MILITARY COURTESY & DISCIPLINE

Military discipline is necessary to ensure orderly and effective

group action. This is commonly known as teamwork. Teamwork is
particularly important in military operations where its presence or
lack of it may spell the difference between victory or defeat.

With discipline, everybody learn the sense of obligation to

himself and to his group, to his superiors and to the entire
organization where he belongs. He also realizes that he is a member
of a team, organized, trained and equipped for the purpose of
engaging and defeating the enemies of the state.

Really, all aspects of military life are affected by discipline. We

hear of "fire discipline", water discipline, "supply discipline", etc.

1. DEFINITION OF TERMS

a. MILITARY DISCIPLINE - is the state of order and obedience

among personnel in a military organization. It is characterized by the
men's prompt and willing responsiveness to orders and unhesitating
compliance to regulations.
b. MILITARY COURTESY - are the acts of politeness, civility
and respect that personnel in the military organization accord to one
other. Just like in the civilian world, military courtesy serves to
smooth the personal relationship among men in the profession of
arms. As a soldier, you must be thoroughly familiar with the different
forms of military courtesy. Learn to practice them wholeheartedly and
insist that your fellow soldiers do the same.
c. CUSTOMS OF THE SERVICE – it is the body of unwritten or
common law of the armies, navies and air forces.
d. MORALE – the term may be defined as the mental state and
spirit of an individual or unit.
e. EFFICIENCY – it is the ability to accomplish successfully
an assigned task in the shortest possible time with the least
confusion. Efficiency requires interest, resourcefulness, and
proficiency. It develops pride, and the satisfaction of a job well done.

2. THE SALUTE
 The salute is the most important and the most common form of
all the military courtesies. It is a time honored tradition of the
profession of arms, practiced in all military organizations in the world.
The manner an individual executes the salute is an indication of his
attitude towards his duties as a military man and existing state of
morale and discipline in his unit. A sloppishly and grudgingly
rendered salute or a childish pretense not to notice anyone to whom a
salute is due, shows neglect or ignorance of the individual duties, his
lack of confidence and ability to perform them, his lack of pride in his
team and possession of a stubborn and defiant character making him
unsuited to cooperate with others in a common effort. When you
salute or return a salute smartly, clearly mark yourself as a soldier
who has pride in yourself and your organization.

a. Who and What are Entitled to Salute

1) Commissioned Officers (both male and female) of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines.
2) Commissioned Officers (both male or female) of the
Armed Forces of Allied Nations.
3) Civilian high officials or foreign dignities during
military honors rendered for them.
4) Colors and standard not cased.

b. When to Salute

1) Reporting to an officer.
2) Meeting an officer
3) When the national color passes by
4) When the national anthem is being played. (Out door
only)
5) Raising and lowering of flag.
6) After conversing with an officer.

c. When not to Salute:

1) When troops are at work

2) Indoors, except when reporting to an officer.
3) When carrying articles with both hands, or being so
occupied to make saluting impracticable.
 4) When attending to a vehicle.
5) When meeting a prisoner
6) When in ranks

Military personnel in uniform are always required to salute

all persons who are entitled to such courtesy whenever they meet and
recognized them. Saluting, however, is not necessary when riding
public conveyances such as trains and busses or when inside public
places such as theaters and restaurants or during situations when a
salute is manifestly in appropriate or impractical.

3. General Rules for Saluting

Following are the rules to observe when saluting:

a. Saluting distance is the distance of recognition. Usually it

does not exceed 30 paces. The salute is rendered and the hand is
held in position until the officers saluted has passed or after the
salute is returned
b. A salute must always be returned by the officer entitled to
it, unless he is in the formation of other officers. In which case, only
the most senior or the marcher returns it.
c. The salute must never be rendered in a casual or
perfunctory manners, nor with pipe, cigar or cigarette held in the
mouth or in the right hand. It is only rendered at a halt or a walk. If
running, a soldier comes to a walk before saluting. When mounted on
a horse, he brings the horse to a walk and salute.
d. When several are in a group, not in formation, all rise and
salute. When in formation, only the commander or the most senior
salutes.
e. The salute is made whether a headgear is worn or not.
f. A soldier salutes an officer if he meets and recognizes him
inside a military camp even though they are both in civilian clothes or
when either one of them is in uniform. When both or each of them are
in civilian clothes and they meet outside of camp, a courteous "Good
Morning , Sir" or other greeting will do.
g. The salute is rendered only once if the officer remains in
the immediate vicinity and conversation takes place, the junior must
again salute the officer when he leaves or dismiss him.
 h. Unlike Navy personnel, soldiers never salute with the left
hand. When a soldiers hold something on his right hand, he transfer it
to the left and salute. When it is impractical to burden both hands, he
simply greets the officer as he meets him.
i. The salute is always executed while looking at the person
being saluted. It is always best to accompany such courteous gesture
with "Good Morning, Sir" or some appropriate greetings.
j. Enlisted Personnel salute other enlisted personnel only in
formation when rendering reports.
k. Whenever a soldier is in doubt, as to whether a salute is
appropriate or not-HE SALUTES

4. Services and Last Courtesies

Funeral services are accorded to all military personnel who died

in the performance of their duties. Deceased military personnel are
entitled to the following:

a. Vigil guards during the wake.

b. Gun salute during interment.
c. Pallbearers are provided to carry the casket during the
interment.
d. Taps is being played while the casket is being lowered to
the grave.

As courtesy to the deceased military personnel, while the casket

is being carried from the house to the caisson, military personnel
stand at attention, uncover and hold the headdress over their left
breast. During inclement weather, they execute hand salute. The
honor is also accorded to the remains as it passes by the mourners.
Military men not in formation attending military funerals follow the
mourners according to seniority.

As the casket is being lowered from the caisson to the grave

during the sounding of the volley, taps and funeral services, the
headdress is removed and placed over the left breast. During
inclement weather, military personnel remain uncover and execute
the hand salute. This position is maintained until the casket reaches
the grave or when it is beyond saluting distance. Active pallbearers
remain covered while they are carrying the casket.