| Xavier University Army ROTC
Study Guide
Military Customs & Courtesies
Military courtesy is basically no different
from courtesy in civilian life, just good manner and politeness
in dealing with other people. The experience of life has proven
that courteous behavior is essential in human relations. The
distinction between civilian courtesy and military courtesy
is that, military courtesies were developed in a military
atmosphere and have become customs and traditions of the service.
Most forms of military courtesy have some counterpart
in civilian life. For example, you are required to say "Sir"
when you talk to an officer. Throughout our history, young
men and women were taught to say "Sir" to their
fathers and other male elders. This tradition is still carried
on and it is considered good manners for a younger man to
say "Sir" when speaking to an older man. The use
of the word "Sir" is also common in the business
world, in the address of letters, and in any well-ordered
institution.
Military courtesy is not a one-way street. Enlisted
personnel must be courteous to officers, and officers are
expected to return the courtesy. Officers respect soldiers
as individuals, just as you respect officers as individuals.
Without this basis of mutual respect, there can be no military
courtesy, and disharmony will result.
In the final analysis, military courtesy is
the respect shown to each other by members of the same profession.
It is not only a form of respect for the nation, it is to
defend the nation. Enlisted personnel show military courtesy
to their officers because they respect the position of responsibility
held by the officer. Officers, on the other hand, respect
their personnel because they know the responsibility the personnel
have in carrying out orders.
Courtesies to Individuals
All military personnel are customarily addressed
as follows:
The term of respect "Sir" is used
when speaking to officers and civilian officials. Each sentence
or statement should be either preceded or terminated with
the word "Sir", but should not be used both before
and after the statement. When speaking with a female officer,
the term "Ma’am" instead of "Sir"
is used. When you answer a telephone on a military installation,
you always assume that the caller is an officer and respond
accordingly. Some units have mottos that the prescribe for
answering the telephone, but the normal procedures is to identify
the units and yourself, and end with "Sir." Giving
the company and battalion is usually sufficient to identify
the unit.
Conversations by seniors carried on in the presence
of troops or information & directions to troops should
be formal and proper titles should be used. Juniors address
seniors by his or her proper title at all times.
You should know, as part of military courtesy,
to always walk and sit to the left of your seniors. This is
another custom with a long past. Men fought for centuries
with swords, and, because most men were right handed, the
heaviest fighting occurred on the right. The shield was carried
on the left arm, and the left side became defensive. Men and
units that fought were proud of their fighting ability, and
considered the right of a battle line to be a post or honor.
When an officer of senior enlisted soldier walks on your right,
he/she is symbolically filling the post of honor. You should
walk on your senior’s left, and stop when he/she does.
Officers and enlisted personnel under arms uncover
only when in attendance at a court or board (Prisoner guards
do not uncover), entering places of divine worship, indoors
when not at a place of duty, or in attendance at an official
reception. When unarmed, the cap of all personnel is removed
indoors. When out of doors, the cap is never removed or raised
as a form of salutation.
The following rules will help you conduct yourself
appropriately in the presence of officers and anyone senior
to you in rank:
- When talking to an officer, stand
at attention unless given the order AT EASE. When you are
dismissed, or when the officer departs, come to attention
and salute.
- When an officer enters a room, the
first soldier to recognize the officer calls personnel in
the room to attention but does not salute. A salute indoors
is rendered only when one is reporting.
- When accompanying a senior, walk on
his left.
- When entering or exiting a vehicle,
the junior ranking person is the first to enter, and the
senior in rank is the first to exit.
- When an officer enters a dining facility,
unless he directs otherwise or unless a more senior officer
is already present, the diners will be given the order AT
EASE by the first person who sees the officer. You will
remain seated at ease and will continue eating unless the
officer directs otherwise. If you are directly addressed,
you should rise to attention if seated in a chair. If seated
on a bench, stop eating and sit at attention until the conversation
has ended.
- When an officer or noncommissioned
officer enters a crowded hallway or similar area where troops
are taking a break or standing in a waiting line, the first
person to see the officer or noncommissioned officer should
call AT EASE and MAKE WAY so those present will move to
the sides of the hallway and allow passage.
NOTE: The officer or NCO may give the
directive "carry on". This means the soldier or
soldiers would continue with whatever they were doing previously.
This same directive may be used in many other situations outside
of formation, such as in the barracks and break areas.
- When outdoors and approached by an
NCO, you should stand (if seated) and greet the NCO by saying,
"Good morning, sergeant," "Good afternoon,
sergeant," or "Good evening, sergeant (last name,
if known)."
- When you report to an officer for
any reason, it is important to make a good first impression.
If you are outdoors, approach the officer to whom you are
reporting and stop approximately two steps from him, assuming
the position of attention. Give the proper salute and say,
for example, "Sir/Ma’am, Private Smith reports."
If you are indoors, use the same procedures as above, except
remove your headgear before reporting. If you are armed,
however, do not remove your headgear.
Actions When an Officer Enters a Facility
or Vehicle
When an officer enters a room, stand at attention
until the officer directs otherwise or until he/she leaves.
When more than one person is present the first to see the
officer commands, Attention and the senior person reports.
When a noncommissioned officer enters a barracks, if he/she
has information or instruction for personnel living in the
barracks, he/she will call AT EASE, loud enough for all those
present to hear.
When an officer enters a place used as an office,
workshop, or place of recreation, personnel engaged in an
activity there do not come to attention unless the officer
speaks to them. A junior comes to attention when addressed
by a senior, except in the transaction of routine business
between individuals at work.
When an officer enters a mess unless that officer
directs otherwise, or unless a more senior officer is already
present in the mess, the mess will be called to AT EASE by
the first person who sees the officer. The person in charge
reports to the officer. The personnel remain seated at ease
and continue eating unless the officer directs otherwise.
An individual directly addressed should rise to attention
unless seated on a bench instead of a chair, in which case
he stops eating and sits at attention until the conversation
is ended.
When an officer or noncommissioned officer enters
a crowded hallway or similar area where troops are taking
a break or standing in a waiting line, the first person to
see the officer or noncommissioned officer should call, AT
EASE, and MAKE WAY, so those present will move to the sides
of the hallway and allow passage.
On entering a vehicle, the junior enters first
and others follow in inverse order of rank. In leaving a vehicle,
the senior leaves first and others follow in order of rank.
When a commanding officer enters an office for
the first time each day, ATTENTION will be called by the first
person noticing the officer. If a higher commander enters,
ATTENTION is called again.
Reporting To an Officer
When a soldier has requested and obtained permission
to speak to an officer officially, or when the soldier has
been notified that an officer wishes to speak with him/her,
the soldier report to the officer. The form of the report
may vary according to the local policy, but the recommended
form is "Sir/Ma’am", Private Smith reports.
When reporting to an officer in his/her office,
the soldier removes his/her headgear, knocks, and enters when
told to do so. He/she approaches within two steps of the officer’s
desk, halts, and salutes. The salute is held until the report
is completed and the salute has been returned by the officer.
When the business is completed, the soldier salutes, holds
the salute until it has been returned, executes the appropriate
facing movement and departs. When reporting indoors under
arms, the procedure is the same except that the headgear is
not removed and the soldier renders the salute prescribed
for the weapon with which he/she is armed.
The expression "under arms" means
carrying the arms, or having them attached to the person by
sling, holster, or other means. In the absence of the actual
arms, it refers to the equipment pertaining to the arms, such
as pistol belt or pistol holster.
When reporting outdoors, the soldier will move
rapidly to the vicinity of the officer, halt at a distance
of approximately three steps from the officer, salute, and
report as described above. If under arms, the weapon may be
carried in any manner for which a salute is prescribed.
Honor To the "National Anthem",
"To The Colors", or "Hail To the Chief"
(Outdoors)
Whenever and wherever the "National Anthem",
"To the Colors", "Hail to the Chief",
or "Reveille" are played, at the first note, all
dismounted personnel in uniform and not in formation face
the flag or the music (if the flag is not in view), stand
at Attention and renders a hand salute.
When not in uniform, personnel will, at the
first note, stand at attention facing the flag or the music
(if the flag is not in view), remove headdress, if any, with
the right hand, and place the right hand over the heart.
Vehicles in motion will be brought to a halt.
Persons riding in a passenger car or on a motorcycle will
dismount and salute. Occupants of other types of military
vehicles and buses remain seated at attention in the vehicle,
the individual in charge of each vehicle dismounting and rendering
the hand salute. Tank and armored car commanders salute from
the vehicle.
The above marks of respect are shown the national
anthem of any friendly country when it is played at official
occasions.
(Indoors)
When the "National Anthem" is played
indoors, officers and enlisted personnel stand at "Attention"
and face the music, or the flag if one is present. They do
not salute unless under arms.
Retreat
The bugle call sounded at retreat was first
used in the French Army and dates back to the crusades. When
you hear it, you are listening to a beautiful melody that
has come to symbolize the finest qualities of the soldiers
of nearly 900 years. Retreat has always been at sunset and
its purpose was to notify the sentries to start challenging
until sunrise, and to tell the rank and file to go to their
quarters and stay there. In our times the ceremony remains
as a tradition. When you are outdoors and hear retreat played,
you face toward the flag if you can see it and stand at parade
rest. If the flag is not within sight. then face toward the
music.
Retreat is followed by the playing of "To
the Colors".
If in uniform, you stand at "attention"
and execute the hand salute, present arms, or hand salute
at sling arms, whichever is appropriate
If in civilian attire with headgear, at the
first note of music, face the flag (or music if flag is not
in view), stand at attention, remove headgear with right hand
and hold over left shoulder with right hand over the heart
If in civilian attire without headgear, face
the flag (or music if flag is not in view) and stand at attention
with right hand over the heart. Hold this position until the
last note of music has been played
When in a vehicle you should stop, dismount,
and render the appropriate honor
The Army Song
The U.S. Army is the only one of the services
which has adopted its own official marching song. It was adapted
from the music of "The Caisson Song", written about
1908. The official Army song was formally dedicated by the
Secretary of the Army on Veterans Day, 11 November 1956.
In addition to standing while the national anthem
is played, audiences render honors while state songs, school
songs, and other symbolic songs are being played. Accordingly,
Army personnel will stand at "attention" whenever
the official Army song is played.
Salute To Colors
National and organizational flags, which are
mounted on short flag staff (pikes) equipped with spearheads,
are called colors. Military personnel in uniform passing an
uncased national color salute at six steps distance and hold
salute until they have passed six steps beyond it. Similarly,
when an uncased color passes by, they salute when it is six
steps away and hold the salute until it has passed six steps
beyond them.
If you are in civilian clothing and uncased
Colors are passing by, if outdoors, stand at attention, remove
headdress with right hand and hold over left shoulder with
right hand over the heart. If you are indoors, stand at attention,
hold this position until the Colors have passed six paces.
If you are in civilian clothing and you are
passing the Colors outdoors, when within six paces, turn head
in direction of the Colors, remove headgear with right hand
and hold over left shoulder with right hand over your heart.
Hold this position until you are six paces past the Colors.
NOTE: Small flags carried by individuals, such
as those carried by civilian spectators at a parade, are not
saluted.
Saluting
The origin of the hand salute is uncertain.
Some historians believe it began in late Roman times when
assassinations were common. A citizen who wanted to see a
public official had to approach with his right hand raised
to show that he did not hold a weapon. Knights in armor raised
visors with the right hand when meeting a comrade. This practice
gradually became a way of showing respect and, in early American
history, sometimes involved removing the hat. By 1820, the
motion was modified to touching the hat, and since then it
has become the hand salute used today.
1. What is meant by military courtesy?
Military courtesy is the respect and consideration
shown to others.
2. What is considered the most important of
all courtesies?
The Salute.
3. When do you salute?
- When you hear the National Anthem, To the
Colors, and Hail to the Chief
- When the National Colors or Standard passes
by
- On ceremonial occasions
- In all official greetings
- At reveille, within sight of the flag or
sound of the music
- During the rendering of Honors
- When passing by uncased colors out of doors
- When reporting to a board
- When reporting to an officer
- When Pledging Allegiance
4. What should you do when the National Anthem
of a foreign country is played?
Come to attention and salute.
5. When in formation or on detail, who salutes?
The person in charge.
6. Who salutes in a group of soldiers not in
formation or on detail?
The first person to see the officer approach
should call attention and everyone should salute.
7. At what distance do you normally salute an
officer?
Normally within six (6) paces, but can be recognized
distance and saluted.
8. When do you salute inside a building?
When you are called to report, when rendering
honors, or reporting for pay.
9. When is a military member not required to
salute?
When he is a prisoner.
10. When riding in a military vehicle and the
National Anthem or "To the Colors" is played, what
action should be taken?
Stop the vehicle and the senior person in the
vehicle should dismount and salute; the other personnel should
remain in the vehicle seated in the position of attention.
11. When walking with someone senior to you.
Which side should you walk on?
The junior should walk on the left side of the
senior.
12. How is a member of the armed service addressed
when the rank is not known?
Soldier.
13. Who enters a military vehicle first?
The junior member enters first and others follow
order of rank; the driver enters last.
14. Who leaves a military vehicle first?
The most senior member.
15. When a person is running and encounters
a situation where a salute is required, what should the individual
do?
- Halt if the flag is involved and then salute
- Walk if an officer’s presence requires
rendering of honor
16. How many gun salutes is the Commander in
Chief entitled to?
On arrival - 21; on departure – 21.
17. How does a soldier report to the Commanding
Officer or President of the Board?
- Remove headgear
- Knock
- Enter when told to do so
- Halt two paces in front of the person to
whom report
- Salute (the salute is held as long as you
are reporting or until the salute is returned)
- Address the president, state your rank and
full name, and report (Example: Sergeant Major, Sergeant
Smith reports)
18. What was the original purpose of retreat?
Retreat has always been at sunset and its purpose
was to notify sentries to start challenging until sunrise
and to tell the rank and file to go to their quarters and
stay there.
19. What holiday is the National Flag displayed
at half staff from reveille until noon?
Memorial Day: at 1200 hours the national salute
(21 guns) will be fired and the flag hoisted to the top of
the staff and will so remain until retreat.
20. What ceremony takes place at 1200 hours
on Independence Day?
A salute to the Union (50 guns will be fired).
21. What is the purpose of Unit or Organization
Day?
That day is a holiday (unit’s birthday);
and the traditions of the outfit are kept in the spotlight
all day.
22. When is a salute considered obviously inappropriate?
When a person is carrying articles with both
hands or being otherwise so occupied as to make saluting impractical.
23. Do you salute when driving a vehicle?
No.
24. Is an officer required to return a hand
salute?
Yes. except when he is pay officer.
25. What is the proper action when observing
an approaching staff car displaying a plaque with stars?
Come to attention and render the hand salute
until the salute is returned or the car passes.
26. What do you do when in doubt of saluting?
Salute.
27. In a military funeral procession, when should
military personnel salute?
During the passing of the caisson or hearse
bearing the remains.
28. Does a unit resting along the road come
to attention and salute an approaching officer?
No.
29. What action is taken when the flag is lowered?
When the flag is lowered, all soldiers will
assume the position of attention. If in military attire, they
will render a hand salute. If in civilian attire, the hand
is placed over the heart.
30. If you are in a vehicle and see an officer.
Who renders the hand salute?
If in a vehicle, the front right hand passenger
will render a hand salute to an officer passing by.
31. What does the guidon placed in front of
the orderly room indicate?
The guidon placed in front of the orderly room
indicates that the unit commander is in and designates the
unit.
32. What is the difference between military
courtesy and customs of the service.
The difference between military courtesy and
customs is that military courtesy are the Rules of Conduct
required of military personnel either by regulation or tradition.
Customs of the service are practices and procedures not prescribed
by law or regulation, but by tradition and practice have become
of a binding force.
33. Who was the first military commander to
lead troops under the flag of the United Nations?
General Douglas MacArthur.
34. If you are in a room and an officer enters
the room, what actions should you take?
If an officer enters the room while I am in
the room, I would come to attention and give the greeting
of the day.
35. When retreat is sounded, what position is
assumed?
When retreat is sounded, the position of attention
is assumed.
36. What actions do a person in charge of a
formation take when Retreat and To The Colors are played?
The person in charge of a formation will first
give the command to execute parade rest at the first note
of "Retreat". At the last note of "Retreat"
he will bring the formation to attention and at the first
note of "To the Colors" he will give the command
present arms followed by order arms on the last note of the
music. The rendering of honors while in formation will be
executed only after the completion of proper movements to
face the formation in the direction of the flag or music if
the flag is not visible.
37. What action does a soldier take when reveille
is played?
While in military uniform, the soldier not in
formation at the first note of music, faces the flag (or the
music if the flag is not in view) and renders a hand salute.
The salute is ended on the last note of the music. While in
civilian attire, the soldier, at the first note of music,
faces the flag (or the music if the flag is not in view),
stands at attention and holds his right hand over his heart.
This position is held until the last note of music has been
played.
38. What actions do soldiers take when participating
in sports when retreat is played?
When retreat is played, soldiers participating
in sports upon hearing the first note of music will face the
flag or music, if the flag is not in sight, and stand at attention.
Hold this position until the last note of music is played.
39. What is retreat?
Retreat is a ceremony in which the unit pays
honors to the National Flag when it is lowered in the evening.
40. What is "To The Colors?"
"To The Colors" is the Old Cavalry
Call "To the Standard", in use from about 1835.
41. How does the hand salute differ when you
are reporting or rendering courtesy and when in formation?
When reporting or rendering courtesy, the head
and eyes are turned to the person addressed. When in formation,
your head and eyes are directly to the front.
42. Describe the hand salute.
The hand salute is executed on the command of
execution of "arms". On the command of execution,
raise the right hand to the headdress and with the tip of
the forefinger, touch the rim of the visor slightly to the
right of the eye. The fingers and thumb are extended and joined,
palm down. The outer edge of the hand is barely slanted downward
so that neither the palm nor the back of the hand is visible
to the front. The upper arm is horizontal with the elbow inclined
slightly forward and the hand and wrist are straight.
43. Do you normally salute indoors?
No, you do not normally salute indoors
44. The Secretary of Defense receives how many
gun salute?
The Secretary of Defense receives a 19 gun salute.
45. Do you render a hand salute while double
timing?
While double timing, you do not render a hand
salute. You must come to a quick time before rendering a hand
salute.
46. How did the custom of saluting originate?
The custom of saluting originated in early Roman
times when it was a way of showing that you had no weapons
in your hands in medieval times knights lifted their visor
on their suit of armor.
47. Where did the custom of walking to the left
of a superior originate?
The custom of walking to the left of a superior
originated during the Middle Ages when a person carries his
weapon in his right hand and was considered the right to be
a part of honor; the person to his left protected the unguarded
side.
48. What are the terms of respect when speaking
to male and female officers and civilian officials?
When addressing male and female officers and
civilian officials, the terms sir and ma’am will be
used.
49. Why should you salute proudly?
You should salute proudly because it shows you
have pride in yourself and your outfit and that you have confidence
in your abilities as a soldier.
50. When is it appropriate to salute a noncommissioned
officer?
It is appropriate to salute a noncommissioned
officer when you are a squad leader and giving your report
to the platoon sergeant in a formation, or when you are a
platoon sergeant giving your report to the first sergeant
or the noncommissioned officer receiving the platoon reports
in formation.
51. Who is entitled to a salute?
Persons entitled to a salute are all commissioned
officers and warrant officers, male and female. It is also
customary to salute the officers of allied nations when you
recognize them as such.
52. When reporting. who salutes first, the person
reporting or the person reported to?
When reporting, the person reporting is required
to salute first.
53. What is meant by under arms?
Under arms refers to the carrying of arms or
having them attached to the person by slings or holsters.
54. How is the salute rendered by sentries posted
with a rifle?
The salute is rendered from the HALT and when
armed with a rifle, PRESENT ARMS is rendered.
55. Describe the actions of the individual in
charge of a group of troops riding in a military vehicle when
the National Anthem is played.
When riding in a military vehicle and the National
Anthem is heard, the vehicle pulls over to the side. The individual
in charge dismounts and renders the hand salute; persons in
the vehicle will sit at the position of attention.
56. Who salutes, when necessary, during a formation?
During a formation, the individual in charge
salutes, when necessary.
57. What is tatoo and when is it played?
Tatoo means lights out and quiet in the barracks
and is played at 2100 hours.
58. At 1200 hours on 4 July, a salute to the
union is rendered in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence.
What does this salute consist of?
At 1200 hours on 4 July, a salute to the union
is rendered in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence
consisting of a gun salute with the amount of guns fired equal
to the amount of states in the union.
59. Why are the boots reversed in the stirrups
of the riderless black horse in a military funeral procession?
The boots are reversed in the stirrups of the
riderless black horse to denote that the honored deceased
is a fallen warrior.
60. Who wrote the "Star Spangled Banner"?
The "Star Spangled Banner" was written
by an American POW, Francis Scott Key, of Baltimore, Maryland
on 14 September 1814 during the British bombardment of Fort
McHenry.
61. How many volleys are fired over the grave
at a military funeral and why?
Three volleys are fired over the grave at a
military funeral. The custom dates back to old Roman customs
of saying farewell three times to their dead soldiers.
62. How does the individual report indoors with
a rifle?
The individual knocks, does not uncover and
enters when to do so carrying the rifle at trail or sling
arms. He renders the salute prescribed for the weapon with
which he is armed.
63. When outdoors and you meet an officer, when
should you salute?
Salute as soon as you recognize that he or she
is an officer (when approximately six steps away).
64. When do you salute officers in vehicles?
Salute all officers (recognized by rank) in
official vehicles identified by special plates or flags.
66. When do you salute in formation?
Salute only on command when in formation.
67. What actions should be taken when in a group
and an officer approaches?
If in a group and an officer approaches, the
first soldier to recognize the officer calls the group to
attention and all personnel salute.
68. What should you do when approaching an officer
while double-timing alone?
If you approach an officer while you are double-timing
alone, assume quick time march and render the hand salute.
When the salute is returned, execute order arms and resume
double-timing.
69. Who initiates a salute?
The salute is always initiated by the subordinate
and terminated only after acknowledgment by the individual
being saluted.
70. What should accompany a salute?
The salute should be accompanied with an appropriate
greeting, such as, "Good morning/afternoon, sir/ma’am."
71. Are salutes required to be rendered by or
to personnel who are driving or ridding in privately owned
vehicles?
No.
72. Do enlisted personnel exchange salutes?
It is not customary for enlisted personnel to
exchange salutes, except in some ceremonial situations.
73. When is saluting not required?
- Indoors, except when reporting to an officer
or when on duty as a guard.
- When a prisoner
- When it is obviously inappropriate (officer
has articles in his/her hands or otherwise occupied)
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