The Salute And Other Rules
David Bunch
One of the first things a soldier learns in the Army is how to salute, and the importance of the salute. The salute is given by smartly raising the right hand, with the fingers straight out and together, to the right eyebrow. All enlisted men are required to salute officers, and junior officers are required to salute higher-ranking officers. The officer who is saluted must return the salute. Soldiers also salute whenever the flag passes by, or when "The Star-Spangled Banner" is played. When a soldier is carrying a rifle, he salutes in a different manner.
He raises the rifle smartly in front of him so that it is held straight up and down. The rifle salute is most often given when a soldier is standing guard. Guard duty is performed by all soldiers. A soldier on guard duty usually walks his post for two hours, and then rests for four hours. This schedule goes on for one whole day, with the soldier alternately standing guard for two hours and resting for four. Each day the guard is changed in a formal military ceremony known as the guard mount. The old guard hands over the duties of guarding the post to the new guard.
As the new guard takes over, the old guard smartly marches away. The guard is under the command of a different officer each day. The officer is called the officer of the day. He is the official representative of the commander of the post or camp. He is responsible to the commander for everything that happens in the camp during that day. Every soldier in the Army is governed by the uniform code of military justice. This was once known as the Articles of War. Under the code, or the Articles of War, the soldier must obey all the rules and regulations that have been made for him.
A company commander can give his men light punishment for small offenses. All serious cases are tried by what is called a court-martial. Several officers form a court-martial and listen to the cases brought before them. The court-martial has the power to punish all military crimes. Every soldier is allowed thirty days' leave each year. He is also sometimes given passes that allow him to go home for periods from one to three days. The passes depend on his good behavior, and the custom of the camp to which he has been assigned.
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