AR 600-25 Salutes, Honors, and Visits of Courtesy

Army Regulation 600-25 is the Army’s rulebook on salutes, honors, and military courtesy. It tells soldiers how to render the hand salute, when saluting is required and when it is excused, how to behave during the National Anthem and flag ceremonies, how to receive distinguished visitors, and how funeral honors are conducted. It applies to active duty soldiers, the Army National Guard, and the U.S. Army Reserve.¹

How to Render the Hand Salute

The hand salute is a one-count movement. Raise your right hand sharply, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm down. The tip of the forefinger touches the rim of the visor or the brim of the headgear, slightly to the right of the right eye. The outer edge of the hand is barely canted downward so that neither the back of the hand nor the palm is clearly visible from the front.¹

The subordinate always initiates the salute on recognizing a higher-ranking officer, and the officer returns it. Render the salute at six paces from the person being saluted, or at the nearest point of approach if something blocks the path. Hold it until the senior returns or acknowledges it. This applies to officers from any branch, including the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, and friendly foreign military services. A vocal greeting alongside the salute, such as “Good morning, Sir” or “Good morning, Ma’am,” is encouraged but not required.¹

Soldiers under arms use the appropriate rifle salute, such as present arms, instead of the hand salute.¹

When You Don’t Salute

The regulation carves out several situations where no salute is rendered or returned:

Either the senior or the subordinate is in civilian clothes.
Either party is in the physical training uniform.
Either party is not wearing headgear.
Both hands are occupied and saluting is impractical.
You are in a theater, church, or on public transportation.
You are an individual soldier in a formation. The person in charge salutes for the formation.
You are indoors, except when formally reporting to a superior officer.

Failing to render a required salute can bring corrective action ranging from an on-the-spot correction to non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which lets a commanding officer impose discipline for minor offenses without a court-martial.²

Honors During the National Anthem and Flag Ceremonies

During the National Anthem, “To the Color,” or a foreign national anthem, soldiers in uniform who are not in formation face the flag and hold the hand salute from the first note through the last. If the flag is not visible, face the direction of the music. Soldiers in formation stay at attention and follow their leader’s commands, such as “Present, Arms.” When the Colors pass in a parade, begin the salute when the flag is six paces away and hold it until the flag is six paces past. The same honors apply during daily Reveille and Retreat and during “Hail to the Chief.”¹

Federal law governs civilian conduct. Under 36 U.S.C. 301, civilians face the flag, stand at attention, and place the right hand over the heart. Men not in uniform remove headgear with the right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, hand over the heart. Veterans not in uniform may render the hand salute if they choose.³

What to Do in a Vehicle

During Reveille or Retreat, moving vehicles on an installation must come to a complete stop. Military drivers and passengers get out and render the appropriate courtesy. One exception: in buses or trucks, only the senior occupant dismounts, and everyone else remains in the vehicle.¹

Indoor and Formation Courtesies

When an officer enters a room where soldiers are present but not in formation, the first person to notice calls the room to attention, and everyone stands sharply at attention. Because saluting is not required indoors unless formally reporting, the call to attention is the primary display of respect. When the officer gives “At ease,” “As you were,” or a dismissal, personnel return to what they were doing.¹

Individual soldiers in a formation never salute on their own. The person in charge salutes for everyone, and the formation follows commands like “Present, Arms” and “Order, Arms” in unison.¹

Gun Salutes and Honors for Official Visitors

When high-ranking officials visit an installation, the Army renders cannon salutes and musical honors tied to the visitor’s rank or office. Gun salutes are fired at five-second intervals. Ruffles are played on the drums and flourishes on the bugles or band, performed simultaneously. The number of Ruffles and Flourishes matches a general officer’s number of stars, or is set to four for officials holding certain titled offices such as the presidency.¹

President of the United States: 21-gun salute at arrival and departure, four Ruffles and Flourishes, followed by the National Anthem or “Hail to the Chief.”
Governors, Cabinet members, and the Chief Justice: 19-gun salute with four Ruffles and Flourishes.
Four-star generals and admirals: 17-gun salute with four Ruffles and Flourishes.
Three-star generals: 15-gun salute with three Ruffles and Flourishes.
Two-star generals: 13-gun salute with two Ruffles and Flourishes.
One-star generals: 11-gun salute with one Ruffle and Flourish.

Military Funeral Honors

Federal law requires the Department of Defense to provide a funeral honors detail for any eligible veteran on request. At minimum, the detail includes at least two uniformed members of the armed forces. The ceremony covers folding the United States flag, presenting it to the veteran’s family, and the sounding of “Taps.” If a live bugler is not available, a recorded version is played through audio equipment the detail provides. The family requests honors through the relevant service branch, and the entitlement covers veterans who served under conditions other than dishonorable.⁴

For soldiers who die on active duty and for retirees, AR 600-25 prescribes full military funeral honors with a larger team. This nine-member detail includes pallbearers, a firing party, a chaplain, an officer or NCO in charge, and a bugler if available. The firing party executes three volleys. Uniformed attendees salute during the volleys and the playing of “Taps.” Civilian attendees place the right hand over the heart during these moments.¹

Reporting to a Superior and Personal Courtesies

When reporting to a superior officer indoors, remove your headgear before entering. Knock and enter when told to do so. March to within two paces of the officer’s desk, halt, salute, and report with a statement such as “Sir, Private Jones reports.” Hold the salute until the officer returns or acknowledges it, and remain at attention until given “At ease” or dismissed. When dismissed, salute again, hold it until returned, execute an about face, and leave.¹

Reporting outdoors follows the same pattern. Move quickly toward the officer, halt about two paces away, salute, and report.

When walking alongside a senior officer or NCO, the junior person walks on the left. The right side is the traditional position of honor. Address noncommissioned officers by their rank title, such as “Sergeant” or “First Sergeant.” Address commissioned officers as “Sir” or “Ma’am” or by their rank.¹

1
U.S. Army. Army Regulation 600-25 – Salutes, Honors, and Courtesy
2
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 10 USC 815 – Art 15 Commanding Officers Non-Judicial Punishment
3
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 36 USC 301 – National Anthem
4
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 10 USC 1491 – Funeral Honors Functions at Funerals for Veterans