Does a sergeant have to salute the President?

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Isshinryu
President is the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Military, you are required to salute him (though they don't have to turn and face him). I, personally, would not, as he most likely has never stepped foot on the battle field.

Since you turned this into a theoretical exercise with your needless, trolling comment, let's run the exercise a bit further.

On the night after you refused to salute the President, you'd be beaten to within an inch of your life by your fellow soldiers. After the doctors looked you over for the injuries you sustained by falling down some stairs, you'd be officially reprimanded and perhaps kicked out.

I'm glad that you won't serve in the army of any country that I'll be living in. You'd be a danger to your fellow soldiers.

Its tough to be a danger when your in the hospital every day for bedwetting.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

everyone in military service is required to salute the president of the united states... he is the HIGHEST ranking military official

Even 5 star Generals are required to salute the Commander in Chief, ie. the President of the United States.

you're right... however there are no 5 star generals anymore.... highest ranking offical next to president is a 4 star general

 

[element]

No one has to salute the president. The president of Haliburton is not a high ranking military offi.....Oh wait nevermind. No you're right they do have to salute...

Ha get it? gooberment-Haliburton conspiracy? oh come on that was funny!

 

[glenn1]

i disagree with that, why do they deserve your respect? just because they're president or governor? respect is merit-based, not title-based. the fact that you would salute them a second time is not an acknowledgement of respect, it's an acknowledgement that you'll get your ass kicked if you don't.

The salute is only in a token sense a sign of respect. It's called a "custom and courtesy." Just as when the President salutes the flag, he's not showing respect to a few square feet of cloth and thread, he's showing courtesy to a representation of the nation. Likewise, higher ranking officers and the President serve in nominal roles during salutes as a stand-in for the chain of command that begins at privates, up through officers, generals, and commander-in-chief, and ends in the nation and its people as a whole.

 

[Isshinryu]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Isshinryu
President is the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Military, you are required to salute him (though they don't have to turn and face him). I, personally, would not, as he most likely has never stepped foot on the battle field.

Since you turned this into a theoretical exercise with your needless, trolling comment, let's run the exercise a bit further.

On the night after you refused to salute the President, you'd be beaten to within an inch of your life by your fellow soldiers. After the doctors looked you over for the injuries you sustained by falling down some stairs, you'd be officially reprimanded and perhaps kicked out.

I'm glad that you won't serve in the army of any country that I'll be living in. You'd be a danger to your fellow soldiers.

Expressing my opinion of political leaders is trolling? Saluting a politician has nothing to do with how I treat fighting men. I'll always give the worst soldier 100x more respect than a politician, and I seriously doubt your scenario would ever occur.

Instead of trying to pick me apart from a comment left on a board, maybe you should ask yourself why you show so much respect to men who don't give a flying fsck about who you are or what condition you are in or if you die "valiantly" fighting a war for their prosperity. Hell, they probably don't care if you salute them or not, you're just another vote that they want or a tool they can use.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: glenn1

i disagree with that, why do they deserve your respect? just because they're president or governor? respect is merit-based, not title-based. the fact that you would salute them a second time is not an acknowledgement of respect, it's an acknowledgement that you'll get your ass kicked if you don't.

The salute is only in a token sense a sign of respect. It's called a "custom and courtesy." Just as when the President salutes the flag, he's not showing respect to a few square feet of cloth and thread, he's showing courtesy to a representation of the nation. Likewise, higher ranking officers and the President serve in nominal roles during salutes as a stand-in for the chain of command that begins at privates, up through officers, generals, and commander-in-chief, and ends in the nation and its people as a whole.

i realize that, but i think anybody refusing to salute someone in a situation such as the one described by the OP would do so because they didn't want to salute *that person*, not because they didn't want to salute the nation. for example, they might feel that that person is not someone that accurately represents the country.

and fwiw, DaiShan was talking about specifically giving individuals your respect:

"when I see the governor I give him respect"

 

[glenn1]

i realize that, but i think anybody refusing to salute someone in a situation such as the one described by the OP would do so because they didn't want to salute *that person*, not because they didn't want to salute the nation. for example, they might feel that that person is not someone that accurately represents the country.

Which goes to the heart of military discipline. If your personal opinions about someone so overrule your logic that you can't do something as automatic and no-brainer as giving a salute, then you have bigger issues to deal with and don't deserve to be there. If you can't even bring yourself to salute someone, I'd find it hard to believe that you'd follow his lawful orders. And no matter what the cause or rationale behind not saluting, if I were your superior you'd be cleaning toilets with your tongue until you couldn't taste the difference between sh!t and french fries.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: EMPshockwave82
you're right... however there are no 5 star generals anymore.... highest ranking offical next to president is a 4 star general

There are in times of war declared by congress, IIRC.

Originally posted by: Isshinryu
Expressing my opinion of political leaders is trolling? Saluting a politician has nothing to do with how I treat fighting men. I'll always give the worst soldier 100x more respect than a politician, and I seriously doubt your scenario would ever occur.

Well, the question was "Does a sergeant have to salute the President?", not "Does everyone have to." You opened yourself up to personal attack by making that statement. It's hard for me to believe that you weren't fishing for responses with that comment. However, if you weren't I appologize for assuming that you were.

Instead of trying to pick me apart from a comment left on a board, maybe you should ask yourself why you show so much respect to men who don't give a flying fsck about who you are or what condition you are in or if you die "valiantly" fighting a war for their prosperity. Hell, they probably don't care if you salute them or not, you're just another vote that they want or a tool they can use.

I don't have to salute the President. The President is the CiC. Militarily he's something like a six-star general. Everyone in the military, from buck Private to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff salutes the President when appropriate.

Civilians are *not* required to salute anyone. You aren't required to stand or pay any kind of respect to anyone. I would, were I in the situation, pay all respects possible to the President, no matter how much I dislike him. To each his own, as they say.

 

[tm37]

OH the misinformation that gets passed here.

The only time that the president is due a salute is when he salutes you first which normally only happens when you recieve the CMO.

So to answer your question you don't have to salute the president if he walks by you are however required to stand if he enters the room.

 

[TerryMathews]

Fact: All lower-ranking soldiers are required to salute higher-ranking soldiers.
Fact: The President, elected by a majority of Electoral College votes and empowered by the Constitution of the United States, holds the highest military rank (Commander-in-Chief)
Fact: All soldiers are required to obey the Constitution as well as the UCMJ (It's the bit in the oath about upholding the Constitution of the United States).

Conclusion: All soldiers must salute the President of the United States.

Really guys, this is all 12th grade Government-class stuff. Why are we even debating this? It's as clear-cut as can be.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: glenn1

i realize that, but i think anybody refusing to salute someone in a situation such as the one described by the OP would do so because they didn't want to salute *that person*, not because they didn't want to salute the nation. for example, they might feel that that person is not someone that accurately represents the country.

Which goes to the heart of military discipline. If your personal opinions about someone so overrule your logic that you can't do something as automatic and no-brainer as giving a salute, then you have bigger issues to deal with and don't deserve to be there. If you can't even bring yourself to salute someone, I'd find it hard to believe that you'd follow his lawful orders. And no matter what the cause or rationale behind not saluting, if I were your superior you'd be cleaning toilets with your tongue until you couldn't taste the difference between sh!t and french fries.

yep, i agree

 

[glenn1]

Fact: The President, elected by a majority of Electoral College votes and empowered by the Constitution of the United States, holds the highest military rank (Commander-in-Chief)

Technically, two men in history have been Commander-in-Chief who were not President at the time, General Washington during the Revolutionary War, and General of the Armies and Commander-in-Chief (of Allied Expeditionary Forces) John "Black Jack" Pershing. And yet, Pershing would have still saluted President Wilson.

 

[allisolm]

The only time that the president is due a salute is when he salutes you first which normally only happens when you recieve the CMO.

I believe that is wrong. The president gets saluted as would any superior officer.

Fact: All lower-ranking soldiers are required to salute higher-ranking soldiers.

Normally only officers get saluted.

 

[Hammer]

Originally posted by: Isshinryu

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: Isshinryu
President is the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Military, you are required to salute him (though they don't have to turn and face him). I, personally, would not, as he most likely has never stepped foot on the battle field.

Since you turned this into a theoretical exercise with your needless, trolling comment, let's run the exercise a bit further.

On the night after you refused to salute the President, you'd be beaten to within an inch of your life by your fellow soldiers. After the doctors looked you over for the injuries you sustained by falling down some stairs, you'd be officially reprimanded and perhaps kicked out.

I'm glad that you won't serve in the army of any country that I'll be living in. You'd be a danger to your fellow soldiers.

Expressing my opinion of political leaders is trolling? Saluting a politician has nothing to do with how I treat fighting men. I'll always give the worst soldier 100x more respect than a politician, and I seriously doubt your scenario would ever occur.

Instead of trying to pick me apart from a comment left on a board, maybe you should ask yourself why you show so much respect to men who don't give a flying fsck about who you are or what condition you are in or if you die "valiantly" fighting a war for their prosperity. Hell, they probably don't care if you salute them or not, you're just another vote that they want or a tool they can use.

...are you familiar with seppuku?

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: gopunk

Originally posted by: glenn1

i disagree with that, why do they deserve your respect? just because they're president or governor? respect is merit-based, not title-based. the fact that you would salute them a second time is not an acknowledgement of respect, it's an acknowledgement that you'll get your ass kicked if you don't.

The salute is only in a token sense a sign of respect. It's called a "custom and courtesy." Just as when the President salutes the flag, he's not showing respect to a few square feet of cloth and thread, he's showing courtesy to a representation of the nation. Likewise, higher ranking officers and the President serve in nominal roles during salutes as a stand-in for the chain of command that begins at privates, up through officers, generals, and commander-in-chief, and ends in the nation and its people as a whole.

i realize that, but i think anybody refusing to salute someone in a situation such as the one described by the OP would do so because they didn't want to salute *that person*, not because they didn't want to salute the nation. for example, they might feel that that person is not someone that accurately represents the country.

and fwiw, DaiShan was talking about specifically giving individuals your respect:

"when I see the governor I give him respect"

It's not necessarily showing respect to the person, it's showing respect to the office.

Think of it in other terms....I personally hate my boss, just seeing her makes me want to dropkick her in the teeth, however I do confer respect to her according to the position she holds.

 

[GasX]

You salute the rank not the man, unless he has a CMH, then you salute the man.

 

[911paramedic]

Originally posted by: tm37
OH the misinformation that gets passed here.

The only time that the president is due a salute is when he salutes you first which normally only happens when you recieve the CMO.

So to answer your question you don't have to salute the president if he walks by you are however required to stand if he enters the room.

Talk about misinformation, lol.

As a vet I can tell you, without a doubt, that the President gets a salute from every covered military member.

 

[dxkj]

Originally posted by: AmbitV
so you're that asshat that didn't salute me

Why do you people think posts like this are witty?

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: AmbitV
so you're that asshat that didn't salute me

sup bitch

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Isshinryu
Instead of trying to pick me apart from a comment left on a board, maybe you should ask yourself why you show so much respect to men who don't give a flying fsck about who you are or what condition you are in or if you die "valiantly" fighting a war for their prosperity. Hell, they probably don't care if you salute them or not, you're just another vote that they want or a tool they can use.

You're arguing so adamantly about this, yet it's a moot point - you, being a 14-year old civilian, do not have to salute anyone. It doesn't matter what YOU would do, because you are not in the military.

 

[profmath]

This is a pointless argument.

When you join the military you give up the right to make your own decisions. If a higher ranking officer wants you to salute them, YOU DO. No questions asked.

"We follow orders or people die"

A Few Good Men

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: 911paramedic

Originally posted by: tm37
OH the misinformation that gets passed here.

The only time that the president is due a salute is when he salutes you first which normally only happens when you recieve the CMO.

So to answer your question you don't have to salute the president if he walks by you are however required to stand if he enters the room.

Talk about misinformation, lol.

As a vet I can tell you, without a doubt, that the President gets a salute from every covered military member.

Exactly. Every covered soldier salutes the President. All enlisted salute officers, all officers salute their seniors, and everyone salutes the President. The President who is uncovered nods or greets since he is uncovered. Although recent presidents seem to be saluting back as has been stated.

 

[Hammer]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: AmbitV
so you're that asshat that didn't salute me

sup bitch

hahaha :beer:

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Even 5 star Generals are required to salute the Commander in Chief, ie. the President of the United States.

A young sergeant who doesn't think he needs to salute his commander in chief, or any other officer, is in for a big surprise.

I agree. Did you ever see the president visit the tomb of the unknown soldiers? It is always guarded by noncoms who always stop and salute the president.

Same thing goes for his guards when he gets off of Air Force 1.

Sysadmin

 

[fredtam]

Originally posted by: Sysadmin

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
Even 5 star Generals are required to salute the Commander in Chief, ie. the President of the United States.

A young sergeant who doesn't think he needs to salute his commander in chief, or any other officer, is in for a big surprise.

I agree. Did you ever see the president visit the tomb of the unknown soldiers? It is always guarded by noncoms who always stop and salute the president.

Same thing goes for his guards when he gets off of Air Force 1.

Sysadmin

Yep.. Service members shall render the same courtesy to the President and Cabinet Officials as they would to a senior officer. Although not required, this same courtesy may properly be given to other senior government officials (e.g., heads of agencies).

I have personally had the pleasure of being in the situation as has my brother who was with HMX-1 for 8 years. Although I didn't get to see Clinton until he was inside very explicit instructions were given on the subject. You salute the President no questions asked.

I hope that people with the philosophy of the OP stay the fvck away from the military.