I’m glad Lungfish provided that video. Watching it a few times more, and based on the information shared here, I’m confident the Marine did exactly the right thing — as Marines are wont to do. Even at ease, he still maintained that Marine-ness, which so perfectly characterizes the pride and professionalism of the Corps. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/31 "2009-02-17T16:45:27Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > 1. When the Marine spoke to him, what did he likely say? Something like, “Thank you, sir.”? He said, “Now I know what Bill Murray said at the end of _Lost in Translation._” ---
**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, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/32 "2009-02-17T17:04:46Z")
Hm. If he said that, he slurred it nicely. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/33 "2009-02-17T22:56:39Z")
national geographic had a nice special on marine one. the marine is the “doorman” he is to lower the door, walk exactly xx number of paces (6 iirc), quarter turn, salute. president goes into marine one. marine then drops salute, walks in precise formation to door, goes up the stairs, closes and secures door. they get to point a, marine opens door, goes down stairs, walks precise formation, salutes. pres. leaves helo. wash, rinse, repeat. they do have a team that does this, 3 helos are used at a time, and they could rotate between the helos. it may have been pres. obama’s first time seeing him, and just said hello. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/34 "2009-02-17T23:53:13Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > 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. I was Navy, not Marines, but enlisted military personnel will salute a tree if there is any doubt about what to do. You’ll never get yourself in trouble by _over_-saluting! ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/35 "2009-02-18T00:11:54Z")
What? Navy? It looked like a Marine uniform to me. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/36 "2009-02-18T23:18:25Z")
> [@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. the marine holds the salute until potus enters the helo and he is able to start the close door procedure, or until potus has gone past a certain point when exiting the helo, and he can start the close door procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Spiny\_Norman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Spiny\_Norman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiny_Norman)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/37 "2009-02-19T00:10:52Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > The Marine, being in possession of some common sense (\*) adapted his reaction to the situation at hand. > (\*and probably some instruction as to how to deal with the environment in which he’s serving – _“If the Big Cheese gets all casual and breaks formality, assume an unspoken at ease at the beginning and carry on at the end of the interaction, but God help you and your descendants if you forget who’s who in the conversation. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?” “Sir, YES, Sir!”_) FWIW, I was briefly part of a guard detachment for Danish royalty back when (although our uniforms weren’t quite that snazzy), and while the wording may have been slightly different, we got that briefing, too. What is more, we practiced. (“_Platoon, attention. For the purpose of this exercise, 2nd Lt. Hansen is to be considered the Queen Mother._” Couldn’t have the guards messing up who was a Majesty and who was a Royal Highness.) ---
**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:** [May 24, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/38 "2013-05-24T17:34:09Z")
Bumped… Oh, jeez, now the President is _expected_ to salute - and this is the HuffPost!: [Obama Forgets To Salute Marine, Awkwardly Makes It Up To Him | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/24/obama-salute_n_3331762.html) ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/39 "2013-05-24T19:17:44Z")
Impeach!!! ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190/40 "2013-05-24T19:23:06Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Bumped… > > Oh, jeez, now the President is _expected_ to salute - and this is the HuffPost!: [Obama Forgets To Salute Marine, Awkwardly Makes It Up To Him | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/24/obama-salute_n_3331762.html) Wow. The haters in the comments are… wow. For some of them, it doesn’t matter if Obama has been saluting for the past five years – even though he doesn’t have to – and upon forgetting once runs back to apologize to the marine… he hates the military. Wow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-protocol-president-greets-marine-one-guard/486190.md?page=1)