Military salute question?

Question

I understand that different branchs of the military have different poitions that they hold their hand when they salute.

I also understand that you must salute with your right hand.

Question part 1: What happens if you salute with your left hand?

Question part 2: What if you can't salute with your right hand? (say it gets paralyzed, badly injured, or cut off). Would you salute with your left hand then or would it still be considered wrong?

Answer 1

You are correct. Different countries and different branches of the military have different ways of saluting. Sometimes it is only a nuance, but sometimes (like in Britain, for example) the salutes are distinctively different.
It is international common custom to salute with the right hand, regardless which salute is given or received. I do not know of any country or military force that uses the left hand.

In case a person is unable to salute properly (due to injury or if the right arm has been amputated), there are specific rules and regulations which differ from country to country and can even be different in different military organisation and even units.
Possibilities are to use the left hand instead (by permission) or to forego the salute in the traditional way. Alternatives can be to bow the head or nod in the direction in which others salute.

For details I recommend to contact the various military branches and units directly. Most of them have a ceremonial or protocol officer. Otherwise the adjutant is the man to talk to.

Answer 2

depends on the service/country. For UK Army is is always with the right hand. If you have an injured arm you would simply stand to attention (if you were stationary), or you would do a move called eyes left (or right), which simply involves turning your head in the ofifcers direction with head pointing up slightly. It would also be expected to add a comment if there were jsut the two of you, such as "morning sir".

Re your part 1 question - you do not salute with your left.

Answer 3

a left handed salute is a sign of disrespect
and if you cant physically salute with your right hand all you have to do is render a verbal greeting the officer will understand

Answer 4

1. No left-hand salute.
2. You do not salute -if you can not.

Answer 5

I think it is matter of appropriateness i guess..right hand is better..
however when it comes to injury i presume they can use left hand..well u cant make the soldier without right hand to give solute with their right hand right?