Saluting the PM
 

Just watched BBC News report on the 'tragic' decision by the PM to resign his post. There was footage of an RAF officer saluting him when he got out of his business jet (not even belonging to the RAF) at Northolt.

Firstly, what was she doing there? I could understand it if he was alighting from one of our aircraft.

Secondly, what's the protocol on saluting the PM? Are there any others members of the Cabinet who are entitled to salutes if I happen to bump into them?

It's not like he's the head of state after all, no matter how much he might have wished to have been, and he is certainly not a commissioned officer. So would I get into the pooh if I refusd to salute his successor (whoever that may be)?

Was it a one or two fingered salute? :E

I was sat watching this in the office, and asked one of the many ex-service personnel, just as she saluted.


The bastard holding the umbrella over 'Swindling Tony's' head didn't offer it to the woman.:= := :=

Bastard, she deserved it more.

A joyous day, he should have had a guard of honour, complete with swords. Then start swinging the swords as he tries to run the gauntlet. Good riddance you little :mad: :mad: :mad:

Well from memory:
"One is expected to salute a funeral cortege."
Could the young officer have been mistaken?
Stik

Certainly my colonel saluted a funeral cortege and we were told we should salute the wives of more senior officers too. Not sure how they were expected to return the compliment.

I suppose as the Queen's prime minister he is a representative of the Queen much in the same way that a commissioned officer represents the Queen. Question is though where does its stop? Royal Mail are under Royal Warrant but I'm not saluting the postie!!

I'll stick with saluting officers (or rather the Queen they represent) and treat civil serpents and politicians with the contempt they deserve if its all the same.

Could be worse.

Could have a dour miserable blinkered characterless miserly Scotsman with a history of penny-pinching the armed forces as PM.


Oh...

**** :uhoh:

Passpartout (sic!)
 

Saluting a senior civilian is merely a perfectly normal and acceptable sign of politeness ... even if the recipient concerned is a complete tosser!

Jack

Jack,

You are quite right. A salute can be given in many ways.

My all time favourite had to be Trevor Howard in the Cockleshell Heros.

After talking with the CSM (William Hartnell?) he turned away, the CSM drew himself up to attention, 2 - 3, threw up a salute, 2 - 3 and Howard, without turning around, but perfectly synchronised, returned the salute.

I got one of those once. At Catterick I noticed a little movement out of the corner of my eye about 30 yards away, a Blue Tit perhaps. Then a bellowing voice, "Yes SIR, I am saluting YOU SIR."

I kept a better lookout after that :)

Anyone remember the Customs, ettiquette and social responsibility book?

Had a whole piece in there about saluting. Don't remember it mentioning politicians, but it did mention saluting ladies out of politeness - didn't specifically mention only those of senior officers either.

Suppose it is just one of those things that has gone by the wayside...

Personally, I would not salute a senior civil servant unless instructed to do so...

Southbound, I meant 'more' senior and not senior as such. As for a 2.5 saluting a mere lieutenant's wife, couldn't happen.


No married quarter for a married officer under 25 therefore no chance of a 2.5 meeting a junior wife at home :}

PS, don't you just love the way the CS klingon to their ranks:

C2, C1, B2 etc pining for the old EO, HEO, HTPO etc. What is an SLA equivalent to?

At least with HEO/HTPO we knew whether we were talking to a scribbly or a technician.

Indeed, the way the CS love their rank equivalencies is fairly touching. Always good to leave pay chits lying around and whinge about pay rises in front of them, always put them back in their place.

Suppose the thing that annoyed me most was the way there was no equivalent to the SNCOs where I worked, and all the basic admin staff thought themselves equivalent to junior officers. The Chf Techs were particularly good at leaving their pay chits lying around for just this reason!

As for saluting ladies, I am fairly old fashioned and tend to use it as a formal greeting for any lady, no matter the rank of her partner. Remember even saluting mum as I met her outside the Cranditz church on grad day... Bit sad really, but there you are!

Saluting ladies
 

We need to go back to basic principles here :) As a gentleman, clearly you would not go out of the house without a hat. As a gentleman, when you met a lady you would raise your hat as a matter of ettiquette. As a gentleman in uniform, you would not raise your hat so you would salute, the equivalent military greeting. Rank of wife or husband is not involved, only the status of the lady as a lady...

I seem to recall from the 'CESR' briefs at Cranwell that you salute more Senior Officers (obviously) of all services, members of the Royal Family, Senior Officers of Other nations' armed forces, Cabinet Ministers and anyone in a Coffin. They also mentioned ladies too but it was briefed that that has tended to fall out of favour.

I've probably missed a few there such as Flags, ensigns, bits of boats etc.

I seem to remember the Gp Capt in 'The Battle of Britain' Film salutes a Jnr Officer's wife in one scene.

Does the lady in question need to prove her credentials to be considered as a lady?

They are a strange lot those Navy folk.

THS - Oh yes, it was all very 'Upstairs Dowstairs' and no doubt applied the old Army maxim of 'Officers' ladies, sgts' wives and soldiers women'. Nor does it take into consideration what an officer does if she is not a gentleman :)

Why wouldnt the Duty Air Movements Officer (male or female) be there to meet a VIP visiting Northolt?
The DAMO or Staish always meets such visitors.
As for saluting, protocol dictates that such a visitor receives the obligatory salute.

"Anyone remember the Customs, ettiquette and social responsibility book?"

Gp Capt Stradling's Customs of the Service, if memory serves. Included such gems as the correct etiquette for leaving calling cards when first posted to a new station.....

Do people stand up when the PMC enters the ante room these days?

Last time I saluted an officer 2 ringer it was I was walking across Tecso's car park I had my hat on in uniform so I saluted him.

His response to me "OH BOLLOCK$" while he had no hat on and his hands in his pockets.

Officer or To$$er you decide.