Outdoors. Whenever and wherever the United States National Anthem, "To the Color," "Reveille," or "Hail to the Chief’ is played, at the first note, all dismounted personnel in uniform and not in formation face the flag (or the music, if the flag is not in view), stand at Attention, and render the prescribed Salute. The position of Salute is held until the last note of the music is sounded. Military personnel not in uniform will stand at Attention (remove headdress, if any, with the right hand), and place the right hand over the heart. Vehicles in motion are brought to a Halt. Persons riding in a passenger car or on a motorcycle dismount and salute. Occupants of other types of military vehicles and buses remain in the vehicle and sit at attention; the individual in charge of each vehicle dismounts and renders the Hand Salute. Tank and armored car commanders salute from the vehicle.
Indoors. When the National Anthem is played indoors, officers and enlisted personnel stand at Attention and face the music, or the flag if one is present.
Saluting Colors
National and organizational flags, which are mounted on flagstaffs equipped with finials, are called Colors. Military personnel passing a military formation in which an uncased National Color is being carried, salute at six steps distance and hold the Salute until they have passed six steps beyond it. Similarly, when the uncased Color passes by, they salute when it is six steps away and hold the Salute until it has passed six steps beyond them.
NOTE: Small flags carried by individuals, such as those carried by civilian spectators at a parade, are not saluted. It is improper to salute with any object in the right hand or with a cigarette, cigar, or pipe in the mouth.
Uncovering
Officers and enlisted men under arms uncover only when
- Seated as a member of (or in attendance on) a court or board.
- Entering places of divine worship.
- In attendance at an official reception.
Personnel remove their headdress indoors. When outdoors, military headdress is never removed, or raised as a form of salutation. When appropriate, civilians may be saluted in lieu of removing the headdress.
Saluting Upon Boarding Naval Ships
When military personnel (of any service) board U.S. Navy ships, either as an individual or as a unit leader, they salute according to naval procedures.
When boarding a naval ship, upon reaching the top of the gangway, face and salute the national ensign. After completing this salute, salute the officer of the deck who will be standing on the quarter deck at the head of the gangway. The officer of the deck may be a commissioned officer, warrant officer, or petty officer (enlisted). When saluting the officer of the deck, request permission to board, "Sir (or Ma'am), Request permission to come aboard." The officer of the deck will return the salute.
When leaving the ship, render the same salutes in reverse order, and request permission to leave, "Sir" (or Ma'am), Request permission to go ashore."
