History Main / MilitarySalute

* In ''Anime/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'' ''Die Neue These'', the Free Planets Alliance use a variaton of the British Army salute and Galactic Empire a variation of the British Navy version.

* In ''Manga/LegendOfGalacticHeroes'' ''Die Neue These'', the Free Planets Alliance use a variaton of the British Army salute and Galactic Empire a variation of the British Navy version.

The Military Salute is a long-standing tradition of military forces around the world, and it is obviously the most visible and known gesture of military protocol to the average civilian. There is an urban myth that it evolved out of a custom in which mediaeval knights opened their visors with their weapon-hand to be recognised and to show that they were not armed; in fact it evolved from the former custom of men removing their hats as a sign of respect. This is the reason that in some military outfits (such as the US Marine Corps and Navy) it is incorrect to salute when you are not wearing a "cover". (In other outfits customs are different, and salutes are given when bare-headed; meanwhile, in many armies, including the Russian one, it is expressly forbidden to salute without a hat on) The salute evolved because of the introduction of headwear that could no longer be taken off easily with just one hand, especially bearskin caps and mitre-shaped grenadier caps. In the 18th century, when the military salute was first introduced, there were situation when it was still possible to give it with the left hand, e. g. on parade when the saluting officer was holding a spontoon in his right hand.

* '''Saluting with your left hand''' can be acceptable when there is something understandable preventing you from using your right. Having an object in your hand is usually not considered a good reason - having an injury to your right arm or ''missing the hand or arm entirely'' is. Traditionally, the use of the right hand in salutes is to show that one bears no threat (since most people are right-handed, they would be carrying their weapons in their right hand).

* Fubuki demonstrates the British Naval salute in ''Anime/KantaiCollection'', as well several other ship girls, but they salute with their elbow tucked in.

The Military Salute is a long-standing tradition of military forces around the world, and it is obviously the most visible and known gesture of military protocol to the average civilian. There is an urban myth that it evolved out of a custom in which mediaeval knights opened their visors with their weapon-hand to be recognised and to show that they were not armed; in fact it evolved from the former custom of men removing their hats as a sign of respect. This is the reason that in some military outfits (such as the US Marines Corps) it is incorrect to salute when you are not wearing a "cover". (In other outfits customs are different, and salutes are given when bare-headed; meanwhile, in many armies, including the Russian one, it is expressly forbidden to salute without a hat on) The salute evolved because of the introduction of headwear that could no longer be taken off easily with just one hand, especially bearskin caps and mitre-shaped grenadier caps. In the 18th century, when the military salute was first introduced, there were situation when it was still possible to give it with the left hand, e. g. on parade when the saluting officer was holding a spontoon in his right hand.

There are also situations in which saluting is NOT recommended. When in the field or in a forward operation base, soldiers are instructed not to salute, since it identifies the officer/VIP, which can [[StraightForTheCommander provide a sniper with an easy target.]] Some military forces also dictate that salutes should only be used while wearing headgear and doing so while bare-headed is at least improper protocol.

There is also a difference between a standard or "administrative" salute used day-to-day, and a "funeral salute" [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin used only at funerals]]. A regular salute is a quick motion: the saluting hand snaps up, holds until the salute is returned, then snaps back down. In a funeral salute, the saluting hand comes up in a slow, deliberate (three-second) motion, and comes down the same way. The funeral salute is used ''only'' when [[DueToTheDead specifically saluting the dead man being buried]]. An officer attending the funeral will still receive a standard salute. Suffice it to say, using a slow salute for any other purpose is downright offensive.

* The ''Film/MasterAndCommander'' film has a plot point where a character failing to salute is flogged. Nagle not only refuses to salute Mr. Hollom, but he also bumps into him without so much as an apology. A military salute is crucial, whether you like the officer or not because it means you respect the rank itself, if not the officer. Nagle's deliberate insubordination was a very grave insult by the standards and he is punished for it, despite his own popularity with the crew. After the punishment, Hollom finds everyone saluting him, a situation he does not find comfortable.

Salutes are usually rendered by an officer (of equal or lesser rank than the salutee) or enlisted soldier to an officer of equal or higher rank. The officer, while not necessarily obligated to return the salute, almost universally does. Not returning the salute is a serious show of disrespect and condescension, which reflects poorly on the salutee. This also has another interesting effect: initiating a salute towards an officer of lesser rank or an enlisted soldier, while not considered insulting (generally), is considered weird and out of place. In the United States armed forces and the armed forces of those countries which award the Victoria Cross, there is one exception to this rule: if you are a recipient of the Medal Of Honor or the Victoria Cross, you WILL be saluted by any member of the armed forces, regardless of rank. So yes, this means that badassery is worthy of saluting.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': The Soldier, who was never in any branch of the military and thus has no basic training to fail, "salutes" by making an L with his left hand. This is also an insulting gesture in several countries, implying that the salutee is a '''L'''oser.

* Ending of ''BattallionWars2'' shows us different salutes of the armies in the game. Solar Empire is left hand raised to chest, palm open and pointing up, followed by a short bow. Western Frontier and Anglo Isles share same salute, similar to real life Britain. Difference is how it is carrier out. Western Frontier soldiers bring their hand to forehead, before straightening their hand to roman salute. Anglo Isles is the same, but in reverse (Hand straight to roman salute, then to head). Finally, Tundran Territories has right hand in fist, arm straight forward before bringing it to chest, hold vertically. It should be noted that apart from Solar Empire, all CO do this salute with their right hand, while soldiers(who carry their weapons in right hand) do them with left hand.

* Much like in Final Fantasy XIV above, ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' has race/gender-specific salute animations when a player inputs the /salute command. There's the usual military "hand to the brow" and the "fist across the chest" style (more recently seen in Attack On Titan) salutes among others. As one example, the female Blood Elves go for the former, but do so in an almost intentionally mocking fashion. They even lean forward a little juuust to make sure the object of their salute saw it. At least they're using the right hand...

--> ''"I was alone, with the worst to come. I had to turn again, march to the edge of the crowd in front of the General Officer -- with royalty beside him -- salute, and march off again. But I couldn't salute! My saluting hand was holding up my nether garments, and if I removed it I should go down in history as the [[NeverLiveItDown Man Whose Kilt Fell Off In Front Of Royalty At Edinburgh Castle]].\\

** ''Discworld/MenAtArms'', Detritus initially had trouble with saluting and would frequently knock himself out by hitting himself in the head.
** At one point in ''Discworld/{{Jingo}}'' [[TheAce Captain Carrot]] delivers a salute so flawless (at three in the morning no less) that even [[KnightInSourArmor Sam Vimes]] notes it would "have brought a happy tear to the eye of the most [[DrillSergeantNasty psychotic drill sergeant]]".

* An episode of ''Dad'sArmy'' sees Captain Mainwaring instructing the platoon to practise their salutes, describing the motion between the hand and head as, "Longest way up one; shortest way down two." The platoon proceed to narrate the motion as they drill the salute until [[CloudCuckooLander Lance Corporal Jones]] (who had been left in charge) recommends that they should "add a little wiggle" of their hand when they bring it to their head. Cue the entire platoon narrating, "''Longest way up one, wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle...''"

* The NewMeat doing this in the field in [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/90939/shell-shock Shell Shock]] results in a brutal ass chewing by SergeantRock for two reasons. Number one: he's not an officer! Number two: They're in the middle of a guerrilla war."

* '''Saluting with your left hand''' can be acceptable when there is something understandable preventing you from using your right. Having an object in your hand is usually not considered a good reason - having an injury to your right arm or ''missing the hand or arm entirely'' is. Doing it for any other reason is generally considered a [[BerserkButton grievous insult]] and is highly offensive, akin to FlippingTheBird. If deliberate, it is done to mock the salutee, [[TheMutiny especially by mutineers.]]

* An interesting variation shows up in [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/81159/racer-and-the-geek Racer And The Geek]]. Interesting because noone involved is in the military.

* Marines in ''OnePiece'' frequently salute their superior palm-inward. When asked about it in his SBS Q&A section, Eiichiro Oda explained that this was at one time actual naval practice to prevent showing tar-stained hands to their superiors.

* The ''Film/MasterAndCommander'' film has a plot point where a character failing to salute is flogged.

* Played with in ''Film/AFewGoodMen'': Upon meeting Lt. Kaffee, his assigned JAG officer, Lance Corporal Dawson is not impressed and instead of saluting defiantly places his hands in his pockets. By the end of the movie, Kaffee has earned Dawson's respect, and he salutes him without prompting.

** In both examples, he [[ArtisticLicenseMilitary should not be saluting]]. He is indoors without a cover (e.g. a hat). In the second case, he is a prisoner who has just been charged with "conduct unbecoming" and sentenced to a dishonorable discharge, who are specifically forbidden from saluting.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' book ''Discworld/MenAtArms'', Detritus initially had trouble with saluting and would frequently knock himself out by hitting himself in the head.

** Also from the same book:

* Creator/BennyHill was famous for his [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jAH3Mz8KFxo/SCBt7-1W5XI/AAAAAAAAAYc/13AD-iqvamY/s320/Benny.gif silly mocking British salute]].
** In one ''Series/TheBennyHillShow'' sketch, he was a WWI army guy who got captured by the Germans. He starts to do the regular (for him) British salute, then realizes who he's dealing with and gives a German salute -- which seems to have been hand on top of the head. The German officer salutes back and stabs himself on his spiked helmet.

* ''Series/BandOfBrothers'': When one of the characters declines to salute a superior officer with whom he has personal issues, he is gently reminded "We salute the rank, not the man."
** To elaborate, the salutee was Major Dick Winters, and the saluter was Captain Herbert Sobel, Winters' former CO. Also a case of TruthInTelevision, as Winters actually had this exchange with Sobel in real life.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': The Soldier, [[spoiler:who was never in any branch of the military and thus has no basic training to fail]], "salutes" by making an L with his left hand.
** This is also an insulting gesture in several countries, implying that the salutee is a '''L'''oser.

*** This was actually a common flag salute in the US prior to WWII, and the arm-extended "Bellamy salute" was used daily when schoolkids said the Pledge of Allegiance. The practice cut off sharply after the US went to war with Germany.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has different salute animations that you can perform depending on which Grand Company you are allied with. You can also learn the salute used by TheEmpire when you're DressingAsTheEnemy for one quest that requires you to look and act like one of their soldiers to sneak by.

* '''Improper/Exaggerated Salute''': The salute is rendered poorly or in an exaggerated manner. This might be a symbol of not knowing how to properly render it (excusable with a civilian, most definitely NOT excusable with a soldier), or it might symbolize the saluter either is very ignorant or very disrespectful and nonchalant. Sometimes, a character does an exaggerated salute to symbolize joy or triumph, but this is a blatant example of not doing their homework. If the character was ''supposed'' to do the salute right but didn't because the writers goofed or winged it, then it's ArtisticLicenseMilitary (and seriously guys, is it so hard to find a soldier and ask him? You probably have National Guard people working for you, ask around!).