41 sats \ 13 replies \ @ek OP 8 Mar \ parent \ on: Why do the British salute differently to the Americans? (2019) history
Is the saying "we salute the rank, not the man" as mentioned in BoB in this scene really a thing? I get that respect is demanded by subordinates but the saying itself, is it common or was it just invented by the show because it sounds cool?
All I can find when I search for "we salute the rank" are references to BoB, lol.
And why is Winter's ending of the salute so much quicker and to the side, special meaning? Textbook salute? Car salute? lol
Oh yeah for sure. Id pop a salute to officers I didn't like at all. Infact more often than not I made sure I saluted the ones that were assholes over the ones that weren't, the ones that weren't didn't mind if you forgot or it was dark and you couldn't see their rank slide. The assholes would make it more difficult for you if you didn't, so it was in your best interest to just do it. So yeah absolutely. And also you're not saluting the rank per se. You're actually saluting the monarch, who commission is held by the officer. So you're not saluting the person, not really their rank, but more saluting the monarch via them, if that makes sense.
reply
I’m glad we knew what we were doing… not so sure about the Rupert’s at times
reply
I kinda felt bad for some of them... Some of them recognised that they'd done their degree, some time at Sandhurst and now were responsible for the lives of a bunch of people. It can be pretty overwhelming I'd expect. But the good ones recognised that and treated that position with the care it demanded. Others went off on power trips and probably got people killed unnecessarily.
reply
Bloody right. When the subbies turned up they would usually come for a chat in the Sgts Mess so they knew who made their mad ideas work. I have known some bloody good officers and some damn liabilities…. Can’t recall any that went from one to the other thinking about it though..
reply
I think that's the sad truth of it. Either you're a leader people want to follow or you're a leader people have to follow. There didn't seem to be many tigers who changed their stripes.
reply
‘Sgt, do you think the men will follow me in battle?’
‘No Sir. I think they would rather stay and fight….’
reply
🤣
reply
It’s an odd one in this context in that it justifies you having to do something you don’t consider the recipient worthy of.
In the UK you salute the officer in recognition of them holding the Kings Commission (the bit of paper that says you are an officer) and because you swore to obey the Sovereign and the officers they place over you (and that’s why you salute the senior officer present rather than all the officers.) Politicians and retired officers either do not hold a Commission or have resigned their Commission meaning no salute for them! (Unlike the US)
reply
Yes. Saluting politicians is something I always thought was odd about the US.
But telling myself I was saluting the Queen (at the time) and not the knobhead with an entitlement issue, it definitely helped soften the blow of having to display that mark of respect to someone entirely unworthy of it.
reply
Maybe because their politicians (and President) are an embodiment of the flag and Constitution.
Completely failed to mention that UK soldiers salute flags, artillery pieces, pennants and members of the Royal Family. I think we should keep that to ourselves - makes UK soldiers look a bit daft without context.
Saluting the Duke of Paedo would make me sick..
And when I commissioned I was pretty chilled as I knew all the blokes and wasn’t in ‘one of those’ regiments :)
reply
Hadn't considered that their politicians especially the president represents the same thing our monarch does. Makes more sense now.
But yeah, we do salute some odd things.
Didn't Andrew have his titles removed eventually? I'd not want to strike up a salute for him either...
I knew a few very good officers, most of whom had been squaddies first and then went onto get a commission, they understood the assignment much better than some of the (not all) young kids who came through Sandhurst. I remember my OC wad a fresh faced lad straight outta Sandhurst but what he did was latch onto my staffy and followed him everywhere learning everything. He always said, they taught me how to lead at Sandhurst but they didn't teach me what leadership was. Huge statement for me. Difference between directing and leading for sure. He was great, hed spend every spare moment on the ground with us learning our trades so he had an appreciation for our skills. Excellent guy.
reply
- Excellent guy.
You appreciate and respect that officers efforts. That’s a huge difference.
Duke of Nonce lost his status before the Queen died and before DofE. So he didn’t get to wear his uniform or salute at the Vigil or his funeral. Hasn’t been seen much since.
reply
Yeah, for sure, for me it made a difference. And from what I could tell for others it helped as well.
reply