ustomCustoms and Courtesies
Why are customs and courtesies important in becoming a professional soldier? They are important because they teach you how to show the proper respect to individuals who deserve it. They also teach you when it is the proper time to show your respect. In the follow paper I will tell you about hand salutes and salutes with arms, ceremonies and parades, and deaths and funerals.
Hand salutes and salutes with arms are very important. We do it day in and day out. All Army personal are required to salute when they meet personal who are entitled to the salute. Salutes are between officers and enlisted personal. Saluting an officer is not just in the branch you serve in. It is a military wide subject. For example: I serve in the Army and I see an officer that is with Air Force walking by. I am going to salute them. When passing an officer. The junior personal will render the salute and accompany it with a “Good morning Sir” or “Good morning Ma’am”. You will only salute indoors when reporting to a superior officer. When saluting an officer in an official vehicle. The vehicle must be marked with rank or identifying vehicle plates. You do not salute a privately owned vehicle. Military personal under arms will render the salute required for the weapon that they are carrying. Salutes are not required when you or the senior personal are in civilian clothes, engaged in work that would interfere, carrying items making their hands incapable of saluting, working in a detail, in public places, and in the ranks of formation. These are the proper ways to hand salutes and salutes with arms.
Ceremonies and Parades are important do to the fact that they are an everyday thing when it comes to United States and the Military. At first you wouldn’t think that reveille and retreat would fall under this category but it does. Reveille is when the flag is hoisted up in the morning. Retreat happens when the flag is lowered in the evening. During ceremonial...