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Full Medal Saluting

Darin Ninness

You can submit your questions to Dr. Drill via e-mail to : DrDrill@CadetStuff.org.
Dr Drill

We're having a discussion in our office about saluting Medal of Honor recipients. Do you know the rules about this and where I can find them? Thanks.

DAVID B. REESE
CMSgt, USAF (ret)

Chief Reese

Just so happens, I do!

The "rules" surrounding the saluting of Medal of Honor recipients is steeped in tradition, and unfortunately is just that: a tradition. There is not hard & fast "in the UCMJ" kind of rule found anywhere that says it must be done.

Matter of fact, it appears that the service departments are mute on this point. Best reference I could find was Wikipedia's (a website referencing a website? Heavens! No!) entry on the Medal of Honor: "It is an informal rule that Medal of Honor recipients, regardless of rank, are saluted by all other service members, including the Commander-in-Chief."

So, you're probably not wrong if you don't salute an MOH recipient, but you'll get a lot of ribbing from the guys in the shop if you don't.

Good luck!

Dr. Drill

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