Question for the military folks

[Monoriu]

Does it mean that Siege will have to salute Alci now?

[grumbler]

Saluting varies more than you'd think across services.  In the Naval services, one doesn't salute when uncovered (i.e. not wearing uniform headgear) nor when indoors.  I don't know about the other services, but, in the Navy, you salute someone in the same organization as you (or someone you are working with repeatedly in a given day) only the first time you meet them in a given day, or when reporting something to them officially.  A report that is given with a salute becomes an official report.  In the Naval services, only, you can salute left-handed if one cannot use the right hand (that comes from small boat experiences where, if on the right side of the boat in heavy seas, you are hanging on with the right hand). If your right arm is broken, for instance, you salute left-handed.

The silver dollar goes to the first person who salutes you, not the first person you salute.  In the Navy, that silver dollar is considered a good luck piece and isn't spent, but kept.  You generally pick one of your training NCOs to be the first to salute you.

A civilian saluting would have been considered gauche.  The civilian equivalent to the salute is to hold one's hand (or hat, if one is wearing one) over the heart.

[The Brain]

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.

I'm talking about the 1960s. I have no idea what you are talking about.

[derspiess]

Does it mean that Siege will have to salute Alci now?

Yeah, and Hans will be able to fire him.

[OttoVonBismarck]

I'm talking about the 1960s. I have no idea what you are talking about.

The 1800s and 1600s, English, can you read it motherfucker?

[The Brain]

I'm talking about the 1960s. I have no idea what you are talking about.

The 1800s and 1600s, English, can you read it motherfucker?

[MadBurgerMaker]

The silver dollar goes to the first person who salutes you, not the first person you salute.  In the Navy, that silver dollar is considered a good luck piece and isn't spent, but kept.  You generally pick one of your training NCOs to be the first to salute you.

I still have the silver dollar some shiny new Ensign gave me when I was a shiny new enlisted guy only a couple weeks out of boot camp.  I was headed back to the Aircrew barracks after getting a haircut and just happened to be walking by right after they graduated.  I saluted him like normal, then became very alarmed when he started walking right toward me immediately after.  I'm standing there thinking wtf did I do wrong when he shook my hand and gave me a silver dollar.     "Oh....uh....oh...congratulations sir."

[grumbler]

I still have the silver dollar some shiny new Ensign gave me when I was a shiny new enlisted guy only a couple weeks out of boot camp.  I was headed back to the Aircrew barracks after getting a haircut and just happened to be walking by right after they graduated.  I saluted him like normal, then became very alarmed when he started walking right toward me immediately after.  I'm standing there thinking wtf did I do wrong when he shook my hand and gave me a silver dollar.     "Oh....uh....oh...congratulations sir."

Great story, and it didn't even start "this is no shit..."

[Viking]

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.

Presumably in the same manner that civilian would wish to show proper respect for any other person.

[Berkut]

Yeah, gotta agree with grumbler.

Saluting someone in the military as a civilian, unless there is some extenuating circumstances, would be seen as mostly just kind of weird and uncouth. It isn't strictly wrong, just not really appropriate. A salute is a military thing.

If you want to show someone in the military respect, a nice handshake and "thanks for your service" is the way to go, IMO.

[The Brain]

What if it's a military type who is about to rock?

[Caliga]

What if it's a military type who is about to rock?

[Ed Anger]

As a Kentucky Colronel, I demand Cal salute me.

[dps]

As a Kentucky Colronel, I demand Cal salute me.

I'm sure he has a salute in mind for you.

[Admiral Yi]

Boner is getting more Frenchified every day.