Paying compliments in a desert hat

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

At a place that no longer is fequented by the British, the only guy saluted was the 2 star Army chappie.. Easy to spot cos his land rover had a 2 star plate!! Nobody else was saluted..

 

[Rambling Sid]

failing that go ask the SWO or RSM.

In about 10 years of service I never once actively sort the SWO out for anything, but he did seem to seek me out on occasion.

 

[techie_tubby]

I thought a salute was in acknowledgement of the officer holding the queen's commission.

AFAIK the Yanks do not hold our queen's commission, so the most they get from me is a high 5.DT_Xtremez_28:

You salute British officers because they hold the Queens commission but you still salute officers of other nations. The yanks where up here at the North Yorkshire base in the middle of nowhere for an exercise and we where briefed to salute the officers. There are even a few on secondermant on the squadrons

 

[R_Squared]

You salute British officers because they hold the Queens commission but you still salute officers of other nations. .....

I've got no problem with the first bit, but I've always been a bit doubtful about the second bit myself.
Especially as the officers of our colonial cousins actively rebelled against the Crown.
Personally, I feel, unless it's the Queen's commission, you can stick it up your hoop.
However, I stand by to be enlightened as to why we are compelled to salute the commissions of other countries, apart from as an act of courtesy of course.

 

[techie_tubby]

However, I stand by to be enlightened as to why we are compelled to salute the commissions of other countries, apart from as an act of courtesy of course.

Could just be to show respect to the rank maybe

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

You salute because they too are commissioned...... Simples!

If this is all you have to complain about, then life sure as fcuk ain't treating you too badly!

 

[sceadugenga]

Aye but the point is that if they do not hold the Queens commision then the paying of compliments is not strictly necessary. If you salute because of the Royal commision then it surely can't apply on the same terms to officers of other nations. SO if you salute foreign officers then it must be out of courtesy and to protect their ickly feewings.

 

[SirSaltyHelmet]

Canada? Australia?

 

[Douglas Bader's Right Leg]

You salute British Officers because they hold the Queen's Commission; you salute the Commissioned Officers of other nations as a courtesy. In theory you can salute anyone you want, even your mates - it can be used as a very formal form of handshake. It may even be suggested that you salute the PM if you are unlucky enough to meet him, but you are not obliged to unless ordered.

As for floppy hats, any uniform headdress counts in the saluting stakes (even the old arctic deputy dog hats), simply refer to SROs/SSOs. If you are meeting an officer of starred rank then I would advise saluting regardless of orders.

Whatever you do, don't forget to touch the brim of your floppy hat in a gentlemanly fashion whenever you walk past American totty - they love it!

Whilst I am at it: the plural of "Sir" is "Gentlemen" not "Sirs" and the plural of "Ma'am" is "Ladies". Thus if you walk past a brace of female Flt Lts you are well within your rights to say "Good Morning Ladies". Similarly if you walk past a group of Rodneys you should address the senior (if one is more senior than the others) as Sir and the remainder as gentlemen, hence "Good Morning Sir, Gentlemen". And if you are going to go to the bother of saluting someone do feel free to announce it at the top of your voice with a hearty "Good morning" or "Good afternoon" otherwise they may not even realise you have saluted them

 

[Stevienics]

"................you are well within your rights to say "Good Morning Ladies".

Yeah. Probably best be looking into their eyes when you say that.

 

[freudian slip]

I deployed with the Army on Telic and had my brim widened to shoulder width. On the verge of being charged I commented to the Adj that if he was charging me for tailored hat then he charged everybody for having thin brims.
I walked away laughing as his face wentt an even brighter shade of red. Needless to say it only came out when I wanted to annoy him. Never saluted in it though.