MILITARY COURTESY AND DISCIPLINE Military discipline is necessary to ensure orderly and effective group action. This is commonly known as teamwork. Teamwork is particularly important in military operations where its presence or lack of it may spell the difference between victory or defeat. Really, all aspects of the military life are affected by discipline. We hear of “fire discipline”, “water discipline”, “supply discipline”, etc. 1. Definition of terms a. MILITARY DISCIPLINE- is the state of order and obedience among personnel in a military organization. It is characterized by the men’s prompt and willing responsiveness to orders and unhesitating compliance to regulations. b. MILITARY COURTESY- are the acts of politeness, civility and respect that personnel in the military organization accord to one another. Just like the civilian world, military courtesy serves to smooth the personal relationship among men in the profession of arms. As a soldier, you must be thoroughly familiar with the different forms of military courtesy. Learn to practice them wholeheartedly and insist that your fellow soldiers do the same. c. CUSTOMS OF THE SERVICE- is the body of unwritten or common law of the armies, navies and air forces. d. MORALE- the term may be defined as the mental state and spirit of an individual or unit. e. EFFICIENCY- is the ability to accomplish successfully an assigned task in the shortest possible time with the least confusion. Efficiency requires interest, resourcefulness, and proficiency. It develops pride, and the satisfaction of a job well done. 2. THE SALUTE The salute is the most important and the most common form of all the military courtesies. It is a time honored tradition of the profession of arms, practiced in all military organizations in the world: The manner an individual executes the salute is an indication of his attitude towards his duties as a military man and existing state of moral and discipline in his unit. a. Who and What are Entitled to Salute 1.) Commissioned Officers (both male and female) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 2.) Commissioned Officers (both male or female) of the Armed Forces of the Allied Nations 3.) Civilian High Officials or Foreign Dignities during Military Honors rendered for them. 4.) Colors and Standard not Cased b. When to Salute 1.) Reporting to an Officer. 2.) Meeting an Officer 3.) When the national color passes by 4.) When the national anthem is being played. (Out Door Only) 5.) Raising and Lowering the Flag. 6.) After conversing with an officer. c. When not to salute 1.) When troops are at work. 2.) Indoors, except when reporting to an officer. 3.) When carrying articles with both hands, or being so occupied to make saluting impracticable. 4.) When attending to a vehicle 5.) When meeting a prisoner. 6.) When in ranks. Military Personnel in Uniform are always required to salute all persons who are entitled to such courtesy whenever they meet and recognized them. Saluting, however, is not necessary when riding public conveyances such as trains and busses or when inside public places such as theaters and restaurants or during situations when a salute is manifestly in appropriate or impractical. 3. General Rules for Saluting Following are the rules to observe when saluting: a.) Saluting Distance is the distance of recognition. Usually it does exceed 30 paces. The salute is rendered and the hand is held in position until the officers saluted has passed or after the salute is returned. b.) A salute must always be returned by the officer entitled to it, unless he is in the formation of other officers. In which case, only the most senior or the most senior or the marcher returns it. c.) The salute must never be rendered in a casual or perfunctory manners, nor with pipe, cigar or cigarette held in the mouth or in the right hand. It is only rendered at a halt or walk. If running, a soldier comes to walk before saluting. When mounted a horse, he brings the horse to walk and salute. d.) When several are in a group, not in formation, all rise and salute. When in formation, only the commander or the most senior salutes. e.) The salute is made whether the headgear is worn or not. f.) A soldier salutes an officers if he meets and recognizes him inside a military camp even though they are both in civilian clothes or when either one of them is in uniform. When both or each of them are in civilian clothes and they meet outside of camp, a courteous “Good Morning, Sir” or other greeting will do. g.) The salute is rendered only once if the officer remains in the immediate vicinity and conversion takes place, the junior must again salute the officer when he leaves or dismiss him. h.) Unlike Navy personnel, soldiers never salute with the left hand. When a soldiers hold something on his right hand, he transfer it to the left and salute. When it is impractical to burden both hands, he simply greets the officer as he meets him. i.) The salute is always executed while looking at the person being saluted. It is always best to accompany such courteous gesture with “Good Morning, Sir” or some appropriate greetings. j.) Enlisted Personnel salute other enlisted personnel only in formation when rendering reports. k.) Whenever a soldier is in doubt, as to whether a salute is appropriate or not- HE SALUTES. 4. Services and Last Courtesies Funeral services are accorded to all military personnel who died in the performance of their duties. Deceased military personnel are entitled to the following: a. Vigil guards during the wake. b. Gun salute during interment. c. Pallbearers are provided to carry the casket during the interment. d. Taps is being played while the casket is being lowered to the grave. As courtesy to the deceased military personnel, while the casket is being carried from the house to the caisson, military personnel stand at attention, uncover and hold the headdress over their left breast. During inclement weather, they execute hand salute. The honor is also accorded to the remains as it passes by the mourners. Military men not in formation attending military funerals follow the mourners according to seniority. As the casket is being lowered from the caisson to the grave during the sounding of the volley, taps and funeral services, the headdress is removed and placed over the left breast. During inclement weather, military personnel remain uncover and execute the hand salute. This position is maintained until the casket reaches the grave or when it is beyond saluting distance. Active pallbearers remain covered while they are carrying the casket.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 11:24:31 +0000
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