If I wasn’t supposed to link this, then please feel free to delete or close the thread, okay?
As for me (a former Zoomie), I believe the “proper” salute is given to one’s military superior officer. (I don’t remember if one salutes without a “cover” when called to report to a superior (damn, I HATE that word:)) officer’s office;), but within the military, then yes, and make it properly.
As for the President to come to attention and return the salute just as properly, while in civvies or to salute at all? I don’t see it as any kind of disrespect if he throws a salute that doesn’t meet the standard.
He took the trouble, and if I were that Marine, I’d think: “Damn! The Commander In Chief returned my salute, Dude!” And I’d be proud as hell.
It’s a show of respect. In many working environments, military personnel don’t salute each other: in the field, on flight lines. Formal saluting outside of reporting, formations and routine base work may frequently be suppressed.
From what I have already written, I guess you’d know that I support the salute and I hope they don’t give it up!
I used to love to come to attention and salute at Reveille and Retreat, while serving in the USAF.
I guess I got that from my Dad (a 20 year “Lifer”). I used to be “on base” with him in Germany when he’d suddenly stop when the bugle sounded, and I, in my little Sergeant’s “uniform”, did the same thing he did!
Since the president isn’t explicitly a part of the military, shouldn’t he be held to the same standards for saluting as any other civilian: do it however you want?
The only way you can argue whether something is correct or not is if there’s a given definition of correct. Things like how to raise and dispose of flags are spelled out explicitly, so when people argue about what’s “right” they’ve got the rules to fall back on. Saluting is regulated within the military, as is hair length and who to shoot, so two servicemen can argue all day about whether they’re doing it “right” based on their interpretation of the rules.
Outside the military, it’s a free-for-all. I could salute my electric toothbrush if I wanted to. Outside a specified context, there are no rules, so what you’re doing is whatever you want it to be.
In broad terms, saluting means respect. In more specific terms, it means respect for superiors. Perhaps a president saluting the fallen is a sign of absolute respect, that the people in those caskets hold an honor greater than the president’s.
I remember when a lot of this was going on around the Inauguration. President Reagan started the trend, and they’ve been following it since. Personally, I don’t think the President should salute: he’s a civilian, the President is supposed to be a civilian, the Commander in Chief is a civilian for a reason, we should aim to keep things clear that way.
But now that it’s the trend, would FoxNews accuse Obama for being disrespectful to the troops if he doesn’t salute? Or “how dare he” think he’s good enough to salute, a la Clinton? As wierdaaron mentioned, it’s basically up to him.
As to the cover/uncovered, specific circumstances vary by branch (I’ve seen USAF salute uncovered in PT gear… they’re kind of weird) but generally you don’t salute uncovered (not wearing a hat). The President, apparently, is an exception. If you are covered but your superior is not, you would still salute; they would not salute but would still acknowledge the salute in some fashion. Each of the respective Secretaries (Ray Mabus, John McHugh, Michael Donley, Robert Gates), in my understanding, gets saluted but -being civilian- does not return the salute. The President, apparently, being an exception.
Air Force folks are happy to salute indoors with no cover. As a Navy guy, the only time I salute without a cover is when I’m saluted by a gate guard. I never wear a cover in my car, but I’ll salute anyway, since, to me, it’s just the nice and respectful thing to do.
As far as the CinC goes, I’m happy to see them salute. It shows they acknowledge the military in some way.
I’m not exactly sure of the tradition behind saluting or not saluting while uncovered, but to me it’s silly. There’s not much difference, and I don’t see how it’s anything less than respectful to do it either way.
