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Origins of the military salute -

No one knows the exact origins of the military salute. But it stands to reason that as the best-trained, best-equipped, most disciplined fighting force in the world, the Roman army probably had in place some form of hand gesture used as a sign of respect to a military officer.

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No murderous intent -

Alternatively, some historians suggest that in an era when assassins were common, the raising of the right hand was a gesture to show that a Roman soldier was not shielding any kind of weapon.

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Medieval greeting -

A similar hand gesture was adopted by medieval knights who raised their visors with their right hand upon greeting a comrade or superior.

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Friend or foe? -

This gesture has been interpreted by some scholars of medieval history as the origin of the modern Western military salute, in that it also revealed a friendly face and that no weapon was being carried in the right hand (how a left-handed swordsman fared has never fully been explained).

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Show of respect -

By the 15th century, the gesture had evolved to become a popular way of showing respect and often included removing the hat.

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Saluting the troops -

Moving forward a few centuries, George Washington was famously caught on a hand-colored lithograph taking command of the American Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts, on July 3 1775, saluting his troops by removing his hat.

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Hats off! -

The American Revolutionary War also saw British combatants salute by removing their hats. The gesture is often witnessed during modern-day reenactments of the 18th-century insurrection.

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The salute evolves -

Military headdress worn throughout the 18th and 19th centuries became so complicated and cumbersome that the gesture of removing one's hat was gradually converted into the simpler gesture of grasping or touching the leather or felt peak and issuing a courteous salutation.

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Clenched fists on the High Seas -

During the Napoleonic Wars, British naval crews saluted officers by touching a clenched fist to the brow as though grasping a hat-brim between fingers and thumb, rounded off with a "aye aye, sir."

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The British naval salute -

The British naval salute proper is said to have evolved after the Admiralty received a right royal dressing down from Queen Victoria.

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A display of respect -

The palms of deck hands were very often dirty and smeared with tar and pitch. To expose them was seen as a mark of disrespect. The monarch therefore decreed that the palm be turned down when saluting. Even today, the British Navy salute is taken with palm of the hand facing down towards the shoulder.

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About-turn -

In contrast, since 1917 the British Army's salute has been given with the right hand palm facing forwards with the fingers almost touching the cap or beret. Its initial adoption was heavily influenced by the variety of military headdress at the time.

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Acknowledging the Head of State -

In the United Kingdom, the custom of saluting commissioned officers relates wholly to the commission given by King Charles III to that officer, not the person. Therefore, when a subordinate airman, for example, salutes an officer, he is indirectly acknowledging the King as Head of State. A salute returned by the officer is on behalf of the monarch.

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Saluting in the United States -

The US military salute is actually based on that rendered by British Navy personnel in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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The American way -

In the United States, a salute is made with the palm of the hand faced down towards the shoulder.  

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How and when to salute -

Members of the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Space Force give salutes with heads both covered and uncovered. However, saluting indoors is not required except when formally reporting to a superior officer or during an indoor ceremony.

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Uniform salute -

The United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard do not salute when the head is uncovered or out of uniform.

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The armored salute -

Tank and armored car commanders always salute from the vehicle. However, when military personnel are drivers of a moving vehicle, they do not initiate a salute.

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Different rendering -

In this photograph, Polish tank commanders are taking the salute from their vehicle. But do you notice anything different in the rendering of the gesture?

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Two-fingered salute -

It is customary in the Polish armed forces to give a two-fingered salute. The gesture likely dates back to the late 18th century, and is unique to the Polish military.

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The Fascist salute -

The Fascist salute first adopted by members of the Italian National Fascist Party in the 1920s is often erroneously described as a Roman salute, though no Roman text describes such a gesture.

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The Nazi salute -

Inspired by the Fascist salute, the Nazi salute was officially adopted by the Nazi Party in 1926, although it had been used within the party as early as 1921.

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Hitler's salute -

The salute signaled obedience to the party's leader, Adolf Hitler, and to glorify the German nation. The gesture was modified by the Nazi dictator on numerous occasions when he began delivering the "Hitler salute" where his palm was parallel to the sky. Use of the Fascist salute is illegal in modern-day Germany, as well as in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

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First among equals -

In December 2010 after the South Korean defense ministry agreed to admit women into its college-based Reserve Officers' Training Program for the first time since the scheme began in 1963, female cadets at Sookmyung Women's University were photographed giving a US Army-style salute during an establishment ceremony of the Reserve Officer Training Corps for female cadets at Sookmyung Women's University.

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Saluting and bowing -

Japanese military personnel render the hand salute on all occasions when greeting another military service member or counterpart, regardless of rank. As in the US military, saluting in Japan is usually restricted to out of doors. Uniquely, however, it's not uncommon for Japanese military personnel to also bow. In fact, saluting and bowing are common and highly respected practices within both military and civilian sectors.

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Saluting the commander in chief -

In the United States, professional protocol requires that, besides commissioned and warrant officers, you always salute the president of the United States.

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The greatest honor -

Medal of honor recipients are also afforded the salute. The medal is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guard personnel who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

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Allied recognition -

The salute is also rendered to officers of allied foreign countries.

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Veterans' salute -

Occasions of when to salute include during ceremonial events, for example when honoring veterans such as these USS Arizona survivors, who escaped the doomed battleship during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

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Saluting the flag -

Elsewhere, the salute is given during the raising and the lowering of the flag, even when such a ceremony takes place on the Moon.

Sources: (United Service Organizations) (Forceselect) (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) (The Independent) 

See also: NASA's recycling ambitions on the Moon.

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