\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. It is the calmest standing position, and you must be standing at attention before you are given the order to stand at ease. If you are not wearing a non-military style cover I would remove it as a courtesy. Your elbows can be bent slightly so long as your thumbs are hugging the seams on your pants. 7:27 PM, Charles First off, thanks for your service in the Army! davidegrogan on my command. Sharon Heinlein Follow your commanding officers order to come to attention. There is also a Canadian and Commonwealth version of this, used for when the front file/rank is getting too far ahead of the rest of the flight, squad, or platoon, it means that front file/rank should make their steps smaller, to allow for the rest of the flight, squad, or platoon, to get back into a proper dressing. Individuals in uniform should give the military salute at the first note of the anthem and maintain that position until the last note; B. Offer the right hand to receive the award. Thank you, davidegrogan June 8, 2021 @ Your other fingers should remain together and straight. Bummer. davidegrogan In the United States, the command for saluting on the march is "Eyes, right/eyes left". wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. October 11, 2021 @ Quite a few people are as confused as I am. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. I have no problem, as a vet, with either HOH or salute but remaining silent during the pledge, especially among a vet gathering such as a vets luncheon in our community today (11/11/21). September 20, 2020 @ what is appropriate (to salute or not). Now when it comes to the pledge of allegiance you have a different standard. davidegrogan Military personnel in uniform should render the military salute during the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, parades and reviews. Using your thumb, hold down the other fingers. This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. How to Stand at Ease: 10 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Derek thanks for your comment and Im with you 100%. 11:06 AM. If you are on active service in the military and are in full uniform you will stand at attention and salute, but you will remain silent. Enjoy! Wayne R As veterans we have heard the debate time and time again of when you should salute and when you should place you hand over your heart. October 12, 2021 @ We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Congress spells out the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States in Section 4 of Title 4 to the U.S. Code (abbreviated 4 U.S.C. THE HAND SALUTE 4-7. In British history, in the early 1800s, the Coldstream Guards amended the British military salute custom of . Stephen Alexander Your arms should be straight and extended while standing at attention. Salute the flag at the first note of the National Anthem and hold the salute until the last note is played. Stand up straight, keep your chin level, and bring your heels together at a 45-degree angle with your arms at your sides. To perform a proper position of attention, you will need to keep your legs straight, your head and neck erect, and your arms at your side. March 25, 2022 @ What is the proper thing to do when the flag is passing in a parade or during the playing of the national anthem. Keep your knees unlocked. No one will question you if you take off a baseball cap and render a salute. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.. Moving or talking without being addressed while standing at attention is considered a violation and may result in apprehension, depending on the situation. By 1820, the motion was modified to touching the hat, and since then it has become the Hand Salute used today. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Holding your back too straight can cause immediate strain and back problems over time. June 8, 2019 @ Do not tuck your elbows in towards your chest while standing at attention. Last Updated: January 13, 2023 V/r, Dave Grogan, no When this happens, shift your left foot about 1-2 feet to the left and bend your knees slightly. This is the easiest of the three situations. PNP Customs and Traditions Final | PDF | Traditions - Scribd 3:44 PM, Section C of the above code states men should remove their head dress but what about women? For tips on how to stand at attention, keep reading! Afterwards recently, I was approached by a young man who was connected to the Marines. Under battle conditions, many of these commands were combined for speed and efficiency. Two, three, down. Civilians should stand at attention and place their right hand - with a hat if they're wearing one - over their heart. PDF CUSTOMS AND COURTESIES - U.S. Department of Defense When I read the statute, much to my surprise, I saw standing at attention wasnt one of the options given, so I started to place my hand over my heart. As the other poster mentioned, Marines (and Sailors) dont render a salute when uncovered. There are different rules for Taps at military funerals, and you should stand at attention and salute for that. Military members in their vehicles should sit at attention. Im saying that given that this has been the customary way for military members winning gold medals to honor the flag. 8:50 PM. When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. You should be able to stand at ease for hours at a time. Ive heard its okay to salute, but I wasnt sure under what circumstances saluting was permitted. August 10, 2019 @ Proper military customs and courtesies apply while wearing the PT uniform during reveille and retreat. Required flag protocol for each branch when in PT Uniform: 5:55 PM. James thats a great response and I really like the thought that saluting is helping people recognize those who have served. The reason you stand and salute for those calls is because the flag is being lowered. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The statute governing salutes addresses three situations. This article has been viewed 72,331 times. Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. That said, because it wasnt an option in the statute, I changed to putting my hand over my heart. You are not at stand easy. What do I do when reveille or retreat is played? Thanks for the question! To show respect for the U.S. Military, do not salute if you are not a current or former member of the Armed Forces. Non uniformed servicemembers, military retirees, and veterans may render salute to flag. Airmen are required to salute when the flag is raised, lowered or hoisted, including passing during special ceremonies. Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. Military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. 10:08 AM. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Your commanding officer will then give you the order to stand at ease. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/301. Those new tothe basemay not be aware of some military traditions. Dont lock your knees up so that blood can reach your feet and you dont get lightheaded. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. February 16, 2022 @ Thats why I was so surprised to see the federal statute. Salute as the American flag is raised or lowered. Offer the left hand to receive the award. Honor the Flag by Saluting Correctly. This is a U.S. march pace. I attended a public school. If sponsoring guests, including contractors, one should inform them of these requirements and protocols. The first flags adopted by our colonial forebears were symbolic of their struggles with the wilderness of the new land. 4475. Drill commands are generally used with a group that is marching, most often in military foot drills or in a marching band. I have saluted more than I ever put my hand over my heart so that seems the easiest choice. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 72,331 times. As I read the regulation, standing at attention with hands at the sides, without placing the hand over the heart, is proper for citizens of other nations, not for American citizens. With practice and the proper technique, you'll be able to develop and strengthen your position of attention. If you're interested in this competition, practice holding a position of attention on your own for increasingly long amounts of time. What if I'm wearing my physical training uniform? come to attention. Either way, we are paying respect to our country and flag, dont be afraid to let others know that you served by lifting your hand in salute, davidegrogan The parade formation commander and other officers execute the hand salute or execute sabre salute if available (especially if full dress uniform is worn) (and if present on parade the company guidon bearers dip them in salute about 90 degrees above the ground), while everyone but the right file or left file in either case turns their heads to the right. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. ICYMI: Philippines, US close 2023 Balikatan exercises - Facebook 9:52 AM. As youve said habits are hard to break. Try not to look around or move your head while standing at attention to keep an air of formality. Section 7 of the "Flag Code" mandates that, upon seeing the raising or lowering of the flag at 08:00 and 18:00, general civilians should stand at attention and face the flag. This entire motion should take 1-2 seconds. Philippines, United States of America, soldier | 1.4K views, 41 likes, 9 loves, 5 comments, 13 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Rappler: The largest Balikatan (Shoulder-to-Shoulder) exercise in. Ive recently been exposed to the national anthem outdoors from multiple family graduations. 9:47 PM, Not long ago a retired Navy Captain, who had also been a Marine Major addressed a Navy Ships Reunion. It states that when the national anthem is being played AND a flag is displayed: A. Its also possible the military puts out specific guidance for this situation Im just not aware of it. I think Ill continue to stand at the position of attention when the anthem is played, or when a salute would typically be rendered. The US Flag code states: When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. In fact, until I read the statute, I thought I was supposed to stand at attention with my hands at my sides and that doing so was rendering proper respect. Stopping is required within the limits of safety on all otherstreets. 11:01 PM. Rest positions. Mike Im with you. 3:55 PM. Q. Being with a hat (cowboy) I stand at attention and salute. Which foot should be relaxed if I am standing at ease? I was discharged over 60 years ago and the civilian hand salute does still seem a bit awkward, but it does give veterans an option to let know that you have served and are proud of your service. 1:46 PM. An official website of the United States government. Some of the Army's more common courtesies include rendering the hand salute, standing at attention or parade rest, or even addressing others by their rank. davidegrogan Your right leg should be at rest. If you are not in a formal setting like a convention, meeting, or other event where there will be a color guard you should stand up and just like the national anthem remove any nonmilitary style hats and salute. As stated above, in the interest of safety on base, drivers will not stop driving on Eglin Boulevard during reveille or retreat. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. HOISTING, LOWERING, or PASSING OF THE FLAG. None! When passing an uncased National Flag outside, all uniformed. I made a good friend there Mark Malakooti and we would practice saluting, sometimes a little irreverently, every time we saw each other, popping a crisp salute no matter what we were wearing.