Editing Salute (section)

====United States====
=====U.S. Armed Forces=====
[[File:A drum major of the III Marine Expeditionary Forces Band, US Marine Corp.jpg|thumb|right|A United States Marine delivers a salute.]]
Within the [[United States military]], the salute is a courteous exchange of greetings. With the HDB individual salute, the head and eyes are turned toward the [[Colours, standards and guidons|colors]] or person saluted. Military personnel in uniform are required to salute when they meet and recognize persons entitled to a salute, except when it is inappropriate or impractical (in public conveyances such as planes and buses, in public places such as inside theaters, or when driving a vehicle).<ref name="thebalance.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/u-s-military-salute-3331994|title=Origins and Use of the U.S. Military Hand Salute|website=LiveAbout}}</ref>

Persons entitled to the salute include [[commissioned officer]]s, [[warrant officer]]s, the [[President of the United States]], officers of friendly foreign nations, and recipients of the [[Medal of Honor]] (including [[Enlisted rank|enlisted personnel]]).<ref>{{cite book |last=Dalessandro |first=Robert J. |date=2007 |title=Army Officer's Guide |location=Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania |publisher=Stockpole Books |edition=51 |page=22 |isbn=978-0-8117-3528-5}}</ref><ref name="airu">{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=1985 |title=NCO Preparatory Course, Vol. 1: Leadership |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hdrjBkSihRoC&pg=PA100 |location=[[Maxwell Air Force Base]], Montgomery, Alabama |publisher=[[Air University Press]] |pages=100–101 |isbn=<!--None-->}}</ref> Additionally, the [[flag of the United States]] is saluted during parades and other ceremonial functions.<ref name="airu" />

The U.S. military's salute, while influenced by that of the British military, differs slightly in that the palm of the hand faces down towards the shoulder. This difference may date back to the days of sailing ships, when tar and pitch were used to seal the timber from seawater. During such times, it was considered undignified to present a dirty palm in the salute, so the hand was turned through 90 degrees.<ref name="thebalance.com"/>

Specifically, a proper salute goes as follows: Raise the right hand sharply, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm facing down, and place the tip of the right forefinger on the rim of the visor, slightly to the right of the eye. The outer edge of the hand is barely [[wikt:canted|canted]] downward so that neither the back of the hand nor the palm is clearly visible from the front. The hand and wrist are straight, the elbow inclined slightly forward, and the upper arm is horizontal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/customs_and_courtesies/hand-salute-how-to.shtml|title=Hand Salute{{snd}}How To |website=ArmyStudyGuide.com}}</ref>

Members of the [[United States Army]], [[United States Air Force]], and [[United States Space Force]] give salutes with heads both covered and uncovered, but saluting indoors is forbidden except when formally reporting to a superior officer or during an indoor ceremony. When outdoors, a head cover is to be worn at all times when wearing [[Army Combat Uniform]]s, but is not required when wearing physical training (PT) gear. The [[United States Navy]], [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] and [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] do not salute when the head is uncovered or out of uniform.

=====US state defense forces=====

[[State defense force]]s (SDF) in the United States are military units that operate under the sole authority of a [[State governments of the United States|state government]]. State defense forces are authorized by [[State law (United States)|state]] and [[federal law]] and are under the command of the [[Governor (United States)|governor]] of each state.

State defense forces soldiers are subject to the [[Uniform Code of Military Justice]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The UCMJ Applies to State Defense Force Soldiers|url=http://csmrsoldier.com/2013/01/31/ask-a-jag-what-about-the-ucmj/|access-date=27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127193847/http://csmrsoldier.com/2013/01/31/ask-a-jag-what-about-the-ucmj/|url-status=dead}}</ref> They are also subject to their state military laws and regulations and render the same customs and courtesies as active duty, Reserve and National Guard personnel.