Gun Salutes

When the ship is entering or leaving U.S. ports at times other than operational visits, When the ship is visiting foreign ports, or When the ship is departing for or returning from extended deployments, and other special occasions as determined by a superior. When the ship is entering or leaving U.S. ports on operational visits or home port on local operations, the normal procedure is to parade only an honor guard. SIDE HONORS.—Side honors, rendered to officers and officials boarding and departing the ship, are a part of the honors stipulated on the occasion of an official visit. The honors consist of parading the proper number of side boys and piping the side. Acting as a side boy may be one of your shipboard duties. When you are assigned to side boy duty, you must remain in dress uniform and in the vicinity of the quarterdeck at all times, ready to fall in when required. Your uniform must be clean and neat, and you must be especially neat and military in appearance. Enlisted women may be detailed to this duty, but they are still called side boys. Side boys are paraded between 0800 and sunset daily except on Sunday. Normally, side boys are not called away during meal hours, general drills, all hands evolutions, or periods of regular overhaul except in honor of civil officials or foreign officers; then, they may be called away at any time during daylight. The number of side boys paraded varies from two to eight (always an even number), depending on the rank of the individual being saluted. When called away, side boys form two ranks facing each other to form a passageway at the gangway. When the Boatswain’s Mate (BM) begins to pipe the call “Over the Side,” the side boys salute in unison, hold the salute until the last note of the call, and then drop their hands smartly to their sides. Gun Salutes Gun salutes are used to honor individuals, nations, and certain national holidays. Practically all shore stations have saluting batteries, but not all ships are so equipped. Whether aboard ship or ashore, you must be able to act properly whenever you hear a gun salute being rendered. The salutes always consist of an odd number of guns, ranging from 5 for a vice consul to 21 for the President of the United States and for rulers of foreign nations recognized by the United States. Military officers below the rank of commodore are not entitled to gun salutes. Normally, only one gun is fired at a time at intervals of about 5 seconds. During the salutes, persons on the quarterdeck, in the ceremonial party, or if ashore, render the hand salute. All other personnel in the vicinity (in the open) should stand at attention and, if in uniform, render the hand salute. Gun salutes also mark special occasions in our country’s history. On President’s Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day, a standard 21-gun salute is fired at 1-minute intervals, commencing at 1200. Thus, on these holidays, the salute ends at 1220. REVIEW 1 QUESTIONS Q1. Define the following terms. a. Courtesy— b. Custom— Q2. Name a required act of military courtesy. Q3. What is the most common form of saluting? Q4. When in uniform, Navy personnel salute which of the following persons/things? a. Flag b. Anthem c. Officers d. Each of the above Q5. True or false. Under naval customs, the hand salute is accompanied by a word of greeting. 9-10 Student Notes: