PHSChat Ideas Forum

I'm fairly new to the Corps. Could you explain this one a little more?

I agree. Military courtesy should be practiced. I have seen too many PHS officers who do not practice this everyday. Example, I'm walking with a PHS officer in DC. She sees someone else in a uniform: NCO walking in the opposite direction. She wants to cross the street to avoid contact because she doesn't know what to do. I explained to her to follow my lead and mentioned that when he salutes us, return the salute. The NCO is showing respect to a higher rank, therefore, return the same respect by saluting back. This military courtesy goes for higher ranking officers as well: you see a higher ranking officer, render the proper salute to show respect for the office and the rank.

Thanks for the clarification. It seems like a rule put in place to excuse those who are not accustomed to military courtesies, rather than taking the opportunity to educate them.

I think the point is lost here. It is not that military courtesy is being ignored. It is so those that are on site and those that drive in do not have to carry and store their covers. Military does this as well at conferences, to include AMSUS. Strange in the DC area, Walter Reed told their soldiers not to salute in the DC area, which I found shocking as I am not sure of a sniper in DC looking for that salute to take out an officer as is the custom in a combat zone.

I am on a military installation everyday. I initiate and return salutes everyday. I firmly believe in military courtesy and have even encouraged my co-workers to engage (unsuccessfully). However, saluting at large conferences could become excessive. If only certain areas at the conferences are designated relaxed areas it would may satisfy both views. Believe it or not some officers just get a kick out of being saluted.

I also think that military courtesy should be practiced more. I found myself confused about who should be initiating salutes especially on military installations. My daughter joined the Navy and because of my uneasiness with this, I did not wear my uniform to her graduation.

Agreed that while at these type of conferences, saluting can become "Excessive" for THOSE who do this on a regular basis. However, the usphs is not that kind of service, for many this may be their only opportunity to engage others and work on their customs. Were missing on a great training opportunity and fostering the "fear for the customs" evidenced by others in this forum.