Can anyone tell me? Does President Obama return the salutes his military guards offer him?

[Aristus]

I only ask because this is something that started under Reagan, and I've never liked it. Saluting is a privilege, and should be reserved for uniformed service members only. President Obama is the C-in-C, of course, but he's a civilian, and I don't think civilians should salute. The proper civilian response to a salute is a nod to the person offering it and a polite "thank you."

In case you don't see saluting as a privilege, rather than a requirement, you ought to know that military prisoners in a stockade are forbidden to salute officers while serving their sentences. That privilege is rescinded for the duration of their sentence.

[MNDemNY]

1. Yes he does.

[CATagious]

2. yes he salutes... as well he should...

I believe being the C-in-C allows him the privilege of returning the salutes.

[ShortnFiery]

3. Yes, when I saw pictures yesterday of him boarding Marine Corps 1, he not only returned the salute

but also reached out to shake the hand to this Marine. The Marine, at first, looked stunned but readily lowered his salute and shook his hand. I bet his children will hear this story many times. And proudly so. Semper Fi!

[Botany]

10. thanx for letting me know that Obama salutes

Betya he snaps off a crisp salute

[ShortnFiery]

16. Yes, as many Drill Sergeants would quip, Obama's sharp salute is ...

OUTSTANDING! :patriot: :hi:

[EffieBlack]

52. An Army officer friend of mine said it was obvious that someone had taught Obama how to salute and

that he'd practiced it until he got it regulation perfect.

I asked him if he had a problem with him doing that. He said, "Not at all. I appreciate the fact that he cares enough about the military to make sure he gets it right."

[TEXASYANKEE]

13. I saw this to.

And the thing is, Obama looks so incredibly natural at it. People really are people to him, not just objects. What a moment for that Marine.

[peace13]

17. I am sure he will get crap for shaking hands with the Marine.

Personally I think it is nice to have a President who respects those who represent and protect him.

[hamsterjill]

31. Yes, it is!

And it's nice to have a president who doesn't act like an elitist to ordinary people.

[EffieBlack]

51. I bet his mother heard about it as soon as he went back into the WH!

"Mom - you're not going to believe what just happened. . ."

[Botany]

4. I doubt it because he was not in the military

but as C.I.C. he is allowed to do so ..... but I always thought that
Reagan and W doing "it" was stupid.

[ShortnFiery]

14. I think it's a sign of respect. As a veteran, I can attest that Obama has a class A salute.

For almost a year after I resigned my commission, I would still instinctively return the salute of the military gate guards upon entering a facility. Then I'd think, "stop that" and waved instead, i.e., like a clueless dependent wife. Still today, the Gate Guards always salute "my sticker" whenever I enter a military facility. Yes, the Military Members "salute the higher officer position" but not necessarily "the person."

[mentalsolstice]

38. I worked for the Navy as a civilian

Thus I had the green base sticker, which should generally garner a wave through. However, my sticker was dark and more blue in appearance, so I got the snappy salute at the gate. I remember thinking WTF for the first several weeks, then I caught on and started doing the cute officer's wife wave.

[HardWorkingDem]

5. I have seen him do it and frankly, when he does....

you can see he has more sincerity, class and respect in his salutes than his predecessor ever did.

On top of that, because Americans are so ignorant when it comes to customs and actions toward all things, even if your view was correct, the public would crucify him if he didn't.

[EffieBlack]

53. Yes - Bush was very flip about his salute. President Obama obviously takes it very seriously

I first noticed it during the Inaugural parade. He looked so dignified and natural doing it and I just wanted to cry with joy and pride!

[Kalyke]

6. Yes - and then he shakes their hands.

I was impressed by a clip yesterday that showed him doing that.

I asked my former Army husband if that protocol was OK and he said that it was because Obama is the Commander in Chief and he can do whatever the hell he wants to. :)

[WI_DEM]

8. Me too, I'll bet the Chimp never did that.

[alsame]

11. I really like

what your husband said!!:fistbump:

[Adelante]

19. The sweetest thing

The expression on that young Marine's face :)

Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yRC8ud9laI

[supernova]

21. LOL! Priceless!

I can't believe he shook my hand for doing my job!

:D

[WePurrsevere]

28. Thank you... that was a joy to watch...

I just wish they had a bit more of a close up of it. :)

[Poll_Blind]

41. That was AWESOME- thank you! From the way he dropped his salute it looked...

...like he was deep in thought. That was great!

PB

[Captain Hilts]

24. The handshake is a nice touch. I've seen other prezes do that too. nt

[elleng]

7. I read a story,

yesterday? Guess so; to Williamsburg. He offered to and shook the guards hand! Guard then continued to salute.

[Frustratedlady]

9. He saluted before he ran up the steps to AF1

Obama isn't a prisoner in a stockade...or, is he? Poor guy is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. No suit jacket, no tie, no saluting? Let him govern.

[Aristus]

33. You mis-understand. I do not think less of President Obama for saluting. (How could I?)

I just remember cringing every time the smirking chimp saluted a member of our armed forces. Even though he served, at least in a technical sense, in the armed forces. It just looked like more of his idiotic John Wayne tough guy bullshit.

As long as his salute is crisp and snappy, and he's not holding a fucking DOG while trying to salute, I'm fine with it.

[cosmik debris]

12. As I recall, Medal Of Honor winners get a Salute

Even from the C-in-C.

But that's slightly off topic.

[Captain Hilts]

25. I did not know that. Cool!

[merh]

15. Yes he does.

And I disagree with you - Obama is the top military commander as Commander in Chief - it is respect to the saluting officer that he return the salute. By regulations, it is mandatory that all uniformed members of the military salute the CnC.

[marlakay]

18. My military kids that supported him watched him closely

to see if he did it right. They feel nothing but happiness that he is their new leader and boss.

They have no problem with him saluting and if they don't I don't.

[Uzybone]

20. Meaningless to me

Salute or do not salute. Either way doesn't matter.

[Captain Hilts]

22. Yes he does. FDR did when reviewing troops. Sorry, it just looks stupid to me...

perhaps because I'm from a navy family. And the navy doesn't salute without wearing the proper hat.

[dbmk]

32. Excuse me, but that doesn't strike me as any less "stupid". :)

[Jack Rabbit]

23. Opinion of a vet (EM)

Frankly, I think the Commander-in-Chief and other civilians in the chain of command should return the salute.

Of course, I am quite aware that prisoners are denied the "privilege" of saluting. It's just that most of us didn't see saluting as a privilege. I don't know if it's still there, but in the 70s at Camp Red Cloud, a small outpost between Seoul and the DMZ in Korea, a sign read "On this post, saluting is an honor, not a chore." That sign speaks volumes about what the attitude toward saluting really is.

As in any hierarchical organization, not every one at the top is worthy of respect. Some are just plain dumb, and others would screw over their grandmothers to get in line for a fast promotion. At Fort Huachuca, Arizona, I knew a hardcore and utterly incompetent staff sergeant who was all the worse for being in line to make warrant officer. After he made it, I had the experience of a chance encounter with this jack ass while we were both in uniform and saluted. Saluting such a worthless human being really galled me. He returned the salute and we both went about our business.

We may remind ourselves that one should salute the uniform, not the idiot wearing it. Sometimes it's pretty difficult to separate the two. At moment like the chance encounter with the dipshit who just happened to be a warrant officer, we are reminded of the hypocrisy that is at the core of formal code of behavior like military courtesy.

If an enlisted man must salute out of respect, at least the recipient should acknowledge it for what it is and return the sign of respect.

[Still Sensible]

34. Absolutely, the CIC is by definition in the

Chain of Command, albeit at the top. It is a measure of respect, in my opinion, for the President to return the salute.

[firedupdem]

26. He's the Commander in Chief....might want to remember that. n/t

[dflprincess]

59. The founders, in their wisdom, put the military under civilian control

the Commander in Chief is not a member of military but a civilian and civilians do not salute. Reagan may have started this, but he was delusional and appeared, at times, to think a war movie he had been in had been reality. He probably thought he was a soldier.

On one hand, I wish Obama wouldn't salute, I'd rather both the public and the military remember the C-in-C is a civilian position. On the other hand, there are bigger issues, so it's hardly worth getting worked up over.

[Lasher]

27. Veterans and active military not in uniform now have the right to render a military salute.

The Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 modified Title 4 of the U.S. Code to allow veterans and military service members not in uniform to render the military salute during hoisting, lowering, or passing of the flag. The National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009, signed into law on October 14, 2008, included a provision to allow veterans and military members out of uniform to salute the flag during playing of the National Anthem.

http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1421

[Duer 157099]

29. Bush would have rubbed the Marine's head, I bet

sure is nice to have a CinC who shakes men's hands rather than rub their heads, isn't it?

[Phx_Dem]

45. Yeah, Chimpy probably put them in a headlock and gave a knuckle rub.

[Autumn]

30. Yes,and much better than bush ever did.n/t

[ItNerd4life]

35. It's great to hear that we have a president who respects the miltary

instead of thinking of them as cannon fodder.

[asphalt.jungle]

36. on NatGeo's On Board Marine One

the marine who has to stand there saluting for as long as it takes for the president to board said it was especially an honor to have the president salute you back. if they love it then i don't think anyone else should complain.

[merh]

39. you said it

and welcome to DU :hi:

[ieoeja]

37. In the Marine Corps you are not supposed to salute unless covered.

I agree with you. The President should not salute. But as you say, Reagan set the precedent and now everyone has to follow suit or get labeled anti-American.

Until some ex-general gets elected and stops doing it citing proper protocol.

[stillcool]

42. oops I was wrong..delete

[Thothmes]

44. That is a Navy usage also. In the Army and Airforce

you may salute without being covered.

[Phx_Dem]

46. What does that mean? Covered?

[Aristus]

50. Wearing headgear.

Almost always outdoors. A servicemember only wears headgear indoors if he is under arms. That is: bearing a weapon, as in guard duty.

[Phx_Dem]

60. Thank you. I learned something new today!

:patriot:

[Aristus]

61. My pleasure.

B-)

[Poll_Blind]

40. I don't think any president should salute back unless they've been in the armed services.

I have a feeling a LOT of people are going to misinterpret this as some sort of slam on Obama but it's just my feeling. I've never been in the armed services, FYI. Anyway, that's my feeling on the matter. I don't feel strongly about it.

PB

[WinkyDink]

43. When he is saluted, it is as COMMANDER-in-CHIEF. Get off this idiocy.

[Phx_Dem]

47. Yes, and can you imagine the hysteria if he DIDN'T return the salute?

I don't know about military policy, but it would seem rude for the Commander in Chief of the military not to return a salute (from a civilian perspective, anyway).

[DRoseDARs]

48. Yeah, how dare a civilian salute...

Give me a break. And here I thought the "Jessica Simpson is fat" nonsense was the stupidest shit I heard this week... :eyes:

[Muttocracy]

56. thank you - that was exactly what came to mind. nt

[Life Long Dem]

49. He was saluting during the parade.

[RBInMaine]

54. Yes. I saw footage of him saluting last night on the news.

[Jamastiene]

55. I just asked my aunt. Y'all are going to love this.

She said Obama is the Commander In Chief. He is the top of our military because of that position. She said he is supposed to salute back.

Here's the really good part she added (minus most of her expletives);

She said anyone complaining about him working without his jacket in the office needs to leave him alone too. She then added, "They let that sawed off son of a bitch Bush in there for 8 damn years. The least they can do is leave Obama to do his job and quit bashing him so much."

Well, I left quite a few of the cuss words regarding Bush out of that, but the most important ones are still there. :)

[Imagevision]

57. I saw him do it yesterday...

[HOLOS]

58. Happy to see Pres.C.-in-C. O salute and be saluted