I would really like to know why sometimes members of the armed forces salute the PM and other cabinet ministers but often they don't. Today Tony Blair was saluted by an aircrew members as he got off a RN helicopter, was saluted by the ship's captain and then again later by a marine officer. But many times I've seen officers not even stand to attention. Is there a protocol any1 knows about?
2007-01-12 13:25:01 · 7 answers · asked by mark 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The member with the highest rank usually salutes and officer or dignitary. He does this while his men stand at attention or do an eyes right if they are marching. The 'Eye's right' is the squad's way of honoring or paying respect to the dignitary or officer. Sometimes, if an officer walks in and out of a room constantly, it becomes too repetitive to stand fast and salute every single time. They know this so the first time you see them is the only time you have to salute. They would get sick of having to salute 50 times a day otherwise. It's common sense.
2007-01-12 13:37:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nobody in the British Armed Forces should ever salute any Member of Parliament
2007-01-12 21:39:27 · answer #2 · answered by norfolk'n good 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well they are'nt required to salute any elected member of parliament.The commander-in-chief of all the armed forces is the reigning monarch.Furthermore a member of the armed forces is'nt required to salute any officer,if that officer is'nt wearing thier cap.
Indeed if the officer is wearing a cap and the other is'nt,then that person can't salute.Instead they stand at attention.
2007-01-12 21:46:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't know, but from the perspective of an American, let me tell you this: we have different traditions of courtesies in the different branches of service. Air Force and Navy generally don't salute indoors, for instance, but Army do in more circumstances. And one is not expected to stop one's work to salute, in general. So think of it less as a "yes/no" and more as an "under what circumstances" question and you may be able to figure it.
2007-01-13 02:34:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the US, saluting is for officers . . . in the UK, it may be the same but some persons choose to extend the courtesy to certain politicians.
You are required to salute officers, you can choose to salute others.
2007-01-12 21:35:20 · answer #5 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
May be they could give T Blair the two finger salute every time they see him
2007-01-13 01:29:56 · answer #6 · answered by keny 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in my book never the armed forces swear allegiance to the crown not the politicians . god save the queen come the revolution
2007-01-12 21:32:35 · answer #7 · answered by quasar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋