[January 13, 2017] I was a newbie to the U.S. Army back in the mid-1970s when I joined as a Private. On my first day in the army, my knowledge of military culture was about to be improved when I failed to salute an officer. Failure to render a proper salute is, of course, a big deal and is mandated in order to show respect for the position of a military officer.
Lack of knowledge about such protocols is not an acceptable excuse, nor is being new to the army. I was instantaneously set upon by a sergeant standing nearby. After several minutes of a one-way, rather harsh conversation, I was on my way back to the barracks embarrassed more than anything else. I learned two things from my error. First, and most important, all military personnel are required to show respect for all officers. Second, I learned that professing my ignorance of the requirement was simply another mistake.
If we were to study the best qualities of human relationships, respect would be among the most significant and I’ve written about it before (see links here, here, and here). Showing respect in the military goes beyond saluting officers and the list on how to do it is long. I learned that too, that same day, after answering a question from my Platoon Sergeant with “yes sir.” The proper reply was “yes sergeant” and again I was involved in a one-way conversation on how to demonstrate respect to Non-Commissioned Officers (“non-coms” in army slang).
Later in my time as an enlisted man I had the unfortunate experience to have a poorly performing Platoon Leader, a second lieutenant. Everyone knew he didn’t have what it took to be a good officer, but he was an officer nonetheless. My roommate, another Private First Class, asked our Platoon Sergeant if it was okay not render a salute to this officer.
You would have thought a war had broken out. My friend was to get a severe reprimand and I would never forget it. The hard lesson learned was that saluting and proper conversation etiquette are part of the military culture and not to be broken by a “wet-behind-the ear Army Private.” Respect is crucial for a proper functioning military and it is enforced.
When the going gets tough in combat, there’s no time to debate whether the orders are coming from an individual you respect or not. The orders are followed because you show respect for the position. Those positions, like a superior officer, are imbued with authority over others and, in the case of the military, codified into law.
After spending time as an enlisted man – and learning many things the hard way – I was much better prepared to be an officer. I was “educated” on the protocols of the Army and how to show respect regardless of my personal feelings by conducting myself properly. That education was to help me both in the military and outside in the civilian world where the rules are less clear.
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