The Continental Congress commissioned George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army on June 19, 1775. Washington was selected over other candidates such as John Hancock based on his previous military experience and the hope that a leader from Virginia could help unite the colonies.

The President

As such, he is the highest-ranking officer in the military establishment, with the power to appoint the Chief of Staff (on the advice of the Armed Forces Council). He also appoints the service heads of each of the three branches of the military.

The Governor shall be Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the State, except when they shall be called into the service of the United States. The Governor shall have power to call out the militia to execute the laws, to suppress insurrection, or to repel invasion.

(e) A person not on active duty who served honorably in time of war in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may bear the title, and, when authorized by regulations prescribed by the President, wear the uniform, of the highest grade held by him during that war.

It isn’t disrespectful, its all customs and tradition. example: civilians(even prior service) will almost always address an enlisted soldier as ‘sir’ rather than by rank, sometimes they do though which is fine, its the same thing with a salute. A salute is a sign of honor and respect regardless of who presents it.

TLDR – In the United States, it is legal for civilians to wear military uniforms. However, it is against the law to impersonate a member of the military for personal gains, such as wearing a uniform to commit fraud.

Wearing a uniform after retirement is a privilege granted in recognition of faithful service to country. According to Air Force Instruction 36-2903, retirees may wear the uniform as prescribed at date of retirement, or any of the uniforms authorized for active-duty personnel, including the dress uniforms.

Yes, it is customary to salute them when you recognize them as officers, when they are in uniform or when they are participants in ceremonies.

A veteran (from Latin vetus, meaning “old”) is a person who has a long career (and is usually adept and esteemed) in a particular occupation or field. A military veteran is a person who has served and is no longer serving in a military.

A person who is discharged honorably or under honorable conditions from the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may wear his uniform while going from the place of discharge to his home, within three months after his discharge.

There are certain rules for those seeking to wear the uniform for formal functions, national holidays, parades, military funerals and weddings and other military occasions. Only the Service Dress Uniform may be worn; no work, battle dress or PT uniforms are permitted to be worn at formal events.

Even if your wedding is a “civilian” wedding, you can allow any active military members of the bridal party (or guests) to wear their uniforms. The two most common types of uniforms are “mess” uniforms for black tie events, and “service” uniforms for formal events.

During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, all persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute.

It is customary to salute foreign officers (friend or foe). It is a mark of mutual respect and acts as a reminder to both parties that they are soldiers and that they each have responsibilities to the other. “If you are an enlisted prisoner of war, you must salute all enemy officers.

Civilians should not salute the American Flag with a military salute. The military salute is considered a privilege earned by those who have served in the Armed Forces and is reserved for official protocols. Civilians should follow specific etiquette during the National Anthem.

Sen. James Inhofe’s National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2009 authorized the flag salute for veterans not in uniform during the NATIONAL ANTHEM. The law you reference is not restricted to the playing of The National Anthem. …

The number is a multiplication of what the Royal Navy would normally do at sea. An extra 20 guns is added when the salute is given from a Royal Park or setting. Hence, the 41-gun salute.

During a military funeral, members of the Armed Forces are expected to wear their service dress uniform and be prepared to salute when: the hearse passes in front of them, anytime the flag-draped casket is moved, during the formal gun salute, during the playing of Taps and when the casket is lowered into the ground.

A salute is a public sign of respect and recognition of another’s higher rank. When in uniform, you salute when you meet and recognize an officer entitled to a salute by rank except when inappropriate or impractical.

When you enter a military installation a gate guard will check your ID card. If it is a military member, they will salute officers. It is customary to return the salute whether you are in uniform or wearing civilian clothes.

When an officer enters a room, the first enlisted person to recognize the officer calls personnel in the room to attention but does not salute. A salute indoors is rendered only when reporting to an officer. Walk on the left of and slightly behind an officer or NCO of superior rank.

Officers of equal rank, General or otherwise, typically salute each other with the junior one (i.e. the one who got to that rank later) going first. Generals in the same arm of a country’s military usually all know or would have heard of each other, so they know who is senior.

But E-9s are the masters of protocol and setting examples. They will salute ever officer they see from O-1 all the way to O-10 and demand their junior enlisted do the same and they will chew the first uppity E-6’s butt that thinks that a “butter bar” isn’t worthy of their salute.

The naval salute, with the palm downwards is said to have evolved because the palms of naval ratings, particularly deckhands, were often dirty through working with lines and was deemed insulting to present a dirty palm to an officer; thus the palm was turned downwards.

The two-fingers salute is said to have caused problems for Polish units serving with the Allies on the western front during World War II. Allied officers thought that Polish soldiers saluting with two fingers were making fun of them or were deliberately trying to offend them.

If your asking about military members in uniform when they do have a cover on outdoors, they are required to salute. They are required to wear cover (hat, beret, helmet) when outdoors, and required to remove it when indoors. They are not supposed to salute when indoors.

Knights in armor raised visors with the right hand when meeting a comrade. This practice gradually became a way of showing respect and, in early American history, sometimes involved removing the hat. By 1820, the motion was modified to touching the hat, and since then it has become the Hand Salute used today.