Corps of Cadets
Military Customs and
Courtesies Guide
2005-2006
Table of Contents
Identifying Rank, Saluting Procedures pg. 3
Verbal Greetings pg. 5
Military Customs pg. 7
Service Specifics pg. 8
Reporting Procedure pg. 9
Enlisted Rank Chart pg. 10
Key to Enlisted Rank Chart pg. 13
Officer Rank Chart pg. 15
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Corps of Cadets
Military Customs and Courtesies Guide
Identifying Rank
- Cadets will learn the difference between officer insignia, cadet
rank and that of enlisted personnel. (pgs 10-15)
- Officer rank is usually worn on the epaulets of the shirt or class
“A” coat, on the collar of the BDU blouse and on an officer’s
garrison cover, BDU cover or Beret.
- Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO’s) will wear rank stripes on
their sleeves, on epaulets or on the collar of the BDU blouse.
Saluting Procedures
- A cadet in uniform will always salute an officer, whether the
officer is in uniform or not.
- Saluting takes precedence over whipping out, cadets will stop
whipping out in order to salute.
-- The hand salute is executed in the following manner:
The military salute shall be rendered from a position of attention,
standing erect with shoulders back, chest out, stomach in and heels
together with toes slightly pointed outward.
The right forearm shall be inclined at a left 45-degree angle with
the upper arm parallel to the ground and the elbow slightly
forward.
The tip of the right forefinger shall touch the hat brim slightly to
the right of the right eye with thumb and fingers extended and
joined. If wearing a garrison cover, the tip of the finger should
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touch the edge of the right eyebrow. The hand and wrist shall be in
a straight line with the palm slightly inward. The motion of the arm
and hand shall be crisp and sharp with the movement,
presentation and return immediate.
- A salute is given when within six paces of an officer and is
accompanied by an appropriate verbal greeting. (see pg. 5)
- The salute is held until it has been returned by the officer.
- There is no reason to stop walking in order to render a hand
salute.
- If double timing, come to a quick-time, salute and greet the
officer. Once the salute is returned you may continue double
timing.
- A salute is not necessary if it would be impractical (ie. A cadet
is carrying an object which takes up both hands) A verbal
greeting will suffice in this situation.
- PT Gear is considered a uniform for the Corps of Cadets.
(NOTE: Midshipmen enrolled in Naval R.O.T.C. are taught to
NOT to salute in PT Gear, see Navy/Marine section)
- NCO’s and enlisted personnel are NOT saluted by cadets.
- When overtaking an officer from behind the proper procedure is
as follows: Pass along the officer’s left side, render a hand
salute and say, “By your leave sir/ma’am”.
- When approaching an officer at a 90 degree angle a salute is
still considered appropriate.
- If exiting a building with an officer, a cadet will salute when
both are covered.
- A salute is warranted any time an American Flag is being raised
or lowered.
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- It is also warranted when an unfurled American Flag passes
(e.g., in a parade) or when passing a flag bearer with the flag
unfurled.
Verbal Greetings
- Cadets will verbally greet any officer of NCO they encounter
either on the quad or off.
- If greeting a male officer, the proper verbal greeting is as
follows:
“Good morning/afternoon/evening, Sir.”
- If greeting a female Officer:
“Good morning/afternoon/evening, Ma’am.”
- If greeting an NCO or enlisted member the use of rank along
with their name is preferred*, however if a cadet does not
recognize an NCO’s rank then “sir” is preferable to silence
For example:
“Good morning, Sergeant Major Smith”
“Good afternoon, Sergeant Jones”
“Good evening, Master Gunnery Sergeant Williams”
(*NOTE: In the United States Marine Corps it is inappropriate to abbreviate an NCO’s
rank to simply “sergeant”. The entire title is required [see pg. 8}).
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- When greeting a group of male officers and NCO’s a salute is
Rendered to the officers and the group is greeted collectively as
follows:
“Good morning/afternoon/evening gentlemen.”
- If greeting a group of female officers:
“Good morning/afternoon/evening ladies”
- If a female officer is with a group of male officers greet the
female first:
“Good morning Ma’am, Good morning gentlemen.”
- If greeting a mixed group of multiple males and females then
the group is greeted collectively (this includes officers and/or
NCO’s):
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen.”
- If a single male is traveling with a group of females then the
females are still greeted first:
“Good afternoon ladies, Good afternoon sir.”
- “Howdy Sir” is unmilitary and improper.
- Greeting multiple officers as “sirs” or “officers” is not correct.
- It is generally considered inappropriate for a subordinate to
address a superior using only their rank: (i.e. “good morning
Major”, “Good afternoon Lieutenant”) The superior’s name
should be used also. (“Good morning Captain Black”) If a cadet
doesn’t know a superiors name, then the rank alone will suffice
until their name can be learned.
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Military Customs
A subordinate will always walk on the left side of a superior
when walking with an officer or NCO.
If being addressed by an officer, a cadet should stand at
attention unless told otherwise.
If an officer comes to a table of cadets then the cadets should
stand up and stand at attention unless told otherwise.
If an officer enters a dorm, the first cadet to see them
should call “Hallway, Attention!”, or “Attention on deck!”
and all cadets in the hallway should stand at attention against
the wall until told otherwise.
A subordinate is the first to enter a vehicle and the last to exit
while traveling with a superior.
Public displays of affection are inappropriate while in uniform.
Cadets should refrain from chewing gum, smoking, dipping in
uniform. Discretion must be used when talking on a cellular
telephone. Cadets may not use the phone while walking across
campus out doors. However, cell phones may be used
discretely while in buildings, and out of a public setting.
Cadets should not eat while walking in uniform out doors.
Cadets may eat discretely while seated (not on the ground) and
uncovered.
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Army/Air Force Cadets
- Cadets from these services salute officers while the cadet is in
PT gear or uncovered outdoors.
- A salute is always rendered when reporting in to an officer’s
office.
- It is appropriate to abbreviate the rank officers and NCOs from
these services. “Staff Sergeant Smith” can become “Sergeant
Smith”, “Lieutenant Colonel Jones.” Can be addressed “Colonel
Jones” in informal conversation.
Navy/Marine Cadets
- Cadets from these services DO NOT salute while uncovered.
(this includes while in PT gear)
- When reporting in to an officer’s office a salute is not rendered.
- Marine ranks are not to be abbreviated. The full rank must
be used. (a Master Gunnery Sergeant should not be
reduced to “sergeant”.)
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Reporting In Procedures
- Knock Twice and await instructions to enter.
- Walk to within two paces of the officer’s desk, square all corners.
- With eyes caged, salute (Army/Air Force only) and say,
“Sir/Ma’am, Cadet/Midshipmen (your name)
reports as ordered” or “reports to ask a question.”
- If the officer gives “at ease” then stand at parade rest and make
eye contact during the entire conversation. If directed to be seated
sit erect with both feet on the floor.
- Once the conversation has ended and the officer dismisses you,
then snap to attention, render a salute (Army/Air Force only) and
verbally greet the officer based on the time of day (ie. “Good
Morning Sir.”) Once the salute is returned, drop the salute, take a
step backward, execute the appropriate facing movement and exit
the room.
Notes
- These guidelines are a compilation of the various services and
are generally considered generically appropriate for the Corps
of Cadets.
- For some services there may be additional verbal greetings to
the ones listed above which are equally appropriate. (see service
section)
- As a rule of thumb, if in doubt of what to do in a situation it is
safer to render a salute than not to.
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Enlisted Rank Insignia, US Military
E-1 (No Insignia)
E-2
E-3
E-4
E-5
1
0
E-6
E-7
E-8
E-8*
E-9
E-9**
1
1
E-9***
Key to Enlisted Insignia Chart
E-1- Army: Private
Navy: Seaman Recruit
Marine: Private
Air Force: Airman Basic
E-2- Army: Private
Navy: Seaman Apprentice
Marine: Private First Class
Air Force: Airman
E-3- Army: Private First Class
Navy: Seaman
Marine: Lance Corporal
Air Force: Airman First Class
E-4 Army: Corporal/Specialist
Navy: Petty Officer Third Class
Marine: Corporal
Air Force: Senior Airman
E-5 Army: Sergeant
Navy: Petty Officer Second Class
Marine: Sergeant
Air Force: Staff Sergeant
E-6 Army: Staff Sergeant
Navy: Petty Officer First Class
Marine: Staff Sergeant
Air Force: Technical Sergeant
E-7 Army: Sergeant First Class
1
2
Navy: Chief Petty Officer
Marine: Gunnery Sergeant
Air Force: Master Sergeant
E-8 Army: Master Sergeant
Navy: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Marine: Master Sergeant
Air Force: Senior Master Sergeant
E-8*
Army: 1st Sergeant
Navy: Senior Chief Petty Officer
Marine: 1st Sergeant
Air Force: 1st Sergeant
E-9 Army: Sergeant Major
Navy: Master Chief Petty Officer
Marine: Sergeant Major
Air Force: Chief Master Sergeant
E-9**
Army: Command Sergeant Major
Navy: Command Master Chief Petty Officer
Marine: Master Gunnery Sergeant
Air Force: Command Chief Master Sergeant
E-9***
Army: Sergeant Major of the Army
Navy: Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Marine: Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Air Force: Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Officer Rank Insignia, US Military
(gold) (silver)
1
3
O-1 O-2 O-3
nd
2 Lt. (Army, Air Force, Marine) First Lt. Captain
Ensign (Navy) Lt. Junior Grade Lieutenant
(gold) (silver)
O-4 O-5 O-6
Major Lt. Colonel Colonel
Lt. Commander Commander Captain
Flag/General Officers, US Military
O-7
Brigadier General (Army, Air Force, Marine)
1
4
Rear Admiral (Lower Half) (Navy)
O-8
Major General
Rear Admiral (Upper Half)
O-9
Lt. General
Vice Admiral
O-10
General
Admiral
1
5