Officers coming on board usually, after saluting the officer of the deck, say, “I request permission to come aboard, sir,” and briefly state their business; and after saluting the officer of the deck upon leaving the ship they say, “I request permission to leave the ship, sir.” The same procedure should be followed by civilians visiting a ship except that no salutes to the officer of the deck are required.
Strict observance of military custom demands that an officer in uniform and under arms, that is carrying the weapon with which he is armed or wearing his belt and sword, should not remove his headdress either out of doors or within doors; but in deference to the universal custom among civilians it is considered proper for officers in uniform and wearing their swords sheathed to remove their headdress when entering a room, especially in case there are ladies present. Under such circumstances the headdress is carried under the left arm, leaving the right hand free to shake hands. With the sword drawn and in hand the headdress should not be removed from the head.
The pedantic observance of so-called military customs is both unnecessary and objectionable, and the safest course is follow the rules of deportment which distinguish the gentleman the world over.
Following the universal custom the right side is considered the position of honor and hence when two or more officers are walking or riding in company the senior walks or rides on the right, and likewise the senior occupies the seat at the right side in a carriage or other conveyance.
Visits and Courtesies.—An officer arriving at the headquarters of a military command calls upon the commander as soon as practicable and registers his name, address and probable length of stay. If the visiting officer is senior in rank to the commander he may send his card and address, in which case it becomes the duty of the commander to make the first call. When an Army officer arrives at Washington, D. C., he reports at the office of the Adjutant General of the Army, and registers his name, local address and business in Washington. Naval officers under similar circumstances register at the Navy Department and Marine officers at the Headquarters of the Marine Corps.
After reporting for duty at a station on shore or aboard ship an officer makes a social call upon the commanding officer who returns the call promptly. In the case of other officers at the post it is the custom for all of those already at the station to call upon the late arrival, thus following the American and not the European custom in this respect. In addition to the social call upon the commanding officer the arriving officer also makes a call upon any officer at the station or on board of the ship who is senior to the commanding officer, as in the case of a general officer at an Army station or a flag officer on board of a ship.
In the case of the arrival of a ship in a foreign port calls are interchanged according to well established international rules between the senior officer of the ship or ships arriving and those already stationed at the port. The general rule is that if the two officers are of the same grade the latest arrival makes the first call, but if they are of different grades the junior makes the first call. The arriving officer, however, always makes the first call upon the highest civil official ashore at a foreign port.
Upon the arrival of a United States fleet, squadron or single ship at a foreign port, the senior naval officer exchanges calls with diplomatic and consular officers who may be stationed there according to the following rules:—
A flag officer or commodore pays the first visit to diplomatic officers of or above the rank of chargé d’affaires and receives the first visit from consular officers.
A commanding officer pays the first visit to diplomatic officers of or above the rank of chargé d’affaires and to a consul general and receives the first visit from all other consular officers.