PRSG - 1

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Air Base Group Airman Manual










Puerto Rico National Guard
State Guard Command
1
st
Air Base Group Headquarter
Muiz Air National Guard Base, Carolina, Puerto Rico

Airman Manual



Airman Manual
MILITARY CUSTOMS, COURTESIES & PROTOCOL
As of January 2014



Airman Manual

PRSG - 1
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Air Base Group Airman Manual


Customs & Courtesies
The Salute. Coming to attention when an officer
enters a room. Shaking hands when meeting
someone. These are all examples of customs and
courtesies. They are small, but important
expressions of politeness and mutual respect.
Customs and courtesies are found throughout
society at large, but Air Force-style customs and
courtesies are especially important, because they re-
enforce the Core Values and bring us closer to our
fellows airmen.

All military customs and courtesies are rooted in
basic politeness and respect. To the newcomer, they
seem strange at first. People are often embarrassed
the first time they try to salute. But with a just a
little bit of study, practice, and mentoring comes
understanding and confidence.

This chapter provides guidance and history for
excellence in protocol, decorum, customs and
courtesies during Air Force ceremonies,
conferences, and social events, in hosting
distinguished visitors and in honors afforded at
military funerals.
Definitions:
Custom - An act or ceremony that stems
from tradition and is enforced as unwritten
law.
Courtesy If a guidance in written form,
its a military courtesy.
Esprit de corps A common spirit of
enthusiasm and devotion to a cause among
the members of a group.
Protocol A code of precedence in rank
and status of correct procedure in
ceremonies; a form of etiquette observed in
ceremonies; a combination of good manners
and common sense that facilitates effective
communication.
General Customs/Courtesies:
Constant usage of Professionalism
Verbal Greetings
Appointments and being on time
Usage of appropriate Titles (rank and name)
Stand or rise to the position of attention
when speaking to officers, unless told
otherwise
Proper telephone etiquette
Calling the room when an officer enters
Respect towards the U.S. Flag, Air Force
Song, and other services.
Proper Utilization of the chain of command
Never put your hands in your pockets unless
doing so quickly to retrieve something
Do not lean or sit on a superiors desk, ask for
permission to be seated
Officers will treat everyone fairly, all airmen
receive the same treatment.
You should always use Sir/Maam when
conversing or responding with senior
ranking officers.
Do NOT use slang, profanity, yeah, uh-
huh, etc. It is too casual and therefore
considered disrespectful.
When walking with a superior, allow the
superior to take the position of honor to the
right
Saluting
Courtesy is an attitude-an attitude that leads
to success.
Seven Basic Responses:
Yes, Sir/Maam
No, Sir/Maam
No excuse, Sir/Maam
Sir/Maam, I do not know
Sir/Maam, I do not understand
Sir/Maam, may I ask a question?
Sir/Maam, may I make a statement?
Salute:
Nothing is more embedded in the military culture
than saluting. All Services teach this in their basic
officer and enlisted training programs and it is
reinforced throughout the service member's career.

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Origins. The exact origin of the hand salute is
unknown; many references point to the knight's
symbolic gesture of raising his visor to reveal his
identity as a courtesy on the approach of a superior
as its origin. Another possible early origin was the
common practice of raising the right (weapon) hand
as a greeting of friendship. Major Mark M. Boatner
III, author of Military Customs and Traditions,
believes the origin of the hand salute derives from
the long established custom for juniors to remove
their headgear in the presence of superiors. In the
British Army as late as the American Revolution, a
soldier saluted by removing his hat.
As the British
soldier's hat became
more cumbersome,
the act of removing
the hat degenerated
into a gesture of gr
asping the visor. The
following entry in
the "Order Book of
the Coldstream
Guards," dated 3
September 1745,
supports this view:
"The men ordered
not to pull off their
hats when they pass
an officer, or to speak to them, but only to clap up
their hands to their hats and bow as they pass." Over
the years, the practice may have evolved into the
modern hand salute.
Meaning. The hand salute today, while it varies
across the globe, says in effect, "I greet you."
Returning the salute says in turn, "I return your
greeting." It is rendered with pride as a sign of
recognition and respect between comrades in the
honorable profession of arms.
Whom to salute?
The President of USA
Any officer who is above you in rank.
Warrant officers of any service above you in
rank.
Commissioned officers of friendly foreign
countries above you in rank.
When do you salute in uniform?
Pass by the U.S. Flag
National Anthem
Staff Cars with superior officers
Military Funerals
Salutes are normally exchanged only
outdoors. Indoors, salute officers only when
formally reporting (ie: when called forward
to receive an award).
The junior person initiates the salute a fair
distance from the senior person such that the
senior has time to return the salute.
Offer a greeting such as, Good morning,
maam, when exchanging salutes.
When in formation, do not salute unless
commanded to present arms. The
commander salutes for the unit if an officer
approaches.
When in doubt, salute. Anyone may render a
salute at any time if they believe one is
warranted.
General Rules for Saluting:
While the salute is a
simple concept to grasp
and an easy movement
to master with practice,
the specific occasions
and environments for
rendering the salute
can become confusing.

As a general rule,
salutes are rendered as
a courtesy between
those officers junior
(lower) in grade to
those officers senior
(higher) in grade. For
instance, a lieutenant

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would salute a captain, a captain would salute a
major, or a brigadier general would salute a major
general. The junior officer initiates the salute as
soon as the senior officer is recognized.

If two members of the same grade meet, its a good
idea for them to salute as well. Salutes typically take
place outdoors. Its also polite to greet the officer by
saying, Hello or Good afternoon, for example.

Positions of Honor.

The position of honor is to the right. When an
officer walks on your right, he or she is symbolically
filling the position of honor. The principle that the
right side of a person or thing is the position of
honor is a time honor tradition. The "right of the
line" was the critical side in ancient battle
formations and is the place of honor in ceremonies
today.

The first place of honor is always on the right. One
should always afford seniors this position when
walking, riding, or sitting with them. When joining
up with a senior, always assume a position to his or
her left.

In the combination of a junior woman and a senior
man, the senior man should precede the junior
woman through the door. Unofficially, or in a
"social" situation, the man may extend traditional
courtesies and allow the woman the position of
honor.

Other Official Customs of the Service:

RHIP (Rank Hath Its Privileges). RHIP refers
specifically to those special courtesies that persons
of junior rank or status extend to their "seniors."
Extending a verbal courtesy (such as "sir") or
physical courtesy (such as a salute) to a senior
acknowledges a privilege the senior has earned and
expects. It is also an acknowledgment of authority
and respect. Rank also has its obligations, which
includes ensuring subordinates' rights are respected.

Calling a Room to Attention. By enlisted custom,
the first person to see an officer entering the room
calls the room to attention. If an officer of equal or
higher rank is already in the room, the room is not
called to attention. When the officer departs, the
room is called to attention again.

It is not traditional for officers to follow this
practice. When junior officers are gathered in a
room awaiting the arrival of a senior officer, post an
individual to watch for his or her arrival. As the
senior officer approaches, the watcher may sound
off, stand by or at ease, as a warning. When the
senior enters the room, one officer will announce,
Ladies and gentlemen, the commander, or
Ladies and Gentlemen, General Jones. All
officers stand at attention until told to be seated. It is
a common courtesy for all individuals in a room or
area to stand when a senior civilian enters.

Brining a room to attention should be avoided if
doing so will create a safety hazard or negatively
affect the mission.

Ruffles and Flourishes

A song known as "Ruffles and Flourishes" is played
to honor certain high ranking military and
government officials as well as foreign dignitaries.
The song consists of a drum roll (ruffle) and a
trumpet fanfare (flourish). Up to four ruffles and
flourishes are played, depending on the rank and
position of the person being honored.

Upon hearing "Ruffles and Flourishes" indoors, in
uniform or civilian clothes, face the person being
honored and come to and remain at attention until
the last note of the music has been played.

Upon hearing "Ruffles and Flourishes" outdoors, in
uniform, come to attention, face the person being
honored, and present arms (salute), remaining at
attention until the last note of the music has been
played.




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Air Base Group Airman Manual


Reporting to Senior Officers

Typically, salutes are not rendered indoors. The
exception to this is when reporting to a senior
officer. It is proper to salute the senior officer when
reporting indoors or outside.
To report indoors, knock on the door and wait for
the senior officer to respond to come in. Walk
directly to the senior officer until about two paces
away. Stop, salute, and report (Lieutenant Smith
reports to Major Jones, for example). When
dismissed or at the end of the conversation, come to
attention, salute, and walk directly out of the room.
Reporting outdoors follows the same basic
sequence.

Respect to the Flag and National Anthem

The U.S. & P.R. flag are symbols of the principles
and ideals America and Puerto Rico stands for and
should always be treated with respect. The National
Anthems and the Pledge of Allegiance honor the
flag and deserve the same respect.

Saluting for flag and anthem honors is expected
when in uniform. When wearing civilian apparel,
place the right hand over the heart for flag and
anthem honors.

Honoring the Flag Outdoors

In uniform, when an uncased flag passes by (such as
in a parade or at a sporting event), come to attention
and salute when the flag comes within six paces and
hold the salute until the flag passes six paces
beyond.

In civilian clothes, come to attention. If wearing a
hat, remove it, and hold it in the right hand. Place
the right hand over the heart when the flag is within
six paces and hold until the flag is six paces past.

On Air Force installations, flags on stationary staffs
are saluted only at reveille, retreat, and on special
occasions.


The U. S. National Anthem:

Composed by Francis Scott Keys "The Star
Spangled Banner" became the U.S. national
anthem on 3 March 1931.

O say! can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last
gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thro the
perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly
streaming?
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
gave proof thro the night that our flag was still there.
O say! does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen thro the mist of the deep,
Where the foes haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, oer the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the mornings first beam,

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In full glory reflected now shines in the stream.
Tis the Star-Spangled Banner. 0 long may it wave
Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battles confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washd out their foul footsteps
pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave
0er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lovd home and wars desolation,
Blest with victry and peace, may the Heavn-rescued
land
Praise the powr that hath made and preservd us a
nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto, In God is Our Trust.And the
Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave.


The P.R. National Anthem:

Composed by Manuel Fernandez Juncos "La
Borinquea" in 1903 and became the P.R. national
anthem on 1952.

La tierra de Borinquen
donde he nacido yo,
es un jardn florido, de mgico primor.
Un cielo siempre ntido
le sirve de dosel.
Y dan arrullos plcidos,
las olas a sus pies.
Cuando a sus playas lleg Coln;
exclam lleno de admiracin:
"Oh! Oh! Oh!
Esta es la linda tierra
que busco yo".
Es Borinquen la hija,
la hija del mar y el sol.
Del mar y el sol. Del mar y el sol.
Del mar y el sol. Del mar y el sol.
Proper way to address by rank:

Abbrev. Grade Terms of address
AB Airman Basic Airman
Amn Airman Airman
A1C Airman First Class Airman
SrA Senior Airman Airman
SSgt Staff Sergeant Sergeant
TSgt Technical Sergeant Sergeant
MSgt Master Sergeant Sergeant
SMSgt Senior Master Sergeant Sergeant
CMSgt Chief Master Sergeant Chief
CCMSgt Command Chief Master Sergeant
Command Chief
2d Lt Second Lieutenant Lieutenant
1st Lt First Lieutenant Lieutenant
Capt Captain Captain
Maj Major Major
Lt Col Lieutenant Colonel Colonel
Col Colonel Colonel
Brig Gen Brigadier General General
Maj Gen Major General General
Lt Gen Lieutenant General General
Gen General General









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