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CHARTER OF THE INTERNAL SERVICE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION (approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 12/14/93) (as amended on 12/18/2006) (2019) Relevant in 2018
Military salute
43. The military salute is the embodiment of the comradely cohesion of military personnel, evidence of mutual respect and a manifestation of common culture. All military personnel are obliged to greet each other when meeting (overtaking), strictly observing the rules established by the drill regulations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Subordinates and juniors military rank They greet first, and in case of equal status, the first to greet is the one who considers himself more polite and well-mannered.
44. Military personnel are also obliged to greet:
The Battle Banner of a military unit, as well as the Naval flag upon arrival on a warship and upon departure from it;
Funeral processions accompanied by military units.
44. Military units and subunits, when in formation, salute upon command:
President and Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation;
Marshals of the Russian Federation, army generals, fleet admirals, colonel generals, admirals and all direct superiors, as well as persons appointed to manage the inspection (check) of a military unit (unit).
To greet the above-mentioned persons in the ranks, the senior commander gives the command “At attention, alignment to the RIGHT (to the LEFT, to the MIDDLE)”, meets them and reports.
For example: “Comrade Major General. The 110th Motorized Rifle Regiment has been assembled for the general regimental evening verification. The regimental commander is Colonel Petrov.”
When building a military unit with the Battle Banner (at a parade, drill review, during the bringing to Military oath etc.) the report indicates the full name of the military unit with a list of honorary titles and orders assigned to it. When greeting the ranks while on the move, the chief gives only a command.
46. Military units and units also salute on command:
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier;
Mass graves of soldiers who died in battles for the freedom and independence of the Fatherland;
The Battle Banner of a military unit, and on a warship the Naval Flag during its raising and lowering;
Funeral processions accompanied by military units;
Each other when meeting.
47. The military greeting by the troops in formation on the spot to the President and the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation is accompanied by the performance of the “Counter March” and the National Anthem by the orchestra.
When a military unit greets direct superiors from the commander of its unit and above, as well as persons appointed to lead the inspection (check), the orchestra performs only the “Counter March”.
48. When out of formation, both during classes and in free time from classes, military personnel of military units (units) greet their superiors with the command “Attention” or “Stand up. Attention.” At headquarters and in institutions, only direct superiors and persons appointed to supervise the inspection (check) are greeted by command. During classes outside the formation, as well as at meetings at which only officers are present, the command “Comrades” is given for a military greeting to commanders (superiors). officers." The command “Attention”, “Stand at attention” or “Comrade officers” is given by the eldest of the present commanders (chiefs) or the serviceman who first saw the arriving commander (chief). At this command, all those present stand up, turn towards the arriving commander (chief) and take a combat stance, and officers, warrant officers and midshipmen, with their headgear on, also put their hand to it. The eldest of the commanders (chiefs) present approaches the newcomer and reports to him. The arriving commander (chief), having accepted the report, gives the command “At ease” or “Comrade officers”, and the person reporting repeats this command, after which all those present take the “at ease” position. Officers, warrant officers and midshipmen, while wearing headdress, lower their hand and subsequently act according to the instructions of the arriving commander (chief).
49. The command “Attention” or “Stand at attention” and a report to the commander (chief) are given upon his first visit to a military unit or unit on a given day. The command "Attention" is given to the ship's commander each time he arrives on the ship (disembarks from the ship). In the presence of a senior commander (chief), the command for a military salute to the junior is not given and the report is not made. When conducting classroom lessons, the command “Attention”, “Stand at attention” or “Comrade officers” is given before each lesson and at its end. The command “Attention”, “Stand at attention” or “Comrade officers” before reporting to the commander (superior) is given if other military personnel are present; in their absence, the commander (superior) is only reported.
50. When performing the National Anthem, military personnel in formation take a formation stance without a command, and unit commanders from platoon and above, in addition, put their hand to their headgear. Military personnel who are out of formation, when performing the anthem, take a drill stance, and when wearing a headdress, they put their hand to it.
51. The command to perform a military salute is not given to military units and subunits:
When a military unit or unit is alerted, on the march, as well as during tactical training and exercises;
At control points, communication centers and in places of combat duty (combat service);
At the firing line and firing (launching) position during firing (launching);
At airfields during flights;
During construction, household work or work for educational purposes, as well as during classes and work in workshops, parks, hangars, laboratories;
During sports competitions and games;
When eating and after the “End Light” signal before the “Rise” signal;
In rooms for patients.
In the listed cases, the chief or senior only reports to the arriving chief.
For example: “Comrade Major. The 2nd motorized rifle company is performing the second shooting exercise. The company commander is Captain Ilyin.”
Units participating in the funeral procession military salute do not comply.
52. At ceremonial meetings, conferences held in a military unit, as well as at performances, concerts and movies, the command for a military salute is not given and is not reported to the commander (chief). At general meetings of personnel, the command “Attention” or “Stand at attention” is given for a military greeting and reported to the commander (chief).
For example: “Comrade Lieutenant Colonel. The battalion personnel at general meeting arrived. Chief of Staff of the battalion, Major Ivanov."
53. When a superior or senior addresses individual military personnel, they, with the exception of sick ones, take a military stance and state their position, military rank and surname. When shaking hands, the elder shakes hands first. If the elder is not wearing gloves, the younger one takes off the glove from his right hand before shaking hands. Military personnel without a headdress accompany the handshake with a slight tilt of the head.
54. When greeted by a superior or senior (“Hello, comrades”), all military personnel, in or out of formation, respond: “We wish you good health”; if the boss or senior says goodbye (“Goodbye, comrades”), then the military personnel answer: “Goodbye.” At the end of the answer, the word “comrade” and military rank are added without indicating the type of military service or service.
For example, when answering: sergeants, petty officers, warrant officers, midshipmen and officers, “We wish you good health, comrade junior sergeant,” “Goodbye, comrade chief petty officer", "We wish you good health, comrade midshipman", "Goodbye, comrade lieutenant", etc.
55. If a commander (chief), in the course of his service, congratulates or thanks a serviceman, then the soldier answers the commander (chief): “I serve the Fatherland.” If the commander (chief) congratulates a military unit (unit), it responds with a drawn-out triple “Hurray”, and if the commander (chief) thanks, the military unit (unit) responds: “We serve the Fatherland.”
The procedure for presentation to commanders (superiors) and persons arriving for inspection (checking)
56. When a senior commander (chief) arrives at a military unit, only the unit commander is introduced. Other persons introduce themselves only when the senior commander (chief) directly addresses them, stating their military position, military rank and surname.
57. Military personnel introduce themselves to their immediate superiors:
When appointed to a military position;
Upon surrender of a military post;
When conferring a military rank;
When awarded an order or medal;
When leaving on a business trip, for treatment or on vacation and upon return.
When introducing themselves to their immediate superior, military personnel state their military position, military rank, last name and reason for the introduction.
For example: “Comrade Major. Commander of the 1st motorized rifle company, Captain Ivanov. I introduce myself on the occasion of my being awarded the military rank of captain.”
58. Officers and warrant officers newly appointed to the regiment are introduced to the regiment commander and then to his deputies, and upon receipt of appointment to the company to the battalion commander, company commander and their deputies. The regimental commander introduces newly arrived officers to the regiment's officers at the next officers' meeting or regimental formation.
59. When inspecting (checking) a military unit, its commander introduces himself to the arriving person appointed to lead the inspection (check), if he has a military rank equal to the commander of the unit, or is senior in rank to him; if the inspector (checker) is junior in rank to the commander of the military unit, then he introduces himself to the commander of the military unit. Before the start of the inspection (check), the commander of the military unit introduces the commanders of the inspected (checked) units to the inspecting (verifying) officer.
60. When an inspector (inspector) visits a unit, the commanders of these units meet him and report to him. If the inspector (checker) arrives at the unit together with the commander of the military unit, then the unit commander reports to the inspector (checker) if the latter is of equal military rank with the commander of the military unit or is senior in rank to him. If during an inspection (check) a senior commander (chief) arrives, then the commander of the military unit (unit) reports to him, and the inspecting (verifier) introduces himself.
61. When visiting a military unit (ship) by the President of the Russian Federation, the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation and his deputies, commanders-in-chief of the Armed Forces, members of the Government of the Russian Federation, the commander of the military unit (ship) meets, reports and accompanies these persons who have arrived at the location of the military unit ( on the ship), and upon arrival at the invitation to the military unit (ship) of the participants of the Great Patriotic War, internationalist warriors, veterans of the Armed Forces, honored figures of science, culture and art, representatives of public organizations of Russia, foreign states and other honored visitors, the commander of the military unit (ship) meets them, introduces himself to them and accompanies them without reporting. In memory of the visit to the military unit (ship) by honorary visitors, the Book of Honorable Visitors (Appendix 4) is presented to them for the corresponding entry.
62. When military personnel arrive at a military unit (unit) to carry out individual official assignments of senior commanders (chiefs), the commander of the military unit (unit) introduces himself only as the senior in military rank. In other cases, arrivals introduce themselves to the commander of the military unit (unit) and report on the purpose of their arrival.
63. All instructions from inspectors (inspectors) or military personnel performing individual official assignments from senior commanders (chiefs) are transmitted through the commander of the military unit. The named persons are obliged to inform the commander of the military unit (unit) about the results of the inspection (check) or the fulfillment of the official assignment assigned to them. When conducting a survey of military personnel of a military unit (unit), inspectors (verifiers) are guided by the requirements of Appendix 8.
Giving military honor. History of the origin of the ritual
Famous military theorist General M.I. Dragomirov stated: “Giving military honors is not a toy or amusement for someone’s curiosity, but an outward expression of the fact that people belong to a great partnership, the purpose of which is to lay down one’s soul for one’s friend.”
The ritual has big story. There is a literary version of the origin of this ritual:
Since in 1588, the pirate Drake, meeting the English Queen Elizabeth (known for her lack of beauty) on board a ship, pretended to be blinded by her beauty, and therefore was forced to shade his eyes with his palm, since then the military greeting has become a tradition.
There are other versions as well. When meeting, the warriors raised their hand not holding a weapon as a sign of greeting.
Later, when meeting, knights raised the visor of their helmet as a sign of acquaintance and greeting. So the movement is open right hand to the headdress when greeting later became a ritual of giving military honor.
The rules of honor between military ranks were improved under each emperor and were established by the middle of the 18th century.
All officers and all lower ranks, without exception, when meeting, had to greet each other by putting their right hand to the visor.
They saluted generals, members of the imperial family, officers of their regiment, banners, and standards. Military funeral processions were saluted by military personnel, standing at the front. The same honor was given to monuments.
During the imperial period, the military greeting was called saluting, as it included not only raising the hand to the headdress, but also various bows, curtsies and other elements, depending on the rank of those encountered or entering the room. Depending on the place of execution (in an open area or indoors), the implementation of the greeting also differed.
Giving military honor by a soldier (Cossack):
If a soldier meets with a commander who is supposed to salute, then he must, four steps before the commander, place his right hand on the right side of the lower edge of his cap or cap so that the fingers are together, the palm is slightly turned outward, and the elbow is at shoulder height; at the same time look at the boss and follow him with your eyes. When the boss passes him a step, then lower his hand;
When meeting with a superior, to whom he is supposed to salute, standing in front, he, not reaching four steps to the superior, makes last step and another full step with the foot, during the extension of which you should turn your shoulders and body in front and then, simultaneously with placing your foot, raise your right hand to the headdress, turning your head to the side of the boss. When saluting, you should stand according to the rules of the “stance”. When the boss passes him by a step, he turns in the direction he was going and begins to move with his left foot, lowering his right hand with the first step.
The lower ranks saluted, standing at the front:
To the Sovereign Emperor, Sovereign Empress and all Persons of the Imperial Family, all generals, admirals, the head of the garrison, their regimental, squadron and hundred commanders, their staff officers, as well as banners and standards.
Without standing in front, but placing only a hand on the headdress, they salute:
To all staff chief officers, military doctors, class officials of their regiment, reserve and retired generals, staff and chief officers (when they are in uniform); ensigns, estandard cadets and sub-warrants; palace grenadiers; to all sergeants, sergeants and those lower ranks to whom they are subordinate. And privates, in addition, to all non-commissioned officers of their regiment, non-combatant senior rank, as well as to all privates who have the Insignia of the Military Order.
If the lower rank leads the horse by the reins, then to salute he goes to the side of the horse that is closer to the leader and takes both reins in the hand closest to the horse; and in his other hand he takes the ends of the reins and turns his head to the boss.
In the Guards Regiment, all officers had to say “YOU” to each other, regardless of the difference in rank and years. All officers of the Guards Cavalry traditionally greeted each other and, in addition, shook hands when they met, regardless of whether they knew each other or not.
From that time on, honor should also be given to officers of foreign armies.
Even those people who are very far from the army and military service and have nothing to do with it, is well known military greeting ritual. In the language of encyclopedias, a military salute is a greeting from military personnel or armed forces of different countries, established in accordance with governing documents.
The military salute is referred to as military rituals, traditions or military etiquette. Previously, the military salute was also called a salute, a salute, a salute, and it can also be designated by the word “trump.” At the same time, there are a sufficient number of hypotheses for the origin of this army ritual.
According to one version The military greeting came to us from the Middle Ages, being a knightly tradition. When meeting with each other, the knights raised the visor of their helmets with a movement of their hands to show that their friend’s face was hidden under it (this version does not take into account the fact that all the knights had their own coats of arms on their shields, clothes, flags, this was enough to the friend managed to identify the friend).
According to another version By raising the visor of their helmet, they demonstrated their peaceful intention. This was done with the right hand to show that the knight was not yet ready to start the battle and did not have aggressive intentions. Such a gesture seemed to indicate that “there is no weapon in my right hand now.”
At the same time, the peoples who were deprived of heavily armed cavalry (Mongols, Indians who inhabited North America), the welcome salute consisted of a simple display of the open right hand. The most romantic version of the appearance of the military greeting is also attributed to the era of chivalry. With this gesture, a knight at a tournament would cover his eyes, protecting himself from the dazzling beauty beautiful lady heart, which watched his performance.
But, most likely, the military greeting in the form in which we know it today appeared in Great Britain. The version that such a greeting originated on British Isles in the 18th century, documented by military regulations. In those years, in many armies of the world, junior military ranks, when greeting their senior ranks, took off their hat or other headdress. This was the case in the UK, but over time, headgear, especially in elite units, became very bulky, so that the salute was reduced to the usual raising of the hand to the headgear and touching the visor.
The greeting known to all of us first took shape in 1745 in the regiment of the Coldstream Guards, an elite unit of the Queen of England’s personal guard. At the same time, the military’s equipment was constantly changing, and the gesture was slightly transformed.
Over time, even the very touch of the headdress with the hand disappeared. According to one version, replacing the removal of headdresses with simply raising your hand to them may be associated not only with heavy and bulky headdresses, but also with the widespread firearms. The first samples of small arms could hardly be called perfect. The soldiers' hands were almost always stained with soot, since they had to set fire to the oppressive muskets, and their hands also got dirty when reloading small arms. Thus, dirty hands covered in soot could cause damage to the headdress when trying to remove it for greeting.
Military salute in Great Britain
At the same time, in the military greeting of any army in the world, they do not lower their eyes or bow their heads, which speaks of mutual honor, regardless of ranks, ranks or ranks. There is also no question of which hand is used to salute in the army. Always right. At the same time, the hand gesture itself and the turn of the palm may differ slightly in different countries peace.
For example, starting from the 19th century in the British Army, a hand raised to right eyebrow, was facing palm outwards. This greeting has been preserved in the army and air force, at the same time in the royal navy since the days of sailing ships, when the hands of sailors were stained with tar and tar, and showing dirty palms was undignified; during a military salute, the palm was turned down. Exactly the same greeting was accepted in France.
In the American army, the greeting could have been taken from the English navy. At the same time, in the USA, during a military salute, the palm is turned down, and the hand, which is moved slightly forward, seems to shield the eyes from the sun. In the Italian army, the palm is placed above the visor in front.
For many, it may be a revelation that in the German army during the Second World War, soldiers and officers did not “zig” right and left, as can often be seen in feature films. Throughout almost the entire war, Wehrmacht units adopted a standard military salute with the right hand raised to the head, which was prescribed in the regulations. The introduction of the party or Nazi salute in the Wehrmacht occurred only on July 24, 1944, immediately after the unsuccessful assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler, which was organized by officers.
IN Russian Empire Until 1856, the military salute was not performed with the entire palm, but only with the index and middle fingers. To this day, this greeting has been preserved in the Polish armed forces. Since 1856, after completion Crimean War, in the army Tsarist Russia, and then Soviet army and modern Russian army The military salute is given with the entire palm. The middle finger looks at the temple, lightly touching the visor of the uniform cap. This, by the way, is where the synonyms for giving military honor or a military salute arose - to take the salute, to salute, etc.
Currently, the rules of the military salute in the Russian Federation are also mandatory for persons who have already been discharged from military service, when wearing military uniform clothes. In the Russian Armed Forces, the military salute is performed with the fingers of the right hand closed and the hand straightened. Unlike the armies of some other states, with the head uncovered, the military salute in the Russian army is performed without raising a hand by means of the serviceman taking the line position.
Military salute in Poland
When moving in formation, the military greeting is carried out as follows: the guide puts his hand to the headdress, and the formation presses his hands at the seams. All together they take a marching step and turn their heads as they pass by the commanding officers they meet. When passing towards units or other military personnel, it is enough for the guide to perform the military salute.
At the same time, in the Russian army, when meeting, a junior in rank is obliged to greet the senior in rank first, and a senior in rank may perceive failure to perform a military greeting during a meeting as an insult. If the serviceman is not wearing a headdress, the greeting is performed by turning the head and assuming a combat position (body straightened, arms at sides).
But not in all countries a military salute to senior ranks is the duty of a serviceman. For example, in modern units of the Israel Defense Forces, the procedure of saluting upon seeing a senior in rank is mandatory only during the course of a young soldier. In all other cases, the military salute is not an obligation, but is the right of the serviceman. In parallel with this, prisoners in Israeli military prisons (an analogue of the domestic guardhouse) are completely deprived of this right.
Military salute in Russia
In all countries, the military salute is given exclusively with the right hand. The question of which country salutes with the left hand usually arises when high-ranking government officials, due to inexperience or oversight, violate the rules of military salutation, which are either an unshakable tradition or enshrined in regulations. A serious difference in a military salutation is not what hand is used to salute, but only the presence or, conversely, the absence of a headdress on the soldier during this military ritual.
The well-known expression today “you don’t put your hand to an empty head” in Russia is usually remembered in the same context with the tradition of military greetings in the United States. In the American army, it is not mandatory for a soldier to wear a headdress when raising his hand to his head. Historians justify this difference as follows. During civil war North and South (1861-1865) the northerners won. History, as we know, is written by the winners, who form certain traditions. Unlike the Southern army, the Union army that won the war was composed primarily of volunteers. Many of these volunteers, especially initial stage war, were dressed in civilian clothes. From this we can conclude that the rank and file of the northern army sometimes had no headdresses at all - hence the tradition of military greetings, regardless of whether the soldier had a headdress on or not.
Military salute in the USA
At the same time, the military greeting, which looks natural in peacetime, fades into the background or even further during hostilities. In many conflicts of the 20th century, statutory conventions and military chain of command posed a threat to the lives of senior officers. In popular culture, this is well reflected in the American films Saving Private Ryan and Forrest Gump, in which there are episodes where soldiers receive a beating from more experienced comrades for giving the military salute to their commanders. During combat, this helps enemy shooters and snipers determine their priority target.
Giving military honor form of military greeting and military honor. In the Soviet Armed Forces, according to the Internal Service Charter, all military personnel are obliged to salute each other; subordinates and juniors salute first ( rice.
). Honor is given by individual military personnel, as well as military units and units (on command) to the Mausoleum of V.I. Lenin, the mass graves of soldiers who died in battles for the freedom and independence of the Soviet Motherland, when meeting each other, to the Banners of military units, as well as the Naval flag, funeral processions accompanied by troops. Military units and subunits, when in formation, salute on command: the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, Marshals Soviet Union and the Admirals of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council and the Chairman of the Soviet Ministry of the Union Republic on the territory (in the waters) of which this unit is located, the Chief Marshals, Army Generals, Marshals of the Armed Forces and Special Troops, Admirals of the Fleet, Colonel Generals, Admirals and all direct superiors, as well as persons appointed to supervise the inspection of the unit (unit). Rules O. v. parts are determined by the Military Regulations of the Armed Forces of the USSR, and in the fleet, in addition, by the Ship Regulations of the USSR Navy.
Big Soviet encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .
See what “Giving military honor” is in other dictionaries:
One of the military rituals, a military greeting, showing respect. EdwART. Explanatory Naval Dictionary, 2010 ... Marine Dictionary
Giving military honor- military greeting, respect and military honor (see Military ritual). In the USSR Armed Forces, all military personnel are required to salute, with subordinates and junior ranks saluting first. Rules and procedure O. v. h... ... Glossary of military terms
Military salute... Wikipedia
1) O. chief and senior. From the point of view of general civil legal relations, the duty of respect is negative and consists of refraining from actions that are directly offensive to the honor of others. Service relationships are exposed... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Ephron
GIVE, am, ash, ast, adim, adite, adut; al and (colloquial) al, ala, alo; ah; fallen; given (an, ana and colloquial ana, ano); aw and awshi; Sovereign 1. whom (what). Give back, return. O. debt. O. library book. 2. whom (what). Give, provide (what... Dictionary Ozhegova
This article contains information about the history of Ancient Rome starting from 27 BC. e. Main article about the entire ancient Roman civilization Ancient Rome Roman Empire lat. Imperium Romanum other Greek Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων Ancient Rome ... Wikipedia
Solemn ceremonies performed in everyday settings, during holiday celebrations and on other occasions. Includes giving military honors, honors, raising and lowering the Naval flag, making fireworks, laying wreaths in places ... ... Maritime Dictionary
Military rituals- (military ceremonies), solemn ceremonies performed in everyday conditions, during holiday celebrations and on other occasions. Includes: giving military honors, honors, raising the guards, carrying out the Battle Banner (raising and lowering the Military... ... Glossary of military terms
MILITARY ETIQUETTE: I have the honor!
To salute means to show respect to a person of higher rank. It has been established that in different time this was done different ways. And there are many versions of the origin of this ritual.
Many believe that the tradition of the modern military salute, or salute, originates on the island of Great Britain. In many armies of the world, junior ranks greeted senior ranks by removing their hats, and this was, in fact, the case in the British army, but by the 18th-19th centuries, soldiers’ headdresses had become so bulky and “complicated” that this greeting was reduced to a simple touch of the visor.
WHERE THE CUSTOM CAME FROM
The greeting we know is believed to have taken shape in 1745 in the Coldstream Regiment, an elite guard unit of the Queen of England's personal guard. In the regimental regulations of the guards it was written: “Personnel are ordered not to raise their hats when they pass by an officer or address him, but only to press their hands to their hats and bow.” In 1762, the charter of the Scots Guards clarified: “Since nothing disfigures a headdress and contaminates the lacings like removing a hat, in the future, personnel are ordered to only briefly raise their palm to their hat when passing an officer.” Such an innovation caused some resistance, but, as we see, it still took root. Wherein great importance attached to the fact that during a military greeting they do not bow their heads or lower their eyes, this means: military personnel of different ranks are free people serving one state. By the middle of the 19th century, the military greeting in Great Britain had undergone new changes: the hand raised to the headdress (more precisely, to the right eyebrow) is facing outward with the palm.
In the USA, the hand is brought forward slightly, as if closing the eyes from the sun, and the palm looks at the ground. The American gesture was influenced by the traditions of the British Navy: back in the days sailing ships sailors used pitch and tar to seal cracks in the wooden parts of the ship so that they would not leak sea water. At the same time, the hands were protected with white gloves, but showing a dirty palm was undignified, so in the navy the greeting hand turned 90 degrees down. The military salutes the same way in France. In Tsarist Russia, the military saluted with two fingers (this tradition still remains in Poland), and in the Soviet and modern Russian army they salute with the entire palm facing down, and middle finger looks at his temple.
HONOR?! NOBODY!
But there are other opinions. By the way, let us emphasize a detail that is worth paying attention to: if earlier the ritual was called “giving military honor,” today the military regulations seem to return us to the requirements of noble knights: “soul to God, life to the fatherland, heart to the lady, honor to no one.” !" It sounds very pompous, and it is, to put it mildly, difficult to apply to the army with “hazing” and other delights. However, the ritual of giving military honor still exists. And it arose back in the 13th century among the knights. If when meeting in " open field"They had no intention of engaging in battle, then they raised the visors of their metal helmets. And although they were later replaced by helmets, cocked hats, hats and the like, the custom of raising a hand to the head as a sign of friendliness was preserved. When meeting with each other, the knights raised their right hands the visor of the helmet to show that the face of a friend is hidden behind the armor.By raising a hand to the headdress, modern military personnel repeat this gesture, paying the traditional duty of politeness to their senior (and the younger) colleague in military uniform.
And again - the role of a beautiful lady.
There are those who believe that the custom of giving military honor in the armies of the world is associated with the name of the famous pirate Francis Drake.
"I'M BLINDED!"
Having completed in 1577-1580. circumnavigation, Drake sent a letter to Queen Elizabeth describing his exploits. Interested in the pirate's personality, and even more interested in the treasures he had looted, the queen visited Drake's ship. When she climbed on board, Drake, pretending to be blinded by her beauty (according to contemporaries, Elizabeth was extremely ugly), shaded his eyes with his palm.
Since then, in the English fleet, this gesture allegedly began to be used to salute...
LEFT OR RIGHT?
This may be true, but most likely it is just a beautiful legend, although it has many supporters. However, let us see whether the need to give honor does not entail inconvenience.
According to etiquette, a man should walk to the left of a woman, since the place on the right is considered honorable. If a woman takes a soldier by the arm, he must be on her right in order to be able to give a military greeting. About 200-300 years ago, men did not leave the house without weapons. Each one had a saber, rapier or dagger hanging on his left side. On the left - in order to quickly and more conveniently grab the weapon from the sheath with the right hand. To prevent the weapon from hitting his companion’s legs when walking, the gentleman tried to walk to the left of his lady.
In general, it is correct for a man to walk on the left, because people here often move to the right, and it is better for the person you meet to accidentally hit you with his shoulder, and not your companion. Only the military does not obey this rule when they are in uniform. In order to give a military salute and not hit your companion with your elbow, the soldier’s or officer’s right hand must be free. Therefore, it is more convenient for them to walk on the right rather than on the left.
THEY DON'T PUT A HAND TO THE EMPTY HEAD?
In the Russian army, honor is given only when wearing a headdress, but in the American army... In America, honor is given not “to an empty head,” but in any case. It's all about the story. It should be taken into account that in the USA the traditions of the army of the Northerners (as winners) have been preserved mainly, which was created from volunteers, often dressed, at first, in ordinary clothes and did not have combat habits. Hence the salutation without military uniform and headdress, which sometimes simply did not exist. Accordingly, when the uniform appeared, honor was given by placing a hand on the head, regardless of the presence of a headdress.
Times changed, morals changed.
Officers or soldiers who carried a sword or saber, no matter whether mounted or on foot, saluted by raising the weapon, bringing the handle closer to the lips, then moving the weapon to the right and down. This form of greeting dates back to the Middle Ages and is associated with religion, when a knight would kiss the hilt of his sword, symbolizing the Christian cross. Then it became a tradition when taking an oath.
Raising your hand in greeting instead of taking off your hat had practical implications. As the soldiers lit the fuses of their muskets, their hands became dirty with soot. A with dirty hands removing the headdress meant rendering it unusable. Therefore, by the end of the 18th century, honor began to be given by simply raising one’s hand.
In the imperial period, saluting included not only raising the hand to the headdress, but also a variety of bows, curtsies and other elements, depending on the rank of the person being met and the meeting place.