Why does military salute with right hand

The salute is often thought to date back to Roman times, but there is no evidence that soldiers raised their hand as a formal greeting. Another theory is that it originated in medieval Europe, when knights used their hands to raise their visors , revealing their identity to demonstrate they were friendly.

This explanation is also regarded with scepticism. It later became British Army tradition for privates and non-commissioned officers to remove their hat to greet officers. It is customary to salute foreign officers friend or foe. It is a mark of mutual respect and acts as a reminder to both parties that they are soldiers and that they each have responsibilities to the other. Always try to carry items in your left hand if possible so you can salute.

Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Ben Davis April 30, Is it OK to salute with your left hand? From earliest times and in many distant armies throughout history, the right hand or "weapon hand" has been raised as a greeting of friendship. The idea may have been to show that you weren't ready to use a rock or other weapon.

Courtesy required that the inferior make the gesture first. To protect their hands, officers wore white gloves, and it was considered most undignified to present a dirty palm in the salute, so the hand was turned through 90 degrees. The salute is a courteous exchange of greetings, with the junior member always saluting first. When returning or rendering an individual salute, the head and eyes are turned toward the Colors or person saluted. When in ranks, the position of attention is maintained unless otherwise directed.

Military personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled by grade to a salute except when it is inappropriate or impractical in public conveyances such as planes and buses, in public places such as inside theaters, or when driving a vehicle. A salute is also rendered. Salutes are not required when. Prisoners whose sentences include punitive discharges have lost the right to salute. All other prisoners, regardless of custody or grade, render the prescribed salute except when under armed guard.

Any military person recognizing a need to salute or a need to return one may do so anywhere at any time. When reporting to an officer in his office, the military member removes his headgear, knocks, and enters when told to do so. When the business is completed, the member salutes, holds the salute until it has been returned, executes the appropriate facing movement, and departs. When reporting indoors under arms, the procedure is the same except that the headgear is not removed and the member renders the salute prescribed for the weapon with which he is armed.

The expression "under arms" means carrying a weapon in your hands, by a sling, or a holster. When reporting to a noncommissioned officer, the procedures are the same, except no salutes are exchanged. When reporting outdoors, the military member moves rapidly toward the officer, halts approximately three steps from the officer, salutes, and reports as when indoors. When the member is dismissed by the officer, salutes are again exchanged.

If under arms, the member carries the weapon in the manner prescribed for saluting. The practice of saluting officers in official vehicles recognized individually by grade or identifying vehicle plates and or flags is considered an appropriate courtesy.

Salutes are not required to be rendered by or to personnel who are driving or riding in privately owned vehicles except by gate guards, who render salutes to recognized officers in all vehicles unless their duties make the salute impractical.