Army and Navy Uniforms and Insignia: How to Know Rank, Corps and Service in the Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Foreign CountriesWilliams, Dion
History
Army and Navy Uniforms and Insignia: How to Know Rank, Corps and Service in the Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Foreign Countries
Williams, Dion
Armies -- Insignia; Military uniforms; Navies -- Insignia; United States. Army -- Insignia; United States. Navy -- Insignia
Strict observance of military custom demands that an officer in uniform
and under arms, that is carrying the weapon with which he is armed or
wearing his belt and sword, should not remove his headdress either out
of doors or within doors; but in deference to the universal custom
among civilians it is considered proper for officers in uniform and
wearing their swords sheathed to remove their headdress when entering
a room, especially in case there are ladies present. Under such
circumstances the headdress is carried under the left arm, leaving the
right hand free to shake hands. With the sword drawn and in hand the
headdress should not be removed from the head.
The pedantic observance of so-called military customs is both
unnecessary and objectionable, and the safest course is follow the
rules of deportment which distinguish the gentleman the world over.
Following the universal custom the right side is considered the
position of honor and hence when two or more officers are walking or
riding in company the senior walks or rides on the right, and likewise
the senior occupies the seat at the right side in a carriage or other
conveyance.
_Visits and Courtesies._—An officer arriving at the headquarters of
a military command calls upon the commander as soon as practicable
and registers his name, address and probable length of stay. If the
visiting officer is senior in rank to the commander he may send his
card and address, in which case it becomes the duty of the commander
to make the first call. When an Army officer arrives at Washington, D.
C., he reports at the office of the Adjutant General of the Army, and
registers his name, local address and business in Washington. Naval
officers under similar circumstances register at the Navy Department
and Marine officers at the Headquarters of the Marine Corps.
After reporting for duty at a station on shore or aboard ship an
officer makes a social call upon the commanding officer who returns
the call promptly. In the case of other officers at the post it is
the custom for all of those already at the station to call upon the
late arrival, thus following the American and not the European custom
in this respect. In addition to the social call upon the commanding
officer the arriving officer also makes a call upon any officer at
the station or on board of the ship who is senior to the commanding
officer, as in the case of a general officer at an Army station or a
flag officer on board of a ship.
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