Job vs Career

[Christcorp]

Bullet. Is tt before or after you "Offer him a Beer"? Mike.....

 

[flieger83]

Short answer: No. You're in civilian attire, obviously doing something "off duty". (I've met very few in the AF whose official duty was playing a round of golf. Perhaps the academy coach (lucky dog), but very few after that ).

When off duty, in civilian clothes, salutes aren't required, or expected. The Colonel may return a salute if you give him one while you're in civilian clothes, but only because it is the respectful thing to do (acknowledging your respect of HIS rank).

Acting courteous to him as you walk by? Never a bad course of action. How would I have handled this as a young Lt or Capt and I saw the O-6 strolling by on the golf course? Simple: "Hello sir. You haven't seen my ball by any chance have you? What's that? A ball hit you in the shin just now? Did I say that was MY ball? I meant we're looking for my buddy Bob's ball, weren't we Bob."

Of course...when in uniform, at the squadron bar, on Friday night, in a VERY close CRUD match...

It was acceptable for a certain tanker pilot turned eagle driver to put the General on his butt because he was blocking...

And he even bought the beer!
(and in the next game repaid the action in spades! )

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83

 

[SteveHolt243]

A lot of it depends on community and service. For example, in aviation, ENS never, ever salute LTJG, even in the training commands, and the JGs would laugh if you did. Although it's hearsay, word is the SWOs don't see that sort of thing quite the same. I don't know what the AF equivalent of this example would be, but I assuem there is one.

A comment I will make on the "frat" idea - One of my best friend's father was a 3 star, one's was a sergeant major. Obviously, being two of my best friends' fathers, I had a lot of social interaction with both of them. The 3 star was probably the "coolest" senior officer I've ever met, yet I would have never hesitated to call him "sir," as much as it annoyed my friend. FWIW, the VADM corresponded with a social but aloof response; it gets complicated with officers a few ranks higher who don't maintain that same aloofness. The sergeant major, similarly, took us for dinner and whatnot, but maintained a professional aloofness and always called us "sir," even though our experience was basically negative and his was 30+ years, and was among the first to salute us after commisisoning. My point is that you'll learn the proper interactions not by codified rules, but by experience with superiors and subordinates who approach you professionally, and you'll learn to play it by ear.

 

[sprog]

A lot of it depends on community and service. For example, in aviation, ENS never, ever salute LTJG, even in the training commands, and the JGs would laugh if you did. Although it's hearsay, word is the SWOs don't see that sort of thing quite the same. I don't know what the AF equivalent of this example would be, but I assuem there is one.

In the USAF, at least in the ICBM world where I was, LTs do not salute each other. The way I had it put to me was that "honor among lieutenants is like virtue among whores." Take that for what you will. I will say, however, that this really only applied to operational units. That is, when you were stuck in AETC going through training (for me, at Vandenberg AFB doing Missile Initial Qualification Training for the Minuteman III), there was a little bit more of the BS. I think a 2LT might get chewed-out if he failed to salute a 1LT on an AETC base, but only if an instructor observed this (or if the instructor was a 1LT, which was rare). Indeed, if it was a student 1LT at the AETC base, he would, most likely, care less and not expect a salute from a 2LT (as this person probably had previous operational experience). If the 1LT did care, then he is probably the World's biggest tool.

 

[Pima]

I don't recall Bullet saluting 1st Lts when he was a 2nd, and vise a verse.

Of course, the good thing about butter bars is that Sh*t rolls off them... It's funny one day they will forgive you by saying your just a LT, the very next day you pin on Capt and then it goes you should no better you're A CAPTAIN!