Presidential Salute question

[Major Lord]

This morning I saw the Marine Detail on Marine 1 saluting the first lady......Is this correct?  Question 2: The President returns ( sometimes) the salutes of military personnel. which in my opinion as COC, he is entitled to do ( although we need to detail a Cadet to him to teach him how to do it properly) So why does he (now, but not in the past, when he just stood around )  place his hand over his heart during the National Anthem and presentation of the Colors? Is he fish or fowl? Does the new law allow the rendering of the military hand salute by veterans and AD members of the RM out of uniform apply to the POTUS?

Major Lord

[MSG Mac]

Since Mrs Obama is not in the Chain of Command or an officer of any branch, she shouldn't be  receiving a salute.

[jks19714]

Her Protocol Officer should acquaint her with the seriousness of trolling for salutes on an Air Force Base!   

[tsrup]

Saluting as required by normal customs and courtesies (ex: saluting your superiors) is not the same as saluting standards as according to flag code.

Example, when I was in NROTC, we were fully expected to salute our Skipper whenever we saw him, no matter if he was in uniform or not.  To which he would return a salute.  But I have no doubt in my mind that if he went to a ball game out of uniform, and they played the national anthem, his hand would be over his heart, just as mine would be if I was in civvies.

The major difference between the two is that while there is an established method of honoring the flag in civilian attire, there isn't one in day to day customs and courtesies.


As per saluting Mrs. Obama?
-No idea, the Marines on that detail may have standing orders of their own, to which only they will be able to answer satisfactorily.
As for her being outside of the chain of command?  One could argue that she's really at the top , or compare it to saluting foreign officers, dignitaries.

[lordmonar]

A salute is always correct.

NOT saluteing when you are required to by law, regulation or custom is where the problem is.

[KT]

We don't mind if we get saluted and we are civilians.

[Flying Pig]

There is nothing at all that requires the President to render or return salutes. Ronald Reagan was the first President to return a salute as Commander in Chief.  I have seen all of the Presidents since Reagan do it.  There are also many times when the havn't returned them.
Why they are saluting Michelle, I have no idea. They never saluted any of the other first ladies.

Was Michelle getting on (or) off Marine 1 by herself alone?  I didnt think it was ever used to just transport the spouse around.  If the President wasnt on then it wasnt Marine 1.  It was just a Marine Helicopter   In that case, I can think of a lot smaller helo's HMX has at its disposal for VIP flights other than an H3 Sea King.

[Therapst]

If the President wasnt on then it wasnt Marine 1.  It was just a Marine Helicopter   In that case, I can think of a lot smaller helo's HMX has at its disposal for VIP flights other than an H3 Sea King.

Actually it wouldn't just be a Marine helicopter.  If memory serves, the designation EXEC F1 is used for an aircraft carrying the First Lady.

[RADIOMAN015]

Why they are saluting Michelle, I have no idea. They never saluted any of the other first ladies.

IF  I remember correctly both the President's & Vice President's spouses have taken a keen interest in the welfare of military families.  Perhaps it's a sign of respect for her role.
See this link for further information:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces
RM

[Flying Pig]

Well, maybe, except they didnt salute Laura Bush or Barbara Bush.  Both wives of wartime Presidents.  Laura Bush was always visiting military families.   Then again, maybe the Marine just got confused and whipped one out by mistake!

[RADIOMAN015]

Well, maybe, except they didnt salute Laura Bush or Barbara Bush.  Both wives of wartime Presidents.  Laura Bush was always visiting military families.   Then again, maybe the Marine just got confused and whipped one out by mistake!

I would hope that this doesn't become political with some of you.  The website is there and you can evaluate for yourself the good that they are trying to do.
RM

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

I would hope that this doesn't become political with some of you.  The website is there and you can evaluate for yourself the good that they are trying to do.
RM

Agreed on that one.

There is absolutely nothing amiss with saluting Mrs Obama.

I don't believe that military personnel, except for ARNG/ANG and SDF's, are required to salute State Governors, but it wouldn't be amiss to do so.

Saluting varies from country to country.  Canadian troops do not salute the Prime Minister; that is reserved for the Queen, other members of the Royal Family and the Governor-General.  However, when the President visits Ottawa, they salute him.

[PHall]

I would hope that this doesn't become political with some of you.  The website is there and you can evaluate for yourself the good that they are trying to do.
RM

Agreed on that one.

There is absolutely nothing amiss with saluting Mrs Obama.

I don't believe that military personnel, except for ARNG/ANG and SDF's, are required to salute State Governors, but it wouldn't be amiss to do so.

Saluting varies from country to country.  Canadian troops do not salute the Prime Minister; that is reserved for the Queen, other members of the Royal Family and the Governor-General.  However, when the President visits Ottawa, they salute him.

That's because the Prime Minister is NOT the Head of Government in Canada. The Queen is.
The Governor-General is the Queen's personal representative to the Government of Canada.

[RRLE]

You have confused the Head of the Government, who is the Prime Minister, with the Head of State, who is the Queen and represented by the Governor General.

[Capination]

We don't mind if we get saluted and we are civilians.

:clap:

[Flying Pig]

Well, maybe, except they didnt salute Laura Bush or Barbara Bush.  Both wives of wartime Presidents.  Laura Bush was always visiting military families.   Then again, maybe the Marine just got confused and whipped one out by mistake!

I would hope that this doesn't become political with some of you.  The website is there and you can evaluate for yourself the good that they are trying to do.
RM

How is my statement political? Your the one who brought up the fact that a wartime first lady may be saluted out of respect.  Im stating that has not been the case in the past.  Heck, you can even throw Hillary in the mix.  Bill launched a few missiles into the desert, and she never got saluted either.

By Cyborg
There is absolutely nothing amiss with saluting Mrs Obama.

Well, there is something "amiss" because first ladies arent saluted.  Nothing political.  Just curious at why it is now the case.

[Flyinsarge]

As far as I am concerned, saluting Mrs. Obama is the same as saluting just anyone you see at, say, the store. She is not in the chain of command, and therefore should not have received a salute. If there is anyone who has evidence to suggest I am wrong, I would love to see it- I myself am rather confused about this too.

[SarDragon]

A salute is a greeting, no more, no less. It is a bit more formal that other greetings, but still just a greeting. I can easily equate with tipping one's hat, if I were wearing a hat. I frequently use a saluting type gesture with friends, particularly if they've been in the military, and "get it".

As for saluting a First Lady, I see nothing wrong with it. Does she "deserve" one? In a strict military context, no. Is it hurting any thing/body to do it? No. Is it disrespecting anyone? No.

YMMV.

[PHall]

A salute is a greeting, no more, no less. It is a bit more formal that other greetings, but still just a greeting. I can easily equate with tipping one's hat, if I were wearing a hat. I frequently use a saluting type gesture with friends, particularly if they've been in the military, and "get it".

As for saluting a First Lady, I see nothing wrong with it. Does she "deserve" one? In a strict military context, no. Is it hurting any thing/body to do it? No. Is it disrespecting anyone? No.

YMMV.

Besides, which one of you heroes wants to tell those Marines that they screwed up by saluting the First Lady?

[Major Lord]

A salute is a greeting, no more, no less. It is a bit more formal that other greetings, but still just a greeting. I can easily equate with tipping one's hat, if I were wearing a hat. I frequently use a saluting type gesture with friends, particularly if they've been in the military, and "get it".

As for saluting a First Lady, I see nothing wrong with it. Does she "deserve" one? In a strict military context, no. Is it hurting any thing/body to do it? No. Is it disrespecting anyone? No.

YMMV.

I could not disagree more. A military style salute is not the same as cheerleader wave or a peppy thumbs-up. It is an exchange of courtesy reserved by tradition for those in the profession or arms, and extended to a select few outside that group ( CAP, BSA, Etc.) Its a privilege paid for in blood, not a "high 5" for your home boys. As to whether or not its appropriate to salute the commander in chiefs' spouse, that is a separate question.  I personally would not. ( Even one of the good ones, like Laura Bush, or Pat Nixon) This is not to say that I would not treat treat any of the First Ladies ( And we might have a "First Man" the next time around, you never know) with the utmost courtesy.

Major Lord