POTUS

[Alpo]

The president is the commander-in-chief, right? That makes him the highest ranking military officer in the country, right?

 

So if someone tried to assassinate him, but only wounded him (think Reagan and Hinckley), wouldn't he qualify for a Purple Heart?

 

Or would it have to be an enemy combatant?

 

John Smith decides that he does not like the way the president is doing things, so he takes a shot at him. Now that's attempted murder by an American citizen.

 

But Abdul bin Achmed, deep cover Al Qaeda operative over here on a student visa. Sees his chance and takes a shot. Seems like that would be wounded by enemy action.

 

The things you think of while you're walking the dog.

[Muleshoe Bill SASS #67022]

He is not active duty in any military branch. So the answer would be no.

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

Civilian control of the military. Deeply bedded in the Constitution. 
 

He’s a civilian and would not receive a Purple Heart. 

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

As said, he's not in the military.

[Wyoma]

Well covered gentlemen!

[Alpo]

Then why, if he is considered a civilian and is not in any branch of the military, do people that are in the military salute him?

 

 

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

He is the commander in chief of the armed forces. 

[Sixgun Sheridan]

They'll just need to remind him every few days because he'll probably forget.

[Blackwater 53393]

3 hours ago, Sixgun Sheridan said:

They'll just need to remind him every few days because he'll probably forget.

 

More likely, he’ll just sleep through it!!

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

8 hours ago, Alpo said:

Then why, if he is considered a civilian and is not in any branch of the military, do people that are in the military salute him?

 

He's not 'considered' a civilian. He is a civilian.

[Ozark Huckleberry]

15 hours ago, Alpo said:

Then why, if he is considered a civilian and is not in any branch of the military, do people that are in the military salute him?

 

 

The hand salute you're referring to is a ritualized gesture of respect extended by members of the military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, etc. The story of the origin ranges from two knights raising their visors when they meet to establish identification (always wondered about that, since I thought that's what heraldry was supposed to be about), to removing a hat, to raising an open hand to show that there were no hidden weapons. Whatever.

 

It isn't restricted to only being extended to other members of a military -- we salute the flag, we salute the National Anthem, we salute the playing of Taps, the sounding of Colors and Retreat. We salute what we respect (or in some cases, things to which we are required to show respect). As an usher at our church, when the casket of a former military member is wheeled out after a service I salute as he or she leaves the church and is loaded in the hearse.

 

You don't have to be another member of the military to receive a salute; but either you (or the office you hold) have to be considered worthy of it.

[Wyoma]

There is fairly strict protocol about saluting in the Navy/Marine Corps.  You must be in uniform.  You must be outside.  You must be covered (wearing a hat).  The only people allowed to salute inside are those who are under arms and a return salute is not rendered unless that person is also under arms.  Military people do not salute when in civilian clothes.  Respects are rendered by placing the hand over the heart while in civilian clothes.  The president is always in civilian clothes so no salute is required or expected.   Presidents saluting members of the military is a fairly modern tradition  I'm pretty sure it started with Clinton (horror of horrors).  At the time military people were perturbed by his breech of protocol but more horrified by his inability to render a proper salute.  Someone finally coached him up.  The traditional military salute has morphed into a present day sign of respect.  I have buried several Marine friends where many of us stood over the casket and rendered a hand salute out of respect for our friend.  That salute is neither required nor expected.  

[DocWard]

27 minutes ago, Wyoma said:

There is fairly strict protocol about saluting in the Navy/Marine Corps.  You must be in uniform.  You must be outside.  You must be covered (wearing a hat).  The only people allowed to salute inside are those who are under arms and a return salute is not rendered unless that person is also under arms.  Military people do not salute when in civilian clothes.  Respects are rendered by placing the hand over the heart while in civilian clothes.  The president is always in civilian clothes so no salute is required or expected.   Presidents saluting members of the military is a fairly modern tradition  I'm pretty sure it started with Clinton (horror of horrors).  At the time military people were perturbed by his breech of protocol but more horrified by his inability to render a proper salute.  Someone finally coached him up.  The traditional military salute has morphed into a present day sign of respect.  I have buried several Marine friends where many of us stood over the casket and rendered a hand salute out of respect for our friend.  That salute is neither required nor expected.  

 

Not quite!

 

Quote

Although other presidents have saluted military personnel on various occasions, the returning of presidential salutes did not become commonplace until President Ronald Reagan began the practice in 1981, Snopes.com found.

 

Reagan explained his decision a few years later in remarks to U.S. service members and their families stationed in Iceland:

 

“I can’t resist telling you a little story that I’ve just told the marine guard at the Embassy. The story has to do with saluting. I was a second lieutenant of horse cavalry back in the World War II days. As I told the admiral, I wound up flying a desk for the Army Air Force. And so, I know all the rules about not saluting in civilian clothes and so forth, and when you should or shouldn’t. But then when I got this job and I would be approaching Air Force One or Marine One and those Marines would come to a salute and I - knowing that I am in civilian clothes - I would nod and say hello and think they could drop their hand, and they wouldn’t. They just stood there. So, one night over at the Marine Commandant’s quarters in Washington, and I was getting a couple of highballs, and I didn’t know what to do with them. So, I said to the Commandant, I said, ‘Look, I know all the rules about saluting in civilian clothes and all, but if I am the Commander in Chief, there ought to be a regulation that would permit me to return a salute.’ And I heard some words of wisdom. He said, ‘I think if you did, no one would say anything.’ 

 

“So, if you see me on television and I’m saluting, you know that I’ve got authority for it now - and I do it happily.”

 

https://www.jacksonville.com/article/20160415/NEWS/801246528

[Ozark Huckleberry]

True, there are all sorts of details associated with proper rendering of salutes. We could really get into the weeds with it:

 

Salutes are not rendered at the double time -- the person rendering the salute must slow to quick time while saluting, then return to double time after the salute is returned or when past the requirement to render.

 

Salutes rendered when overtaking a senior must be held until the senior either grants or denies permission to pass.

 

Persons under arms do not return salutes when escorting the colors. 

 

In a formation, only the person in charge of the formation salutes. When in a group not in formation, all members render. 

 

The reason Navy/USMC do not commonly salute indoors is because they remove their covers indoors. But when in the presence of another armed service indoors, if the other person salutes a salute is appropriate out of courtesy.

 

2008 & 2009 Defense Bills.  provided authorization for veterans and military members out of uniform to salute during ceremonies involving the U.S. flag. 36 U.S. Code Section 301 also allows for members and veterans not in uniform to salute during flag ceremonies.

[Alpo]

I saw Reagan on the tube giving someone a medal. After pinning on the medal he stepped back, and the recipient saluted him. He looked startled for a moment, and then briefly placed his hand over his heart. After he did that the recipient lowered his hand.

 

And I thought that that was extremely cool. The military guy had rendered a hand salute, and the civilian had returned it with a civilian salute.

 

Then later I see pictures of other military people saluting Reagan and he returning the salute with his hand to his head. That seemed wrong to me.