the proper way to do a 3 volley rifle salute at a funeral?

Question

been unable to find the regs for each branch of service to do a proper 3 volley rifle salute. I watch an air force unit do it, they fired from the waist, and aimed the rifles at the funeral party. i do not belive that is correct.

yes i did see this, and as a former Marine I know it wasn't correct for Marines. We did it like Martin said. but it was the Honor guard unit from Lackland AFB. and wondered if the AF had different regs.

Answer 1

c'mon...its air force...the proper way to do it is seven soldiers are in a line, they do a half-left face, ready, aim (from the shoulder), fire, all at once. They return to the port arms position after firing, and prepare for another ready, aim, fire, and then do it one more time.

Answer 2

Martin S is right in his description of a firing squad's movements. What's more, the firing squad never fires over the head of the mourners; they're usually far off to the side of the burial place and so is the trumpeter.

It's been too many years to recall the Army regulation, but FM 22-5, Drill and Ceremonies, may have something of the subject in it.

I had participated in many firing squads and funeral details during my Army career, but detailed rememberances are sketchy at best.

Rest assured, live ammunition is never used. The rifle muzzles are always pointed skyward at a certain angle. Such ceremonies may still use the old M-1 Garand rifle because of the crispness of rifle drill.

Answer 3

My Dad had the honor guard at his funeral,and I've seen it a few times elsewhere. They did it the same way as Martin said. Half turn, arms to ready, fire, arms lowered, arms up to ready, ,fire, arms lowered, and one more time.. They brought the arms all the way down, did another half turn, and marched off.
They fired a quarter turn turn away from the audience, facing their and the audience's right.. To clarify, we were looking at the right side of their faces.
I thought the rule was always fire away unless you are shooting to kill an enemy, you never know when a gun could missfire, or ammo ricochet off something and hurt someone. It is basic gun safety. Teaching is never to point and/or fire even a toy gun or a gun with blanks in it, or starting gun at or near someone. You might hurt someone, or get shot at right back.
Dad was WWII and Korea, Army.

Answer 4

umm...yeah, anytime you aim a wespon at another person, be it loaded with real ammo or blanks, that is never appropriate unless you are really trying to shoot at them.

A rifle is a thing of honor when used properly. And shooting from the hip is not proper...it is irresponsible and not a sign of marksmanship.

always aim the barrel to the sky. Always shoot up. And most of the time...always shoot away from your party, the noise is less deafening and it doesn't instill a sense of wtf!

Even the cleanest of weapons can be tampered or collect dust or whatever falls into the barrel. Aiming the weapon away from a greiving family ensures that there will not be another grieving family.

Answer 5

I am in the American Legion and VFW rifle teams. We always fire to the east, but not over the mourners. My question is this correct?

Answer 6

I've never heard of any rifle squad firing into the party of mourners--either you're making this up, or you don't know what you're talking about.