MILITARY COURTESY & DISCIPLINE

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.
 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 soldiers, 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. EFFECIENCY- 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 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.
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 and female)
of the Armed Forces of the Allied Nations.
3) Civilian high officials or foreign dignities during
military honors rendered 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 approppiate 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 the 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 remain 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
hand 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
“Goodmorning, 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 internment.
c. Palibearers are provided to carry the casket during the
internment
d. Taps is being played while the caskets 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 distances. Active pallbearers remain covered while they
are carrying the casket.