Proper Pipe Band Decorum

[Jock Scot]

Thank you OCR.

[Father Bill]

Much appreciated, Richard. A clear demonstration.

It was done with extreme, dressy respect and class, but it's not my personal cup of tea, nor, I imagine, would it have been acceptable in decades past but then, things do evolve indeed. My personal preference is still the British "palm-out" salute, but that's a matter of heritage and being an auld crabbit I suppose.

[Arnot]

I've seen both. Usually people with US military, police, or fire service do the American style, while people brought up in the pipe band world do the British style.

The modern US military salute, by the way, seems to have evolved into something different from what US military people did a couple generations ago. I see it all the time when I'm piping at funerals where there's a current US military Honor Guard.

The elbow is held low to the side. Here it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhXkP2emFII

The video is good, but it's for ceremonial purposes. The salute in the video is done slowly as it is a funeral. The usual salute is done quickly with a snap to it. The arm should be up higher than in the video so that the upper arm is horizontal.

Below is an extract from the Army Manual:

FM 3-21.5 Drill and Ceremonies

4-4. HAND SALUTE
The Hand Salute is a one-count movement. The command is Present, ARMS. The Hand
Salute may be executed while marching. When marching, only the soldier in charge of
the formation salutes and acknowledges salutes. When double-timing, an individual
soldier must come to Quick Time before saluting.
a. When wearing headgear with a visor (with or without glasses), on the command
of execution ARMS, raise the right hand sharply, fingers and thumb extended and joined,
palm facing down, and place the tip of the right forefinger on the rim of the visor slightly
to the right of the right eye. The outer edge of the hand is barely canted downward so that
neither the back of the hand nor the palm is clearly visible from the front. The hand and
wrist are straight, the elbow inclined slightly forward, and the upper arm horizontal (1,
Figure 4-5).
b. When wearing headgear without a visor (or uncovered) and not wearing glasses,
execute the Hand Salute in the same manner as previously described, except touch the tip
of the right forefinger to the forehead near and slightly to the right of the right eyebrow
(2, Figure 4-5).
c. When wearing headgear without a visor (or uncovered) and wearing glasses,
execute the Hand Salute in the same manner as previously described, except touch the tip
of the right forefinger to that point on the glasses where the temple piece of the frame
meets the right edge of the right brow (3, Figure 4-5).
d. Order Arms from the Hand Salute is a one-count movement. The command is
Order, ARMS. On the command of execution ARMS, return the hand sharply to the
side, resuming the Position of Attention.
e. When reporting or rendering courtesy to an individual, turn the head and eyes
toward the person addressed and simultaneously salute. In this situation, the actions are
executed without command. The Salute is initiated by the subordinate at the appropriate
time (six paces) and terminated upon acknowledgment. (See Appendix A for more
information on saluting.)

Below is a photo from the manual of how a salute should look. As it happens, I know the guy on the right end. I was stationed with him in Alaska.

[Jordan]

Interesting discussion gents, that video was well done and very smart. Although to my eye the slow movements and not bending the leg looks strange, differences in different services I presume.

If anyone has any interest I can post my regulations for salutes including pictures from the Drill manual.

[Arnot]

Interesting discussion gents, that video was well done and very smart. Although to my eye the slow movements and not bending the leg looks strange, differences in different services I presume.

If anyone has any interest I can post my regulations for salutes including pictures from the Drill manual.

The slow movements are for funerals and such. I have done many funerals and all the salutes during the ceremony were slow like that. Salutes are usually done quickly and crisply. The usual manner is described in the extract in my last post.

[MacKenzie]

The slow movements are for funerals and such. Salutes are usually done quickly and crisply. The usual manner is described in the extract in my last post.

Agreed.

The best I could find on short notice... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWk5rUhFvSA

[Arnot]

Agreed.

The best I could find on short notice... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWk5rUhFvSA

That's a pretty good video. Well done. Strangely enough, I know a couple of guys from the still shots. At about 1:33, I know the two guys on the left in flight suits.

[SPS tools]

Agreed.

The best I could find on short notice... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWk5rUhFvSA

Note that about 3:02 the OP's questions is addressed directly. When in a formation, the leader salutes but not the members of the group.

[Jordan]

The slow movements are for funerals and such. I have done many funerals and all the salutes during the ceremony were slow like that. Salutes are usually done quickly and crisply. The usual manner is described in the extract in my last post.

Indeed, however I believe over here that we still do all movements at our own correct timings for funerals.

[416 Rigby]

The reason the elbow is kept lower when using the honor guard salute is to prevent the tuck in the blouse from being pulled out of the belt.

I served two years in the USCG Honor Guard, and that is how Military District of Washington conducted all ceremonial functions.