The hand salute is one of the oldest and highest forms of respect in the military world. If you are a soldier or simply want to learn soldier's respect, this article will guide you through the basic steps.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Demonstrating Hands Respect
Step 1. Stand up straight
Use your best posture when paying your respects. Don't slouch or hunch your shoulders. Stand with your hands straight and flat at your sides with your fingers facing the ground.
Step 2. Face the flag or person you wish to honor
Turn your head and eyes at the person or flag you wish to salute. If you're going to salute someone, it's best to maintain eye contact.
People with lower ranks should start the salute. By initiating respect, it does not mean that lower-ranking people are showing inferiority to their superiors. This tradition is only done to show respect and friendship
Step 3. Put your right arm in the correct position
Position your right arm up so that the bottom of the bicep is facing down. Keep your arms straight so that your elbows are in a straight line with your shoulders.
True reverence must be done swiftly in one fell swoop. If you practice respect every day, it will eventually become a habit
Step 4. Raise your hands up to your eyebrows
Position the outer ends of your hands at a slight angle so that the top and bottom of your palms are not visible from the front. Hands and wrists should be straightened, elbows bent slightly forward, and arms positioned at a 45-degree angle from the ground. Keep your fingers and thumbs straight and parallel to each other.
Step 5. Change the salutation according to the type of headgear being worn
While the basic steps are similar, there are some adjustments you'll need to make when wearing headgear or goggles.
- When wearing a visor with a hood (or without a visor): When given the “respect gesture” instruction, you must respectfully use your right hand with the tip of your middle finger touching the rim of the cover slip that is slightly above your right eye.
- If you are not wearing goggles and headgear, or a headgear without a windshield, you must perform the same movement. It's just that you need to touch your finger to the forehead that is at the edge of your right eyebrow.
- If you wear goggles without a hood or headgear without a windshield: This time, you have to touch the tip of your middle finger to the goggles. Touch the part of the frame in the temple area which is at the right end of your eyebrow.
Step 6. Hold a respectful position
You must hold the salute position until the commander gives the "stand up" command.
When listening to the national anthem or any other song that deserves respect, you should hold your salute until the last note
Step 7. Complete your respectful gesture with an appropriate greeting
Saying "Good morning, sir", or greeting you can do when saluting a higher ranking officer. Do your respects, then give greetings while holding a respectful position.
If you want to report to the officer, you must introduce yourself and let them know that you want to report something. For example, “Report, I am Lieutenant Budi from squadron 3 of the air force, I want to inform you that…”
Step 8. Lower your hands
Immediately lower your hands to their original position when you are done saluting.
- Do not slap your feet or move your arms to the side.
- Swinging hands after saluting is rude. If you make a loud salute or appear lazy, it can be considered a worse insult than no salute at all.
Method 2 of 3: Paying Respect at the Right Time
Step 1. Identify who needs respect
It's important to know who you need to show respect to.
- Always respect the President.
- Pay respects to all high ranking military officers and non-commissioned officers.
- Pay respects to recipients of the Medal of Honor, no matter the rank of the person.
- Pay respects to friendly country officers.
Step 2. Pay your respects at special occasions
- Pay your respects when the national anthem is played. You also need to pay homage to the national anthem of another country that is being played.
- To perform the flag salute outdoors, salute when the flag is about two meters from where you are standing and hold the stance until the flag is more than two meters away from your position.
- Paying respect during the ceremony. This includes military funerals, promotion ceremonies, and morning or evening rallies when the national flag is raised and lowered.
- Pay your respects while the final salute session is being held.
- Pay respect when reading the text of the Promise of Faith.
- Be respectful when reporting.
- Pay your respects when an officer passes by in his official car.
Step 3. Do not salute when conditions are not possible or against regulations
- Do not salute in the room unless you are reporting to a higher ranking person.
- There is no need to salute when your hands are full or conditions are not possible. In this situation, say hello instead of being respectful.
- Do not salute while driving.
- Adjust your attitude in public. There is no need to show respect when passing officers at train stations or bus terminals.
- Soldiers working on something or playing with their squad need not stop their activity to pay homage.
- Do not salute non-commissioned soldiers.
Method 3 of 3: Studying the Variations
Step 1. Greet British soldiers with palms facing outwards
The position of the hands should slightly touch the tip of the hat. British Army and Air Force soldiers use this method to salute, while the Navy salutes by turning the palms down 90 degrees.
Step 2. Use the two finger salute to greet Polish soldiers
The Polish military uses a respectful attitude like other country's soldiers in general, but without including the little finger and ring finger.
Step 3. Use the Zogist salute to greet Albanian soldiers
This gesture is also used to honor flags in Mexico and other Latin American countries. The Zogist salute is done by extending the arms in front of the body, then placing them on the chest in a cutting motion. Hands should be held on chest with palms facing straight to the ground.
Tips
- Do not salute when holding objects that must be held with both hands, such as a box containing a red and white flag. Pay your respects to the higher-ranking soldier who is lifting the box, but don't wait for them to salute back.
- It is a tradition for all soldiers to salute the recipient of the Medal of Honor, regardless of the rank of the recipient.
- Navy and sailors don't salute openly, but you should still say hello as a sign of respect.
- No need to salute enlisted members. Just salute soldiers who have a rank above you.
Warning
- Neglecting to salute an officer or flag is disrespectful and can result in punishment.
- Resting in place before getting an order is a sign of disrespect.
