26.3 Respect for Individuals (AFH-1 Section 24C)
Key Takeaways
- Section 24C is ADTC B (Understanding) for SSgt and C (Applying) for TSgt—expect TSgt items to put salute, reporting, and position-of-honor rules into a situation.
- The senior person, enlisted or commissioned, takes the position of honor on the right; juniors enter automobiles and small boats first and sit on the senior’s left; the senior enters last and exits first.
- Salutes are not rendered indoors except for formal reporting: knock once, halt about two paces from the officer or desk, salute, and report by grade and last name.
- The junior initiates the salute; in formation or a work detail the person in charge salutes for the group; pedestrians salute readily identifiable staff vehicles, but salutes inside moving military vehicles are not mandatory.
- Physical training gear does not require rank-recognition salutes, but Airmen outdoors in PT gear must salute during reveille and retreat; Taps at lights-out does not require a salute.
ADTC split: B for SSgt, C for TSgt
On the 15 February 2025 ADTC, Section 24C is B (Understanding) for SSgt and C (Applying) for TSgt. SSgt items want the rule in your own words; TSgt items put you in a hallway, staff car, PT formation, or office. Reveille and retreat ceremony sequences are Section 24D; the PT-gear salute during reveille and retreat is 24C.
AFH 1 does not teach a visor-origin story in 24.20. Saluting is a greeting and a symbol of mutual respect, recognition as members of the profession of arms, and a personal commitment of self-sacrifice to preserve the American way of life.
Common courtesy and distinguished visitors (24.17)
Respect, consideration, manners, common sense, and politeness are the ordinary acts—please, thank you, other people’s time, taking messages, offering help. All USAF personnel should demonstrate those acts on- and off-duty.
A distinguished visitor (DV) may be a general or flag officer; a government official equivalent to a brigadier general or higher; a foreign military officer or civilian designated a DV by the Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs; or a visitor or group the commander designates. A DV visit should be given close attention to detail. Use DAFI 90-1202, AFPAM 34-1202, Guide to Protocol, and the installation protocol office.
Position of honor (24.18)
Junior personnel employ a courteous bearing toward seniors. Give the senior person—enlisted or commissioned—the position of honor on the right when walking, riding, or sitting. The junior takes the senior’s left.
Entering or exiting an area. Unless told otherwise or it is impractical, rise and stand at attention when a senior official enters or departs. If more than one person is present, the first person who sees the officer calls the area to attention. Exception: if an officer already in the room is equal to or senior to the officer entering, do not call the room to attention.
Vehicles and small boats. Enter in reverse order of rank. Juniors enter first and sit on the senior’s left. The senior is last in and first out.
Titles and forms of address (24.19)
Address personnel by the rank associated with their grade or title. Officers by grade (Lieutenant Colonel); enlisted by grade (Master Sergeant) or tier: Airman, Sergeant, Senior, Chief. “Sir” or “Ma’am” is acceptable. Chaplains: Chaplain or ecclesiastical title.
Civilians: Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Ms. and last name; Sir or Ma’am. Retirees receive the same respect as active members and are addressed by retired grade on official records, except civilian employment (AFI 36-3106). Extend courtesies to other uniformed forces and friendly foreign nations, including their anthems and flags. Learn ranks of nations you contact often.
Rendering the salute (24.20)
Salutes are appropriate to the President, Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Service Secretaries, superior commissioned and warrant officers, all Medal of Honor recipients, and superior officers of friendly foreign nations, and to the flag and at official ceremonies. Exchange salutes among U.S. Armed Forces officers and enlisted members, and with uniformed NOAA and U.S. Public Health Service. The junior always salutes first. AFH 1 will not fix a distance; good judgment governs.
When to salute
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Indoors | Do not salute, except formal reporting |
| Formal reporting | Knock once, halt about two paces from the officer or desk, salute, and report “Sir (Ma’am), (rank and last name) reports as ordered” or “…reports”; hold the departing salute until acknowledged |
| Outdoors | Exchange the salute outside a building, on a porch, covered sidewalk, entryway, reviewing stand, or bus stop—on and off the installation |
| Both hands full | If articles cannot be shifted to the left hand, you need not salute; nod or offer a verbal greeting |
| Formation | Members do not salute unless commanded; the person in charge salutes for the formation |
| Work detail | Workers do not salute; the person in charge salutes for the detail |
| Group (not a formation) | First to see the officer calls the group to attention; all face and salute |
| Public gathering | At sporting events, meetings, or when a salute would be impractical, individual salutes are not required |
| Moving military vehicles | Exchange of salutes between members in moving military vehicles is not mandatory |
| Pedestrian vs. staff vehicle | Salute when officer passengers are readily identifiable (marked staff vehicle, plates, or flags) |
| Civilian clothes | Persons in uniform may salute civilians or senior military members in civilian clothes upon recognition |
| “No salute” areas | Not required |
| Physical training gear | Rank-recognition salutes are not required (they may be expected in specified academic training). Outdoors in PT gear, salute during reveille and retreat |
| Military funeral / memorial (in uniform) | Salute the caisson or hearse as it passes and the casket as it is carried past; also during volleys and Taps |
| Taps as “lights out” | Played at many installations to end the day; salute is not required |
TSgt traps: PT gear still salutes reveille and retreat outdoors; occupants of moving military vehicles need not exchange salutes, but a pedestrian salutes a marked staff car; funeral Taps is not lights-out Taps. Indoors, the only salute is the report at about two paces.
In what order do military personnel enter an automobile or small boat, and who exits first?
When reporting to an officer indoors, what is the correct sequence?
An Airman in physical training gear is outdoors when retreat begins. What is required?