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Salute this.
- Thread starter Raptor2216
- Start date
Maybe at right shoulder arms....I think I actually used that one practically once while carrying a rifle back to the Q from the armory, resting it on my shoulder since it didn't have a sling.
As for the gate guard chest-salute thing...I used to see it all the time at the gates for enlisted personnel. Zeroes always got a salute. Now it seems more like a lazy flick of the wrist for Es, and touching the brim of the cover for Os, often originating from a bearded sailor in wrinkled cammies with a gun belt slung abnormally low across the waist, and a cover large enough that it goes over the ears.
Not the rule, just a recurring observation. I worked security at Oceana when I was a lad, and I was amazed how many doors were opened up by looking/acting like a professional. I actually had to run a chit and get selected to go TAD to Security. Sadly, when I got orders back to Oceana years later, it seemed that sending dirtbags to Security was the norm, and workcenters were hard pressed to supply bodies that wouldn't fail the initial PRT on the first day.I feel for the guys standing gate at Quantico, when 90% of the cars coming on base are Officers. Somehow they still mannage to snap-to, wave the vehicle in, and pop off a snappy salute...to EVERY freakin' car.
EXACTLY .... and to the Admiral's eternal discredit --- HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING (!!!) --- and to provide counterpoint .... how many times do you think that happened in my 20-something Navy career
... ??? Com'on ... take a guess ....
Funny, the last time I was blown off by an enlisted troop, it was by 3 Marine E's (2 E-3s and an E-4) in front of the mini-mart/gas-station atg NASP. I was in in service khakis, O-3, and walked right by them as they eyeballed me and kept smoking...I took care of it.
1. It happens all the time, you can't blame one service.
2. Don't feel like an as$hole for correcting the situation.
An-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-nd ... we have a WINNER !!!!Never?
I learned that early and often ... from enlisted men .... Navy and Marine. They were my best friends when I was 18 and stupid.
The lack of respect down here seems to be contagious. In addition to lack of saluting has anyone else notice that if you are an E-4 and below you dont have to shave at NASP. Every time I go to PSD I see full beards that are neatly trimmed or sideburns that would do Bo Duke proud. It gets old saying things but like others have pointed out if we dont correct it who will.
Hell, I even salute when ordering @ Starbuck's ...
Precisely, it's not unique to the Navy. The Marine E's on NASM were REALLY bad about it, and it would shock them when a Navy O would correct them on it.
Point is, if it happens to you, and you do nothing, you are part of the problem.
Since I've got a little of the Captain in me I'll tell a story that does not qualify me for Mensa. Back when I was an SNA 2LT you were not required to go to The Basic School so I went to MAD(Marine Air Detachment), then commanded by Col. Donald Conroy,aka The Great Santini,not knowing a hell of a lot. AOCS was then at Mainside NAS and I was still in the candidate mode. I was wearing out my arm saluting when I said to one of myTBS graduate friends that the Navy had more Admirals than I knew existed and that they were unbelieveably young. He then told me I was saluting AOCs. That explained the elbowing and the smirks; I also figured out I may not be CMC material.
Once again, Zab is right on the money. It happens, have fun with it and be creative. The best approach is to have a sense of humor and not turn it into some kind of mellow-dramatic scene. Fundamentally, the troopers should think of you as their cool older brother - someone who will have their backs, but who will not hesitate to fvck them up as the situation warrants. The best kind of respect comes from a combination of those two attributes.
Brett
boobcheese
Registered User
While I have never been placed in a leadership position as an 'O', this strikes me as a very profound and dead on take as to what life as a JO leading a division should be all about.
Well, your technique is more or less sound, but I like a more direct approach. I find a swift punch to the nads, or maybe a drop-kick, usually corrects most behavior I find inappropriate, and it is a lot more fun. Ruling through fear and intimidation has gotten many people in history a long ways. Was Ghengis Khan a "cool older brother"? How about Alexander the Great? Hannibal Lector?
I rest my case.
Attachments
I've never actually been mistaken for one (since I'm far too young) however all of my Air Force classmates love to point out that when the Ensigns are in their whites... they can't tell the difference between us and one-star admirals.
And OC's look just as similar to them...
So I definatly understand your story!