By NSTP-ROTC University of Makati

2. Military Courtesy and Discipline
1. Respect for Seniors
2. The Hand Salute
3. Types of Salutes
4. Whom to Salute
5. When to Salute
6. How to Salute
7. When not to Salute
8. Do’s and Don’ts of Saluting
9. Distance for Saluting
10. Saluting the Flag in Civilian Attire

3. Whom to Salute
a) Commissioned officers of the Navy, Army, Air
Force, the National Flag, and National Anthem.
b) Officer of Foreign Armed Services governments
which are recognized by the Philippines.
c) Officers of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the
Public Health Service when they are serving the AFP.
d) All civilians who entitled, by reason of their
position, to gun salutes of other honors, are also
entitled by the custom to the salute.

4. When to Salute
a) Aboardship – When boarding a navy ship which the
National Flag is flying, all persons in the naval
science step upon reaching the upper platform of the
accommodation ladder or shipboard end of the
prow, face the national Flag and salute. After
this, salute the Officer of the Deck (OOD). When
leaving the ship, salute first the OOD and the
National Flag. All Officers and enlisted personnel on
board a navy ship salute all flag officers, captains of
ship, and officers seniors to themselves from other
on every occasion of meeting, passing near, or when
being addressed.

5. b) In boats
b.1 men seated in boats in which there is no officer, petty
officer or acting petty officer in charge, rise and salute all
officers passing near. When an officer, petty or acting petty
officers is in charge of the boat, he alone renders the salute.
b.2 Officers seated in boats rise in rendering and returning
salutes when a senior enters or leaves the boat or when
acknowledging a gun salute.
b.3 Coxswains in charge of boats rise and salute all officers
entering or leaving the boat. All members of the crew when
the boat is not underway and not carrying an officer aboard
stand and salute when an officer comes alongside, leaves the
side, or passes near them. If the boat awning are spread, the
men sit at attention and render the hand salute without rising.

6. c) In building ashore – In Navy building ashore, the
same general rules of saluting apply as on board navy
ship. Salute the captain and all officers senior to you
on all occasions, salute other officers on first
meeting during the day. The salute also rendered
indoors during ceremonies honoring the flag and in
court martial.
d) In civilian clothes – Senior should be saluted (when
recognized) while wearing civilian clothes. Officers
in civilian attire do so, therefore, one should not
discriminate about following the rule.

7. e) In a group – if officers and enlisted men are standing
together not in formation, and a senior
approaches, the first to see him shouts “attention”
and all faces him and salute. When in formation, he
warns his unit to attention before executing the
appropriate salute.
f) Accompanied by women – when escorting
women, both officers and men will render the
customary salute. When seated with women, junior
officers if covered rise and salute when senior officers
approach.

8. g) Overtaking and Accompanying with the Senior
g.1 overtake and pass senior officer only upon his
permission. When it becomes necessary to walk past
a senior officer, pass on his left side, salute when you
are abreast and ask, “By your leave Sir?” When the
officer returns the salute you can continue past him.
g.2 When in company with a senior, you always walk
on his left or put him on your right. This also applies
when aboard a vehicle.

9. h) Reporting – When reporting on deck or outdoors
ashore, one is covered and salute accordingly. When
reporting to an officer, he uncovers upon
approaching the senior, salute and state your
business.
i) Seated – An enlisted man being seated and without
particular occupation rises upon the approach of an
officer, faces him and salutes, if covered. If both
remain in the same vicinity, the salute need not be
repeated.
j) Seniority unknown – Officers will know the relative
seniority of those with whom they are in frequent
contact, the safest way and the best rule is to salute
mutually and without delay.

10. k) Sentries – Sentries are gangways salute all officers
going or coming over the side, and when passing or
being passed by officers close aboard in boats.
l) Vehicles – Officers and enlisted personnel salute and
senior officers riding in a vehicle both render and
return the salutes. A driver of a vehicle is required to
salute if the vehicle is at halt.

11. How to Salute
a) Hand salute
a.1 When not walking, render the salute in the position of
a soldier at attention. When walking, continue and
render the salute within a recognizable distance (5
paces).
a.2 The hand salute is rendered smartly and done in the
following manner: The forearm should be inclinded 45
degrees. The tip of the forefinger should be slightly
touching above the eyebrow of the right eye, the thumb
and fingers must be extended and joined. The upper arm
is parallel to the deck and elbow forward. Hand and wrist
are in the straight-line formation. The palm is slightly
inward.

12. b) Rifle Salute – The three rifle salutes – present
arms, at order arms, and shoulder arms. These rifle
salutes are used in place of the hand salute when
carrying a rifle. They are used as follows:
b.1 You can execute present arms:
- When standing in a sentry box, or on a post, and
addressed or approached by any person entitled to a
salute.
- When halted while on patrol to reply to or
address an officer.
- When in ranks and so commanded, for
example, at Colors.

13. b.2 You can give a rifle salute at order arms:
- When standing sentry or guard duty by a door
inside a building (Present arms may also be required
by competent authority. When there is considerable
traffic, the salute at order arms is usually more
convenient)
- When reporting a roll call (if already at order
arms)
- When reporting individually to an
officer, indoors.

14. b.3 You can give a rifle salute at shoulder arms:
- When on patrol and passing without halting, a
person entitled to a salute.
- When reporting a detail past an officer.
- When reporting roll call (if already at shouder
arms)
- When reporting individually to an officer
outdoors.
- When going individually to and from drill and
passing any person entitled to a salute.

15. b.4 Saluting with a Sword:
- When reporting to an officer or a non-
commissioned officer during drills or when rendering
the report during the parades and reviews.
- During the rendition of honors by the
Commander of the honor guard to the honoree.
- During the parades when passing before
grandstand and the order “eyes right” is given, the
salute with the sword is rendered to the honoree.

16. When not to salute
a) When in ranks if addressed come to attention.
b) When part of a detail at work.
c) In a public conveyance when obviously not appropriate.
d) When under actual or stimulated battle conditions.
e) When engaged in games or athletics.
f) At mess. If addressed by an officer, sit at attention.
g) “At Oars” in a pulling boat.
h) When carrying articles with both hands.
i) When serving as a member of the guard engaged in
performance of a duty which prevent saluting.

17. Do’s and Don’ts of Saluting
a) Always use your right hand in saluting. If it is
occupied or so encumbered as to delay your salute
too long, you may use your left hand.
b) Accompanying your salute with cheerful and
respectful greetings by saying “Good Morning, Sir.”
“Good afternoon, Captain.”
c) Before saluting, come to attention first. If “on the
double,” come to a walk when saluting a passing
officer. You need not stop, but hold yourself erect.
d) Look directly at the person you are saluting.

18. e) If both of your hands are occupied, and are unable to
salute, face the officer as though you were saluting and
greet him.
f) Never salute with a pipe cigar, cigarette in your mouth or
chewing gum.
g) If you are in the company of an officer, salute with him at
the same time.
h) Always salute an officer even if his hand are engaged and
cannot return the salute.
i) Prisoners do not salute.
j) Salute is not given indoors. It is not only rendered in
special cases like honoring the flag during
ceremonies, indoor or in a court martial.
k) One salute with a greeting will suffice for the same
officer.

19. Distance for Saluting
a) The officer must pass near enough to be identified.
b) The one who is initiating the salute should do so
while he is about five (5) paces from the officer to the
later to have time to see and to return it.

20. Saluting the Flag in Civilian Attire:
a) If you are with a hat, remove it with your right hand
and hold it over your chest, with your hand over your
heart.
b) If you are not wearing a hat, place your right hand
over your heart. Woman in civilian attire salute in the
same manner.