Saluting in Star Fleet?

[Gorefiend]

Does anyone ever salute in Star Fleet? I have been having this discussion a number of times and I am certain there is no one who ever does.

[RaconteurX]

Only in the Mirror Universe.

[Gorefiend]

Not really Star Fleet as we know it is it?

[redwood973]

There has been occasion where personnel have stood at attention, but there was no salutes on screen. . .least none that I ever noticed.

[Karg]

Correct, there has been instances of "coming to attention" (In particular see TNG's "All Good Things". But there has been no instances of a Salute In Starfleet

[KillerWhale]

I've always thought, when they are standing with their hands crossed behind their backs, that this was the equivalent of salute (in my games, it is anyway).

[REG]

Considering that the uniform lack any headgear ... standing at attention is a way to formally address/greet your superior. But that etiquette is usually lax in Star Trek.

What is the proper salute when you are caught without a headgear in the US Navy?

If you'd like, use the old method of salute as depicted in Master & Commander.

[KillerWhale]

What is it?

[Tobian]

Coming to think of it yes I don't think that they ever salute in Startrek. i can recall Kirk coming aboard the enterprise in Startrek 2 and Pickard coming aboard the enterprise in All good things, probably the most formal occasions we've seen, and they don't salute, but yes in both those occasions they come to attention.

I don't think it's so much 'lax' as they simply don't do it that way in Startrek - maybe saluting is a fighting gesture to the Bolians or the equivalent to flipping the bird to the Andorians.. it is an organisation which encompases the militaries of more than one world I suspect an in series explanation is that they want to emphasise it is not really a military organisation, which seems to have been the general thing stressed by Roddenbery.

[Ineti]

I remember one instance in "Encounter at Farpoint," I think it's during Picard's entrance in Engineering, that an officer stops, stands at attention, bows his head at Picard, and moves on.

That's the only Starfleet salute I can recall, other than Kirk being piped aboard the Enterprise during Star Trek II.

[Owen E Oulton]

More of a nod of acknowledgement than a baow, but standing to attention is done sporadically throughout the series. There are two instances where, if Starfleet used a hand salute, it would definitely have been done, those being Spock's funeral, and Jellico's assumption of command of the E-D. Since it wasn't done on those two highly ceremonial occasions, it can safely be said it's just not done at all.

Of course, I look askance at all those American movies where military and naval personnel salute while not wearing what the Canadian Forces calls headdress (what 'Murricans call a "lid" or "cover"). I am however assured by an ex-Marine that this is simply a Hollywoodism, and US personnel only salute when wearing appropriate headgear.

[Eric R.]

Surprisingly for this Starfleet is a military organization guy I have not been bothered all that much by the lack of formal military etiqutte after all each service has its own customs and tradtions and for some reason this particular one did not make the cut for Starfleet. However, in my off screen thinking, I do think in some cases that a salute is given and considered a very deep and respectful form of respect for an officer by a suborniate since it is no longer required and expected but given freely when felt needed to convey a simple but very deep sense and show of respect.

[Tobian]

In that sense it is certainly more likelly to convey far more actual meaning that having it by default, because being forced to do something devalues it's meaning!

[Eric R.]

RIGHT ON!

[tmutant]

Originally posted by Eric R.
Surprisingly for this Starfleet is a military organization guy I have not been bothered all that much by the lack of formal military etiqutte after all each service has its own customs and tradtions and for some reason this particular one did not make the cut for Starfleet. However, in my off screen thinking, I do think in some cases that a salute is given and considered a very deep and respectful form of respect for an officer by a suborniate since it is no longer required and expected but given freely when felt needed to convey a simple but very deep sense and show of respect.

Reminds me of a few times in the Air Force when I saw a NCO would salute another NCO, as a genuine show of (deserved) respect.