Who will salute first when two service members of different ranks meet?

Who will salute first when two service members of different ranks meet?

• A. The senior person shall salute first.
• B. The junior person shall salute first.
• C. Both shall salute at the same time.
• D. No one salutes unless commanded.

Answer: (B)

Saluting follows rank. When two service members of different ranks meet, the person with the lower rank initiates the salute, and the higher-ranking person simply returns the salute. This arrangement shows respect to the higher authority while keeping the exchange orderly. For example, if a private meets a sergeant, the private renders the salute first; if two officers of different ranks meet, the junior officer salutes first and the senior officer returns the salute. If the interaction involves enlisted and an officer, the enlisted member who is lower in rank starts the salute, and the officer returns it. The other options don’t fit because the salute is not started by the senior, nor is it a matter of both saluting at the same moment by custom, and saluting isn’t something that only happens if commanded.

Saluting follows rank. When two service members of different ranks meet, the person with the lower rank initiates the salute, and the higher-ranking person simply returns the salute. This arrangement shows respect to the higher authority while keeping the exchange orderly.

For example, if a private meets a sergeant, the private renders the salute first; if two officers of different ranks meet, the junior officer salutes first and the senior officer returns the salute. If the interaction involves enlisted and an officer, the enlisted member who is lower in rank starts the salute, and the officer returns it.

The other options don’t fit because the salute is not started by the senior, nor is it a matter of both saluting at the same moment by custom, and saluting isn’t something that only happens if commanded.