Posted on 04/20/2012 6:10:33 AM PDT by cap10mike
A salute is always rendered by a lower rank to a higher rank. The higher rank ( assuming of course he sees the salute) MUST return it...it's protocol. It's an insult to the troops not to do so. If the lower ranks, especially enlisted, have respect/affection for the office, they will go out of their way to salute him, and thus in effect demand one in return. Good units embrace this. If the troops, again, especially enlisted, don't respect the officer, they will go out of their way..even changing direction, to avoid having to salute.
HJ is correct: the president, as CiC is not required to salute the troops ( return their salute. He is, first and foremost, a civilian, and one of the cornerstones of our democracy is civilian control of the military.
Reagan was the first president to return the salutes..He's always depicted as "saluting" the troops, but what is hardly ever seen in the pics ( as they are outside the image), is the military FIRST saluting their commander in chief..we see Reagan RETURNING the salute)
Obama can choose NOT to return the salutes. However,since every President since Reagan has done so, he must be aware that it will cause lots of comments. However, as he is already in the habit of bowing down to foreign leaders, I guess he figures it's no big deal.
If he does choose to continue the tradition established by Reagan, and return the salutes, then, as I said earlier, he needs to learn how to do so correctly. I remember having the point made to me, rather forcefully, that a slopply salute (in the Marines, anything less than perfect is sloppy) is WORSE than NOT saluting.
Totally off topic, but one of my best memories is after I'd been at Quantico a few months, there were TWO MOH recipients on base for a dedication and lecture..both were career Marines...WW II and Korea, and on their last tours before retiring..to see two and three star generals literally lining up to first salute them, and then to greet them..just amazing.
Operative word: “American.”
Nope, you weren’t the only one Re: Kerry). If you don’t know how, don’t embarrass yourself and everyone else around you. As you say, it on;y takes a short while to learn.
Amen, brother!
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