Proper Hand Salute

• To perform a proper salute, raise your right hand sharply and slightly to the right of your right eye. According to the Drill and Ceremonies Manual, your right hand should just touch the rim of your visor (if you're wearing headgear) or your forehead (if you're not wearing headgear). Keep your fingers and thumb joined and extended as you make this motion. Further, slightly turn your hand downward so that neither the back of your hand nor the palm of your hand is visible. Finally, keep your upper arm in a horizontal position and your forearm at a 45-degree angle.
  
  As you salute, remember to turn your head and eyes toward the person to whom you're saluting. Give a greeting as you salute. Greetings examples include: "Good morning, sir (or ma'am)" and "good afternoon, sir (or ma'am)."
  
  Properly address senior officers by using their names. Wait for acknowledgment from the person whom you're saluting before completing the salute. To complete the salute, drop your arm back to its normal position and turn and face your eyes forward.
  
  

Knowing When to Salute

• Aside from learning the proper form of an Army salute, you must also learn when to properly salute. Essentially, a salute must be rendered by all soldiers in uniform when they recognize a person entitled to a salute. Basically, this means that a salute is rendered by enlisted personnel to officers, and by junior officers to senior officers. In addition, properly salute whenever the national anthem is played and whenever the American flag (also called the National Color or the U.S. National Flag) is uncased outdoors.
  
  Proper salutes are best performed between six and 10 paces of an officer. Always slow down and walk prior to making a salute. Salutes are not required if your hands are full or if either military person is wearing civilian clothes.