Paying of Compliments

[ChrisBrit81]

First of all, I've posted this in service gen in order to get a difinitive answer backed up by it's source (i.e. the relevant publication / QR).

If a comissioned officer is cycling along wearing his cycle helmet and a JR service person is in full uniform with beret/head dress, should the JR pay compliments to the comissioned officer?

It is my understanding from over 9 years in the RAF and remembering back to my GSK days in basic training, that regardless of the state of dress of the comissioned officer... if you(the JR) are in uniform and wearing your head dress, you are to pay compliments. Because it is the comission you are saluting... not the person... not the officers head dress... the comission.

I'd preferably like someone to let me know what publication these rules are in. I know there are many "local" orders pertaining to this sort of thing, but what I'm after is the General Rule not an exception to it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gone 2 the Darkside]

Happy to oblige, regs for paying compliments are in AP818 Part 2 Chap 1. Also you're right, when in uniform you should pay compliments to anyone you recognise as an officer, regardless of what they are wearing.

 

[Get Tae]

You are correct if the JR is in uniform with headress and he sees an on coming officer on a cycle regardless if he has a hat or a helmet on he should be saluted.

He should even be saluted if he is in civvies and you recognise him.

My slant on it is this however, the JR should have the presence of mind to duck behind something or walk the other way to avoid said salute thus ensuring no confusion is made over the issue..........

 

[Portcullis]

I'm so glad you asked. From AP 818 Part 2 Chapter 1:

Personnel are to salute commissioned officers of the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Army, Commonwealth and Foreign Services at all times, and at any time when they recognise officers who are dressed in plain clothes.

So, you were correct - hat on, hat off, cycle helmet on or off. How does the Officer return the salute? Further guidance from the fabled document:

22. When wearing plain-clothes personnel are to pay and return compliments by raising the hat. If not wearing head-dress personnel should pay compliments as laid down in para 6.

6. When the individual is not wearing head-dress or is carrying anything other than a weapon, which prevents saluting, the head is to be turned smartly towards the officer being passed. When stationary the individual is to stand to attention as the officer passes.

There is no mention of any points awarded for making said officer fall off his bike while doing soDT_Xtremez_14:

Answers to this and so many more questions can be obtained from your friendly SWO or D&C Instructor!DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[Spearmint]

Anything in the AP about silly salutes?

 

[ChrisBrit81]

My slant on it is this however, the JR should have the presence of mind to duck behind something or walk the other way to avoid said salute thus ensuring no confusion is made over the issue..........

Ha ha, love it...

Thanks people, you've cleared up a mini heated debate we were having at work, now I have the relevant proof to back me up.

help yourself to a virtual beer on me DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[Portcullis]

Anything in the AP about silly salutes?

unfortunately not.

Might buy a hat this weekend though!

 

[hugo_a_go_go]

unfortunately not.

Might buy a hat this weekend though!

nice bowler should do the trick DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[Hcut99]

Anything in the AP about silly salutes?

No but somebody should write a book on the subject.




cup of corrrfeeeSpending the day.

 

[Fat2at]

In a Tri-Service environment it can get a bit silly though. I work with RN and Army and our Flt Cdr is a Flt Lt. He came into work and began chewing a Navy Chief's arrse in front of us all for not saluting. Both were in uniform, wearing hats and the boss was on his bike. The Cheif hadn't saluted - just said good morning. Anyway, the Cheif continued to let him rant and when it was all over he left a 5 second pause, pointed to his RN rank slides and just said 'Navy. We don't salute officers on bikes.'. The boss said he'd check - and he did. And he was wrong. And he apologised to the Chief. A lovely morning.

Army ruperts are good on bikes when you salute them. Some nod, some say thanks but, depending on their unit/Regt/training some of them brace up. A practised routine that can involve backpedalling until the feet are at even height and sitting bolt upright. Doesn't sound much but it is quite a violent manouevre and looks utterly ridiculous.

What a complete load of b*ll*cks. Why can't we all throw our hats away and get on with life?

 

[Get Tae]

What a complete load of b*ll*cks. Why can't we all throw our hats away and get on with life?

How dare you suggest such a thing young man!!

Keeping the hired help down and making them salute hofficers is just another way of them letting us know who is boss.

No saluting seems to work on Ops.

I think they should actually bring it in on Ops then we would be a few useless hoopers less and the job would get carried out quicker and with less f**k ups and stupid management speak/meetings.

Just a thought..........

 

[busby1971]

Tri Service more like Bi Service

Tri Service more like Bi Service

Don't forget a hats not a hat unless it's at a jaunty angle.

I was once sent back into a building with a ringing fire alarm by an army major because I'd been elsewhere within the compound when the alarm went off and the muster point was outside the hat free area.

 

[he_who_dares_rodney]

The Blues and Royals salute each other when bare headed so hats wearing off wouldn't make a difference

 

[needsabiggerfuse]

Army ruperts are good on bikes when you salute them. Some nod, some say thanks but, depending on their unit/Regt/training some of them brace up. A practised routine that can involve backpedalling until the feet are at even height and sitting bolt upright. Doesn't sound much but it is quite a violent manouevre and looks utterly ridiculous.

Sounds like a perfect target for the 'ol saluting trap. Half a dozen airmen, hidden but strategically spaced, walk into view as said occifer approaches on his velocipede. Points awarded afterwards for performance; total stoppage being the ultimate prize. DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[he_who_dares_rodney]

The famed pincer movement is the one to get cycling officers with
Take the aforementioned half a dozen airmen and send them down either side of the road in twos
The Airman nearest the officer salutes with a snappy arm and a loud Sah!

Young officer goes through bracing up wobblying on cycle motions in an attempt to return the compliment

Airman on the other side of the road repeats exercise

Officer mid brace attempts to turn and return compliment

Airmna approches at speed back on the original side of road and salutes

Officer now dangerously confused and wobbling away on his machine when::

Airman appears on other side of the road and salutes and so on

Carried out properly it's possible to make the young officer fall off his bike or even under a passing truck or carDT_Xtremez_14:

 

[Knackered Old Chief]

The salutin' of the Commission

The salutin' of the Commission

Pull up a sandbag. Ancestor, RN pensioner in 1939, browbeats their Admiralships into re-engaging him. Reports back to RN Barracks, Devonport, encounters 'Dartmouth-output' to his left side, and salutes using left hand. Example of Dartmouth-output, does double-take, questions ancestor pointedly, who replies that when he was pensioned in the 1920's, that was the rule - Orficer to the left, salute left handed. Much harrumphing. Ancestor contacted later in the day to be told that he was correct, and that he now needs saluting practice; 6 p.m. each day (or whatever bells it is in jack-speak) he and a supervising CPO (in 1940 a CPO was the highest rate in the RN -I think) were detailed to practice up-2-3-pause-down-2-3 with the right hand only. Being sensible types in the era of common sense, the practice lasted until the mess bar opened - about 2 reps I think!
Hey-ho.