Pictures from Iraq.

[Riggswolfe]

Like the rest of you I don't care about not saluting officers (which is a duh thing anyway, those of you ex-military types have heard the joke I'm sure. Enlisted guy salutes officer "Sniper check sir!") or about the officer having a drink with an NCO (unless it was inappropriate, like him trying to seduce a female NCO and using his rank to an advantage).

I do care about what happened between the guards and the prisoners. We're supposed to be the good guys. It's only a matter of time before all these kook groups start wanting to look into EVERY prison we have. I can almost gurantee that the Red Cross and Amnesty Intl are eying Guantamo Bay and other prisons we probably have in Iraq.

[daveNYC]

Like the rest of you I don't care about not saluting officers (which is a duh thing anyway, those of you ex-military types have heard the joke I'm sure.

The thing about not saluting an officer makes perfect sense, but they were at a prison.  You know, either inside, or in an area that's enclosed by high walls.  Not that I know much about military life, but I would think that the whole sniper thing isn't very relevant at that point.

Of course if it is standard operating procedure to not salute when in a war zone, just on general principal (so you don't forget, and salute when outside say) then whatever.  Anyone can clarify this for me?

[Big Gulp]

The thing about not saluting an officer makes perfect sense, but they were at a prison.  You know, either inside, or in an area that's enclosed by high walls.  

You don't salute while indoors unless you're reporting.  When an officer enters an area you call attention, but don't salute.  The same way you call at ease when a more senior NCO enters the area, although most units tend to let this slide, especially since usually your CO and first sergeant are in the area all day.  In that case you only call attention when a more senior officer/NCO than them enters the area.

[DarkDryad]

As for battlefeild protocol you dont salute as not to endager officers. You never EVER salute on a flightline as it can be mistaken for a hand signal to throttle up.
It does not matter where you are in a combat zone. Snipers are trained to get very close and remain undetected so you could be inside the walls with guards posted and if there is a tall building anywhere in oh a half milethat affords a view its a prime sniper hang out. Sounds like the people making the charges either havent been in combat or are total fucking idiots. Probably both.

[Riggswolfe]

Sounds like the people making the charges either havent been in combat or are total fucking idiots. Probably both.

My first thought on that particular charge was "They've got Lt Gorman from the Aliens movie investigating this." Don't know if any of you remember him, he was the totally inexperienced Lt assigned to the marines in the movie.