Where is thy salute?

  • Published
  • By Air Force Capt. Joseph Coslett
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  During an Airman Leadership School graduation at a previous assignment, a Navy senior chief just gave a motivating speech to challenge the leaders of tomorrow.

This was quickly followed by the introduction of the dead fish.

The installation commander gave the Levitow Award and other academic and professional awards for excellence, but the comments following the ceremony were about the commander's dead fish salute.

The question I had the pleasure of answering as the PAO was, "Why does a colonel not know how to salute properly or professionally?"

The event opened my eyes, seeing many officers and enlisted alike avoiding or giving unprofessional salutes.

I've seen - and you probably have too - the dead fish, the hey how you doing, the quick tap, the halfway up, the leaning salute and others.

Maybe because I went through two different basic trainings - Air Force basic military training and officer training school - in both of which I learned how to salute, I'm more conscious of the oldest military courtesy.

If I did not give a crisp salute, I was immediately corrected.

Last time I checked, our last core Air Force value is 'excellence in all we do.'

This means we should always strive to look professional and have our game face on. As an important custom and courtesy, the salute deserves no less attention, especially at the higher ranks.

Another case, I recently had the pleasure of experiencing, is an officer leaning on a truck actually salute me from a slouching position.

He showed me the ever so popular "Hey how you doing salute," which starts at about the shoulder and ends in a "hi" gesture movement.

He never returned the mutual respect - saluting should be automatic not an afterthought.

The history of the salute varies, but one story dates back to the days of the kings and knights when it was customary for knights dressed in armor to raise their visors to friends for the purpose of identification.

Another is British navy junior officers would uncover when addressing a senior.

Gradually over time, the removal of the cap evolved into merely touching the cap, or if uncovered the head, and finally into the salute.

Saluting is one of the oldest military traditions.

It is a courtesy exchanged between service members when greeting and a symbol of mutual respect.

The salute steps are simple and, if performed correctly, look professional.

Raise the right hand smartly until the tip of the forefingers touches the lower part of the headgear or forehead above and slightly to the right of the eye.

Extend and join the thumb and fingers.

Turn the palm slightly inward until the person saluting can just see its surface from the corner of the right eye.

The upper arm is parallel to the ground; the elbow is slightly in front of the body.

Incline the forearm at a 45 degree angle; hand and wrist are in a straight line.

Complete the salute after it is returned by dropping the arm to its normal position in one sharp, clean motion.

I challenge you to not let complacency set in, salute properly. It only takes seconds out of your day, but is a representation of who you are.

Are your people worth it? Are your fellow professionals worth it?

Think about when our heroes pay the ultimate sacrifice and our outstanding honor guard renders the proper salute to the member and the flag.

You work with heroes every day. Are they worth it? Are they worth your time?