Salutes.—On shore salutes are exchanged between officers and between officers and enlisted men not in military formation, nor at drill, work, games or mess, on every occasion of their meeting, passing near or being addressed, the officer who is junior in rank or the enlisted man always saluting first and the senior always promptly returning the salute.
Upon the entry of an officer into a room where there are several enlisted men some one of them who sees him calls “Attention,” whereupon all rise and stand at attention until the officer leaves the room or orders otherwise. If at meals enlisted men stop eating and remain seated and quiet. Officers and enlisted men if seated, rise upon the approach of a senior officer, face toward him and salute, and if standing they face toward the senior and salute. Soldiers do not stop work upon the approach of an officer unless addressed by the officer. Before addressing an officer an enlisted man salutes and also salutes again after receiving the reply of the officer.
No salutes are rendered by men on guard duty over prisoners if it will interfere with the execution of their duty.
Officers or enlisted men passing the uncased colors always salute.
No salutes are rendered when troops are marching in double time or at the trot or gallop when mounted.
When an officer or enlisted man is mounted and has a communication to make to a senior who is dismounted the junior dismounts before saluting and delivering his message, except during field maneuvers or campaigns where time might be lost in doing so.
It should be noted that in all cases both the junior and the senior salute, but that military courtesy requires the junior to salute first.
No salutes are exchanged between enlisted men but it is customary for enlisted men to stand at attention when addressed officially by other enlisted men who are their seniors in rank.
If an enlisted man is in a military formation and is personally addressed by an officer he does not salute, but if not already standing at attention he comes to that position at once.
The distance within which salutes are rendered, known as “saluting distance,” is taken to be that within which the uniform and insignia of an officer is readily distinguishable, normally about thirty paces, one pace being thirty inches, and salutes are generally exchanged at a distance of about six feet.