15 March 2012

Saluting at parades


Figure 15.7. Position of the Colors at the Carry
With parade season approaching, I wanted to refresh my D&C knowledge. Here are some of the important things to consider when ground guiding a vehicle and driving in a parade.

  • When driving, don't salute
  • When alone, passing or being passed by the uncased National Colors, 6-step salute (look for yellow fringe)
  • Salute when you recognize persons entitled to the salute (most importantly here--Coast Guard)

FM 2-21.5, 15-2. THE COLOR AND COLORS
b. Individuals or units passing or being passed by uncased Colors out of doors render honors. Individuals, not part of a formation, salute six steps distance from the Colors and hold the Salute until they have passed six steps beyond the Colors. The individual in charge of a formation calls the formation to ATTENTION and Present, ARMS.


f. During a review, parade, or honor guard ceremony, ordinarily only one National Color is present. [Ed Note: local commander can authorize subordinate groups to carry their National Colors in addition to the honor guard.]


A-1. WHEN TO SALUTE
Army personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled (by grade) to a salute except when it is inappropriate or impractical (in public conveyances such as planes and buses, in public places such as inside theaters, or when driving a vehicle).
a. A salute is also rendered—
When the United States National Anthem, “To the Color,” “Hail to the Chief,” or foreign national anthems are played.
To uncased National Color outdoors.
• On ceremonial occasions as prescribed in Part Two, Ceremonies.
• At reveille and retreat ceremonies, during the raising or lowering of the flag.
• During the sounding of honors.
• When the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag is being recited outdoors.
• When turning over control of formations.
• When rendering reports.
• To officers of friendly foreign countries.
b. Salutes are not required when—
• Indoors, except when reporting to an officer or when on duty as a guard.
• Addressing a prisoner.
• Saluting is obviously inappropriate. In these cases, only greetings are exchanged. (Example 1: A person carrying articles with both hands, or being otherwise so occupied as to make saluting impracticable, is not required to salute a senior person or return the salute to a subordinate.)
• Either the senior or the subordinate is wearing civilian clothes.
c. In any case not covered by specific instructions, the salute is rendered

A-6. SALUTING COLORS
National and organizational flags, which are mounted on flagstaffs equipped with finials, are called Colors. Military personnel passing an uncased National Color salute at six steps distance and hold the Salute until they have passed six steps beyond it. Similarly, when the uncased Color passes by, they salute when it is six steps away and hold the Salute until it has passed six steps beyond them.
NOTE: Small flags carried by individuals, such as those carried by civilian spectators at a parade, are not saluted. It is improper to salute with any object in the right hand or with a cigarette, cigar, or pipe in the mouth.

AR 600–25, Salutes, Honors, and Visits of Courtesy, 1–5. Hand salutes and salutes with arms

b. All Army personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled to the salute. Salutes will be exchanged between officers (commissioned and warrant) and enlisted personnel, and with personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard), the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service entitled to the salute.


d. When military personnel are acting as drivers of a moving vehicle, they should not initiate a salute.


IN ADDITION:

Colors
A U.S. flag trimmed on 3 sides with golden yellow fringe.



AR 600–25, 1–12. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag
Soldiers may recite the Pledge of Allegiance as noted below in accordance with Section 4, Title 4, United States Code (4 USC 4)—
a. During military ceremonies, soldiers will not recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
b. At official functions, social events, and sporting events, soldiers should—
(1) When in uniform, outdoors, stand at attention, remain silent, face the flag, and render the hand salute.
(2) When in uniform, indoors, stand at attention, remain silent, and face the flag.
(3) When in civilian attire, stand at attention, face the flag with the right hand over the heart and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Headgear should be removed with the right hand and held over the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.