First Salute At Commissioning Ceremony Questions

When I got commissioned in an AROTC unit, we were told the first salute had to go to an enlisted soldier and it couldn't be a cadet, so we all simply left the chapel where we were all commissioned and may our way to our favorite NCO Cadre from our unit and received our first salute. I have a photo of that. When may DH was commissioned at USMA, his younger brother was enlisted in the Marines and flew in for the ceremony and gave my DH his first salute. Later on when my BIL was commissioned in the Marine Corp, my DH gave him his oath. My DD, had her younger brother who was a USMA cadet give her her first salute after my DH performed her commissioning ceremony. When my DS was commissioned he had his fiancee, who was a cadet give him his first salute. These are such treasured memories.
 
USMAROTCFamily said:
When I got commissioned in an AROTC unit, we were told the first salute had to go to an enlisted soldier and it couldn't be a cadet, so we all simply left the chapel where we were all commissioned and may our way to our favorite NCO Cadre from our unit and received our first salute. I have a photo of that. When may DH was commissioned at USMA, his younger brother was enlisted in the Marines and flew in for the ceremony and gave my DH his first salute. Later on when my BIL was commissioned in the Marine Corp, my DH gave him his oath. My DD, had her younger brother who was a USMA cadet give her her first salute after my DH performed her commissioning ceremony. When my DS was commissioned he had his fiancee, who was a cadet give him his first salute. These are such treasured memories.
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More moments and memories 😭😭😭😭😭😭
 
I gave out a few Silver Dollars. Gave one to my Drill Sergeant that came to my Army OCS graduation and I remember stopping my car and giving a young Marine one that saluted me while I drove by! That one was special!
 
Just to be up front......THIS IS A THREAD JACK!

But, with the idea of first salutes, it was on this day in 1778 that the USS RANGER received the first salute to the Stars and Stripes by the French Ship of the Line -- Robuste. Robuste gave a 9 gun salute, marking the first time our Ensign was recognized on the high seas. 👍
 
GWU PNS said:
Just to be up front......THIS IS A THREAD JACK!

But, with the idea of first salutes, it was on this day in 1778 that the USS RANGER received the first salute to the Stars and Stripes by the French Ship of the Line -- Robuste. Robuste gave a 9 gun salute, marking the first time our Ensign was recognized on the high seas. 👍
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Ooh cool, thank you for a Navy trivia thread unravel with historic value.

First CO, JPJ himself, before he went to BONHOMME RICHARD. RANGER gave the Royal Navy major headaches under both Jones and Simpson, and she was just a sloop, I think.
 
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GWU PNS said:
Just to be up front......THIS IS A THREAD JACK!

But, with the idea of first salutes, it was on this day in 1778 that the USS RANGER received the first salute to the Stars and Stripes by the French Ship of the Line -- Robuste. Robuste gave a 9 gun salute, marking the first time our Ensign was recognized on the high seas. 👍
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Awesome stuff!

You know those wooden hull rode a little rough back in the day. :cool:
 
When my son commissioned in May for the Air Force, his 1st LT Army cousin swore him in all decked out. My son's 83 year old enlisted Air Force grandfather was presented with the silver dollar and gave him his first salute. It was such a great memory.
 
Don't Give Up the Ship said:
On a similar note. In 2019 DS, Myself and my Dad (DS' Grandfather) attended a Welcome Aboard event at the USS Consitution in Boston. We had a picture of all three of us wearing USNA Spirit Polo Shirts. Three generations of various Navy Service. Go Navy!
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That was a great event! I had never been to the Constitution before that evening and have been several times since, taking DS friends to visit. Excited to attend again this Spring!!!!
 
Capt MJ said:
Ideally, IMHO, it’s an enlisted person in uniform who renders the first salute to a newly commissioned officer, and the silver dollar is handed over with a handshake and a smile. There is a sense of recognition of the new senior-subordinate relationship, and the weight of responsibility settling on the new officer’s shoulders. I was honored beyond words when the Navy Master Chief with whom I had worked as Color Guard Commander at OCS asked me if he could give me my first salute. It was quite emotional, as he had mentored and coached me, talked to me about how a Division Officer looks after her sailors, worked with her petty officers and to always, always, “listen to the Chief.” He was saying I was ready to go with that salute and handshake.

It’s always fun to see a younger sib from same or other service SA or ROTC do the salute. At USNA, there are many instances of other midshipmen doing the first salute - maybe a newly-minted 3/c who was a special plebe mentee of the new officer.

BUT - this is an unofficial custom. Whatever floats the boat, because I have seen enough crazy variations on who is saluting whom and what they are wearing, that I don’t get worked up over it.

Mine meant a great deal to me.

Now - don’t mix the first salute up with private commissioning oaths. An active, retired or Reserve officer, any service, can administer the commissioning oath. The one during the program is the official one, but many like the photo op of a retired general friend or other officer family member doing the oath.
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If a retired person does a private Oath, do they wear their uniform?

Have you ever done this? Is it special to be asked to do this? Do they just meet after the official ceremony somewhere? Or do it before? My wheels are churning about something…😬
 
justdoit19 said:
If a retired person does a private Oath, do they wear their uniform?

Have you ever done this? Is it special to be asked to do this? Do they just meet after the official ceremony somewhere? Or do it before? My wheels are churning about something…😬
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I wore my uniform when I swore my son into the Air Force. Title 10 of US Code allows retirees to wear the uniform as long as they meet the grooming standards of the service.
 
justdoit19 said:
If a retired person does a private Oath, do they wear their uniform?

Have you ever done this? Is it special to be asked to do this? Do they just meet after the official ceremony somewhere? Or do it before? My wheels are churning about something…😬
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My retired DH wore his uniform when he gave the oath to DD and DS. Both were done after the "official" oaths were done.
 
justdoit19 said:
If a retired person does a private Oath, do they wear their uniform?

Have you ever done this? Is it special to be asked to do this? Do they just meet after the official ceremony somewhere? Or do it before? My wheels are churning about something…😬
Click to expand...
I did not wear my uniform when I swore my son in as a Midshipman nor when he commissioned as an Ensign. My memory of the private swearing-ins around us was that about half were in uniform.
 
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