AETC commander immersed in Lackland fundamentals

MARCH 27, 2009TALESPINNERPAGE 15COURTESIES from P14charge, the first person to see asenior officer will call the group’sattention to his approach, and allmembers, if junior, will salute. If inmilitary formation, the person incharge salutes for all members ofthe formation, unless the formationis four or less, in which case everyonesalutes.Other saluting guidelinesinclude:• In formation – Members do notsalute or return a salute unlessgiven the command to do so.Normally the person in chargesalutes and acknowledges salutesfor the whole formation.• In public gatherings – Salutesbetween individuals are notrequired in public gatherings, suchas sporting events or meetings, orwhen a salute would be inappropriateor impractical.• Staff vehicles – All military membershave the responsibility tosalute officers in staff vehicles.Staff vehicles are government vehiclesused for official business.These vehicles can be a car, van,or bus, but are usually cars. A staffvehicle may have an officer’s rankdisplayed on a bumperplate on the right frontbumper, or on a flaglocated on the rightfront fender.• Civilians –Rendering andreturning salutesis not required ifeither or both arein civilian attire;however, a greetingsuch as “good morningsir” is appropriate.• The President – The Presidentof the United States, asCommander in Chief of the ArmedForces, is always accorded thehonor of a salute.• In a work detail – In a workdetail, individual workers do notsalute. The person in chargesalutes for the entire detail.• Indoors – Except for formalreporting, and some ceremonies,salutes are not rendered.Saluting theU. S. Flagand place your right hand overyour heart. A male wearing a hatwill remove it and hold it in hisright hand over his heart. Femalesare not required to remove theirhats. If the flag is cased (furled andcovered with a canvas case), honorsare not required.Veterans and servicemembersnot in uniform may also render themilitary-style hand salute duringthe playing of the national anthem,thanks to changes in federal lawthat took effect inOctober 2009.Flags on stationary flag staffsare only saluted during Reveille,Retreat or special ceremonies. Anexception is when boarding a shipof the U.S. Navy it is customary tofirst salute the “ensign” (U.S. flag)flying aft prior to saluting the officerof the deck and requesting permissionto board the vessel.The ceremonial occasionswhen the salute is rendered,outdoors only,include the passing ofthe uncased colors,the playing of“Ruffles andFlourishes,” “Hail tothe Chief,” or thenational anthem ofany nation, and “Tothe Colors.”When indoors and inuniform or civilian clothes,face the flag, or the music if theflag is not visible, and stand atattention when the nationalanthem or “To the Colors” isplayed, do not place your handover your heart.There are two exceptions. If youare in uniform, under arms, youshould salute. The other rule iswhen you’re a spectator in uniformat a military ceremony insidewhere outdoor rules apply. A goodexample is when a change of commandceremony planned for outdoorsis moved inside a hangardue to inclement weather.greeting. Obviously, you shouldattempt to carry objects in yourleft arm to keep your right unencumberedfor the salute, if possible.However, you always salute asuperior if he is encumbered andyou are not, even though he can’treturn your salute. In the Air Forcewe do not salute indoors exceptduring a formal report. Here aresome other situations where salutingis not appropriate:• At any time the salute is obviouslyimpractical or will seriouslyinterfere with the performance ofofficial duties.• Indoors, when a senior entersyour office. But you should stand.• When you are in the ranks of formation;however, if at ease in aformation, come to attention whenyou are addressed by a senior officer.• When working as a member of adetail or engaged in sports orsocial functions.• When you are a spectator at asports event. Come to attention ifspoken to by a senior officer.• When you are the driver of amoving vehicle. However, whenpractical you should return thesalutes of others. This most frequentlyoccurs when an officerdriving a vehicle returns the securitypoliceman’s salute at the entrygate of an Air Force base.Calling a Room toAttentionThe enlisted custom is for thefirst person to see an officer enteringthe room to call the room toattention.If an officer of equal orhigher rank is already inthe room, the room isnot called to attention.When the officerdeparts,thearrival of a senior officer, someoneshould be posted to watch for hisarrival.When the senior enters theroom, one officer will announce“Ladies and gentlemen, the commandingofficer,” or “Ladies andgentlemen, General Jones.” Allmilitary members stand at attentionuntil told to be seated.Note that common sense has aplay in deciding when a work centeris called to attention. If bringingthe room to attention couldcause an adverse safety or missionimpact, it should not be done.Other Marks of RespectTraditional marks of respectalso include:• Juniors will stand whenaddressed by an officer senior tothem.• Juniors will walk or ride to theleft of seniors they are accompanying.• Officers will enter aircraft andother modes of transportation ininverse order of rank and shalldepart them in order of rank,unless there is special reason tothe contrary. The seniors shall beaccorded the more desirable seats.(Information compiled from AirForce Instruction 34-1201)When outdoors in uniform andan uncased U. S. flag passes by,stand at attention, salute six pacesbefore the flag is even with youand hold your salute until the flaghas passed six paces. When incivilian clothes, stand at attentionExceptions to SalutingIf your arms are full, you are notrequired to initiate or return asalute; however, you should alwaysextend or respond to a verbalroomis called toattention again.When gathered in a conferenceroom or theater awaiting the