CONCEPT: Military Customs and Courtesies

APPROXIMATE TIME: 1 hour for instruction, 1 hour practicing drill movements

OBJECTIVES:

1. Discuss the origins, appropriate times, and importance of the salute (knowledge, comprehension)
2. Describe basic honors to the flag (knowledge)
3. Describe customs and courtesies with respect to the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem (knowledge)
4. Discuss the appropriate use of rank and titles (knowledge)
5. Describe courtesies rendered during retreat ceremonies (knowledge)
6. Differentiate between customs and courtesies while in the CAP blazer-type versus Air Force style uniform
7. Describe and perform basic drill movements (knowledge, application)

SUGGESTED MATERIALS: No additional materials are required. Refer to the Instructor Information link in the User's Guide for the basic materials to teach a class.

INTRODUCTION: A custom is a social convention stemming from tradition and enforced as an unwritten law. A courtesy is a kind, polite, considerate behavior often linked to a custom. A military courtesy is such behavior extended to a person or thing that honors them is some way. For example, the position of honor has always been to the right. This originated from the medieval swordsmen who always wore their weapons on the left side and drew them to their right. The strongest and most experienced warriors were given the place of honor to allow them easy access to their weapons. Additionally, this practice has carried over to today in relation to saluting. To allow ease of saluting, the senior person walks on the right. Most military customs and courtesies evolve from long-standing practices or have some historical significance. For example, the U.S. flag is folded in a triangular shape to represent the tri-corner hat of early American patriots. The lowering of the flag to half-staff comes from the naval custom of lowering sails upon the death of a crewmember to indicate that things were not "ship-shape."

This lesson covers basic Air Force standards, customs and courtesies: respect to the flag, saluting, use of rank and titles, National Anthem/Pledge of Allegiance, retreat ceremonies, and some basic drill movements. Most are at the knowledge level and should be re-enforced through hypothetical situation question and answer sessions. The last part of this lesson is to demonstrate application of basic drill movements.

PURPOSE/RATIONALE: The purpose of this lesson is to describe basic military customs and courtesies that apply to CAP members and practice basic drill movements. Also to differentiate between courtesies rendered in the CAP blazer-type uniforms and those rendered in the Air Force style uniforms.

SUGGESTED TEACHING STRATEGY/EVALUATION:

1. Review the definition of Customs and Courtesies and why they are important.
2. For objectives 1 thru 6, cover each objective using a combination of definitions and role playing/scenarios. Assign one title to each person and have them address each other, determine who salutes whom and when and where, and what to do during retreat.
3. For objective 7, cover using definitions and demonstrations. Initially, select a different person to demonstrate the different drill movements. After demonstrations, go to a place large enough to create a formation and give commands for each drill movement until each person shows proficiency.

LESSON PRESENTATION:

Attention Step: (Slide 1) A custom is a social convention stemming from tradition and enforced as an unwritten law. A courtesy is a kind, polite, considerate behavior often linked to a custom. A military courtesy is such behavior extended to a person or thing that honors them is some way. For example, the position of honor has always been to the right. This originated from the medieval swordsmen who always wore their weapons on the left side and drew them to their right. The strongest and most experienced warriors were given the place of honor to allow them easy access to their weapons.

Lesson Overview: (Slide 2) These are the areas we will be covering.

Main Point 1: (Slide 3) As with other customs and courtesies, saluting has evolved from history. The ancient knights used the gesture of raising the face visor on their helmets as a greeting. This move signified friendship and confidence as it removed the sword hand from the weapon and provided vulnerability in the suit of armor.

The salute is a respectful greeting exchanged between members of the same profession. It's an everyday courtesy based on mutual respect and is one of the traditions that binds military personnel together.

Salutes are rendered as a courtesy and are required between those junior and those senior in rank. If individuals are equal in rank, salutes may be exchanged. There are no set rules regarding how close or how far away a junior must be in order to render a salute. When a junior recognizes a senior, the junior will initiate a salute, a verbal greeting exchanged by both members, with a return salute by the senior member. This action occurs very quickly, usually within a distance of six paces.

At all bases, military members (as pedestrians) are required to salute staff cars when there's an occupant inside the car. (There's no need to salute an unoccupied staff car.) As a rule, staff cars are painted Air Force blue and marked with an eagle (indicating the rank of colonel) or one or more stars (indicating the rank of a general officer) on a placard on the vehicle's front bumper.

A song known as "Ruffles and Flourishes" is played to honor certain individuals and consists of a drum roll (ruffle) and a trumpet fanfare (flourish). Commissioned officers in the grade of brigadier general receive one ruffle and flourish, major generals rate two, lieutenant generals rate three, and four-star generals rate four.

Upon hearing "Ruffles and Flourishes" indoors, if you're in uniform or civilian clothes, come to attention, face the individual being honored, and remain at attention until the last note of the music has been played. Upon hearing "Ruffles and Flourishes" outdoors, while in uniform, come to attention, face the individual being honored, and present arms, remaining at attention until the last note of the music has been played.

Main Point 1: (Slide 4) In uniform or civilian clothes, stand at attention and participate if possible. Traditionally only the first verse of the Air Force song is played or sung. If at an official ceremony the words for the first verse will be printed in the program when it is a part of the ceremony.

In uniform or civilian clothes, stand at attention or march at the position of attention from the first to last note of the music. Do not salute. The same courtesy is rendered to sister service songs.

Salutes are exchanged indoors only when a junior-ranking member formally reports to a senior. Initiate the procedure by knocking on the door and obtaining acknowledgment from the senior. Then proceed in a military manner until you're about two paces from the senior or the senior's desk. Stop, salute, and report. When the conversation has ended, come to attention, report out, salute, and depart by the most direct route in a military manner.

Main Point 2: (Slide 5) When you're in uniform and an uncased flag passes by in a parade, or any ceremony, you salute when the flag comes within six paces of you and hold the salute until the flag passes six paces beyond you. If in formation, follow the verbal commands of your flight or squadron commander.

Usually, the bugle call "Retreat" is sounded and is followed by the playing of the National Anthem or "To the Colors." If you're outside, you must stop what you're doing and face the flag (if visible) or the music. During the sounding of "Retreat" you stand at parade rest, then, if in uniform, come to attention and salute during the playing of the National Anthem or "To the Colors." If in civilian clothes, come to attention, remove your hat (if your wearing one), and place your right hand over your heart when the National Anthem begins to play.

The National Anthem. If you're outdoors, at an athletic event or other function, and in uniform when the National Anthem is played, face the flag (if visible), salute, and hold the salute until the music is finished. If the flag isn't visible, face the music and salute.

Military personnel don't salute the national flag during indoor ceremonies when in uniform. When the National Anthem or "To The Colors" is played, personnel in civilian or military attire will stand at attention facing the flag (or the source of music if the flag isn't visible). When in civilian attire, come to attention, and place your right hand over your heart.

Main Point 3: (Slide 6) When in uniform (indoors or outdoors), stand at attention, face the flag and remain silent, but you don't salute. However, if the participants are primarily civilians or in civilian clothes, you may recite the Pledge of Allegiance if you wish.

When in civilian clothes (indoors or outdoors), stand at attention, face the flag, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance while holding your right hand over your heart. (Men should remove their headdress with their right hand and place their right hand, while holding the headdress, over their heart.)

Main Point 4: (Slide 7) All military personnel are addressed properly by their grade or title. Airman First Class Jones is correctly addressed as "Airman Jones." Master Sergeant Smith may be called "Master Sergeant Smith" or "Sergeant Smith," but should never be addressed "Hey, Sarge." Chief Master Sergeant Clifford will be called "Chief Clifford," never "Sergeant Clifford."

Officers senior to you may be addressed by their rank and last name, or as "Sir" or "Ma'am." To officers junior to you, use their rank or rank and last name. Rank has no sex and one of the most glaring blunders is to assume a ranking officer is a "he." A lieutenant is addressed officially as "Lieutenant." The adjectives "First" and "Second" are not used in conversation.

Now show the Rank Chart and discuss. Finally, quiz the students using the slide titles.

Summary: (Slide 8) Military customs and courtesies are an important part of our heritage and daily activities. They are fundamental to how we interact with each other and key to building pride and esprit de corps within the profession of arms. They are a big part of what makes the military special and must be followed at all times.