Question for the military folks

[merithyn]

How does a civilian show the proper respect for an officer, then? I mean, assuming that they wanted to.

I would suggest saying "hey GI, me love you long time."

Not to Alci! He's like a little brother!

[Admiral Yi]

You said you wanted to show respect.

[Caliga]

Not to Alci! He's like a little brother!

Hey may have a girlfriend here, but he does not have girlfriend Vietnam.

[derspiess]

Civilians just don't need to salute anyone.  Why would they? 

How does a civilian show the proper respect for an officer, then? I mean, assuming that they wanted to.

Buy him a drink.  Shake his hand.  Give him a hug.  Whatever works best for you.

[OttoVonBismarck]

Civilians are outside the strictures of military protocol. You can salute or do anything else you want. Someone who says you "shouldn't" is incorrect, a civilian can do whatever they want in that regard. The President for example chooses to salute lots of members of the armed forces, not even limited to just officers. But since you aren't part of military protocol, there is certainly no "Miss Manners" or legal or ethical requirement to salute members of the military.

[The Brain]

Civilians are outside the strictures of military protocol. You can salute or do anything else you want. Someone who says you "shouldn't" is incorrect, a civilian can do whatever they want in that regard. The President for example chooses to salute lots of members of the armed forces, not even limited to just officers. But since you aren't part of military protocol, there is certainly no "Miss Manners" or legal or ethical requirement to salute members of the military.

Civilians operate under civilian etiquette. Saluting people isn't normal, at least not in Sweden.

[OttoVonBismarck]

Considering Swedish men try to breast feed their children I'm not sure I'd go by what is considered "normal" in Sweden. But normal polite society etiquette is pretty frangible, at least in the States.

[The Brain]

Considering Swedish men try to breast feed their children I'm not sure I'd go by what is considered "normal" in Sweden. But normal polite society etiquette is pretty frangible, at least in the States.

Sweden was a polite society when Americans were naked savages.

[Eddie Teach]

Sweden was a polite society when Americans were naked savages.

Britain has always been more civilized than Scandinavia. 

[Razgovory]

I'm guessing the silver dollar was a challenge coin.

[merithyn]

I'm guessing the silver dollar was a challenge coin.

The guy who explained it at the ceremony said that it's believed to derive from the dollar a month a newly minted officer was given to pay his servant, usually a cadet. Pay the dollar, be given his first salute.

[OttoVonBismarck]

Sweden was a polite society when Americans were naked savages.

Please, Sweden wasn't civilized until the 1800s. We've had white people in America since the 1600s.

[derspiess]

Saluting people isn't normal, at least not in Sweden.

It's not normal here, unless you're some kid trying to be cute.

[merithyn]

Well, I was actually kind of worried that a civilian saluting someone could be construed as rude. As in, if I had saluted Alci after his commission ceremony, would the soldiers in the room have been insulted, amused, or apathetic?

[Admiral Yi]

They would have gotten boners.