**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)

**MATERIALS:** No additional materials required. Refer to the instructor
information link in the users guide for basic materials to teach the
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**

#### ![](media/image1.wmf)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.

![](media/image1.wmf)

## Lesson Objectives: (Slide 2)

These are the objectives we will be covering.

## 

##  

![](media/image1.wmf)

## 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]{.underline} between those
junior and those senior in rank. If individuals are equal in rank,
salutes [may]{.underline} 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]{.underline} 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.

![](media/image1.wmf)

## 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.

![](media/image1.wmf)

**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]{.underline} 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.

![](media/image1.wmf)

### **Main Point 3: (Slide 6)**

When in [uniform]{.underline} (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]{.underline} (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.)

![](media/image1.wmf)

**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 ![](media/image1.wmf)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.