respect and courtesy are required of all members of thenaval service; the junior member takes the initiative, andthe senior member returns the courtesy.SALUTINGOne required act of military courtesy is the salute.Regulations governing its use are founded on militarycustom deeply rooted in tradition. The salute is asymbol of respect and a sign of comradeship amongservice personnel. The salute is simple and dignified;but, there is great significance in that gesture. It is atime-honored demonstration of courtesy among allmilitary personnel that expresses mutual respect andpride in the service. Never resent or try to avoid salutingpersons entitled to receive the salute. (The privilege ofsaluting is generally denied prisoners because theirstatus is considered unworthy of the comradeship ofmilitary personnel.)The most common form of salute is the hand salute.However, there are other types, such as gun and riflesalutes, which are discussed later in this chapter.The Hand SaluteThe hand salute began in the days of chivalry whenit was customary for knights dressed in armor to raisetheir visors to friends for the purpose of identification.Because of the relative position of rank, the junior wasrequired to make the first gesture. Another school ofthought traces the salute back to a custom at the time ofthe Borgias. Assassinations by dagger were notuncommon at that time, and it became the custom formen to approach each other with raised hand, palm tothe front, to show that there was no weapon concealed.In the U.S. Navy, it’s reasonable to believe that thehand salute came from the British navy. There is generalagreement that the salute as now rendered is really thefirst part of the movement of uncovering. From theearliest days of military units, the junior uncoveredwhen meeting or addressing a senior. Gradually, the actof taking off one’s cap was simplified into merelytouching the cap or, if uncovered, the head (forelock),and finally into the present form of salute.The way you render the hand salute depends onwhether you are in civilian clothes or in uniform.Personnel in civilian clothes render the salute in twoways:1. Hat in front of the left shoulder (men only)2. Right hand over the heart (men without hats;women with or without hats)NOTEThese forms of saluting are used only to salutethe flag or national anthem, never to saluteofficers.In this chapter, the hand salute usually refers to asalute rendered by personnel in uniform. Except whenwalking, you should be at attention when saluting. Inany case, turn your head and eyes toward the personyou’re saluting (unless it is inappropriate to do so, suchas when a division in ranks salutes an inspecting officeron command). Navy personnel salute the anthem, theflag, and officers as follows:Raise the right hand smartly until the tip of theforefingers touches the lower part of theheadgear or forehead above and slightly to theright of the eye (fig. 9-1).Extend and join the thumb and fingers.Turn the palm slightly inward until the personsaluting can just see its surface from the corner ofthe right eye.The upper arm is parallel to the ground; theelbow is slightly in front of the body.Incline the forearm at a 45º angle; hand and wristare in a straight line.Complete the salute (after it is returned) bydropping the arm to its normal position in onesharp, clean motion.9-2Student Notes:
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