Scenario: A squadron says the Pledge at the beginning of every meeting. They are in uniform, indoors, and all of them are saying the pledge. Do they stand at attention? Place their hand over their heart? Salute?
This is a conundrum that we ran across with the squadron thats shares our building. They say the pledge each meeting, but we don't know what the correct C&C so I told them I'd as the good folks at CAPtalk.
If in uniform stand at attention and do not place your hand over your heart.
Regulation for proof? I want to be as solidly sure as I can be.
If I remember correctly, there was a similar topic posted here a while ago. Here's what I was taught:
When indoors, stand at attention, face the person or speaker saying the pledge, remain silent.
When outdoors, do the same.
The Pledge of Allegiance does not warrant a salute for those in uniform because the uniform is the salute.
When out of uniform, place the right hand over the heard and recite.
Quote from: ♠SARKID♠ on September 11, 2007, 05:22:37 AM
Regulation for proof? I want to be as solidly sure as I can be.
If you're going to ask for a regulation citation to back up a response to the question you posted, why don't you just go ahead and look it up yourself? You've got the same access to the regulations as I do. Scan down the list of regulations and it will be immediately obvious which one it will be in.
CAP Pamphlet 2.
QuoteHonors to the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance are similar to those rendered during the playing of the National Anthem or "To the Colors," which will be covered later.
1. You do not recite the Pledge of Allegiance while in military formation or during military ceremonies.
2. At protocol functions, social or sporting events:
a. When in uniform outdoors, you stand at attention, face the flag, remain silent, and salute.
b. When in uniform indoors, you stand at attention, face the flag, but do not salute.
3. When in civilian clothes (indoors or outdoors) you should stand at attention, face the flag, remove headdress with right hand, place your right hand holding the headdress, over your heart and recite the Pledge. If no headdress is worn, place
right hand over heart and recite the Pledge.
So technically you are wrong for even reciting the pledge at an opening ceremony...however....if you do (we do at our squadron) those in USAF uniform should stand at attention and recite it or not as they see fit.
Quote from: RiverAux on September 11, 2007, 05:29:17 AM
Quote from: ♠SARKID♠ on September 11, 2007, 05:22:37 AM
Regulation for proof? I want to be as solidly sure as I can be.
If you're going to ask for a regulation citation to back up a response to the question you posted, why don't you just go ahead and look it up yourself? You've got the same access to the regulations as I do. Scan down the list of regulations and it will be immediately obvious which one it will be in.
I did but couldn't find it. Believe me, I hate it when people ask about a reg just as much as you do. I just asked for the reg so I could physically show where the decision came from. If nobody could find it, I'd have gone with what you said, so thanks!
Quote from: lordmonar on September 11, 2007, 05:34:00 AM
CAP Pamphlet 2.
QuoteHonors to the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance are similar to those rendered during the playing of the National Anthem or "To the Colors," which will be covered later.
1. You do not recite the Pledge of Allegiance while in military formation or during military ceremonies.
2. At protocol functions, social or sporting events:
a. When in uniform outdoors, you stand at attention, face the flag, remain silent, and salute.
b. When in uniform indoors, you stand at attention, face the flag, but do not salute.
3. When in civilian clothes (indoors or outdoors) you should stand at attention, face the flag, remove headdress with right hand, place your right hand holding the headdress, over your heart and recite the Pledge. If no headdress is worn, place
right hand over heart and recite the Pledge.
So technically you are wrong for even reciting the pledge at an opening ceremony...however....if you do (we do at our squadron) those in USAF uniform should stand at attention and recite it or not as they see fit.
Thanks much lordmonar!
And for re-affirmation:
Quote from: AFM 36-2203
7.38. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag:
7.38.1. In military formations and ceremonies, the Pledge of Allegiance is not recited.
7.38.2. At protocol functions and social and sporting events that include civilian participants, military personnel should:
7.38.2.1. When in uniform outdoors, stand at attention, remain silent, face the flag, and render the hand salute.
7.38.2.2. When in uniform indoors, stand at attention, remain silent, and face the flag. Do not render the hand salute. Where the participants are primarily civilians or in civilian attire, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is optional for those in uniform.
7.38.2.3. When in civilian attire, recite the Pledge of Allegiance standing at attention, facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Men should remove their headdress with the right hand and hold it over their left shoulder, hand over the heart.
And I'm pretty sure there is a big huge thread on this very topic. The point raised in that thread was whether standing up in front of your chairs in a meeting room was considered a "formation" where you should not recite the pledge. That is where it comes down to more of an interpretation problem. I don't consider that a formation.
I stand corrected. When the Pledge of Allegiance is played outdoors, you do render a salute. And to the flag, not the person saying the pledge.