HEADQUARTERS

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS

SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ROTC UNIT
Lucban, Quezon

MILITARY COURTESY AND DISCIPLINE

I. OVERVIEW

Military courtesy is one of the defining features of a professional

military force. The courtesies form a strict and sometimes elaborate code of
conduct. Military courtesy is an extension and a formalization of courtesies
practiced in culture’s everyday life.

In the Armed Forces, courtesy takes on added importance. This is

because courtesy is one of the bedrocks upon which the military stands.
Courtesy makes the military organization respectable. It gives additional
glamour to the military profession. It helps promote good public relations for
the military establishment.

II. OBJECTIVES

At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to:

a. To learn the fundamentals of military courtesy and discipline.

b. To apply and address the correct use of titles;
c. To learn and recognize the rules for performing a salute;
d. To honor the National Anthem and Colors; and
e. To show discipline and its importance in the military.

III. Discussion/Lesson Proper

Definition of Terms:

Military Courtesy is defined as:

a. The wholesome relationship between juniors and seniors;

b. Includes an essential element of a full & proper appreciation of the
rights of others; and
c. Acts of politeness, civility, and respect.

Correct Usage of Titles

For Commissioned Officers:

1. Lieutenants are addressed as Lieutenants
2. Other Officers are referred to by their titles
3. Ma’am for female Officers
4. Chaplains are addressed as Chaplains
5. Women Officers of the Tech Svc as well as those WAC are
addressed by their titles.

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 HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ROTC UNIT
Lucban, Quezon
For Non-Commissioned Officers:
1. Sgt Majors are addressed as “Sgt Major”
2. A First Sergeant is addressed as “F/Sgt”
3. Sergeants are addressed as “Sgt”
4. Corporals are addressed as “Cpl”
5. Private First Class and Privates are addressed as “Pvt”

Salute is defined as:

a. A most important form of military courtesy.
b. The way it is executed indicates the state of morale and discipline

Persons entitled to the salute:

1. Commissioned Officers of the AFP
2. Commissioned Officers of Allied Nations
3. High civilian officials or foreign dignitaries during military honors

General Rules for Saluting

1. Required on or off military installations and on and off office hours.
2. Rendered at a distance of 6 paces.
3. Salute must be returned by the person entitled to it.
4. Do not salute when running.
5. Never salute when smoking.
6. The salute should not be executed randomly.
7. When reporting to an officer indoors or outdoors, a salute is rendered
at a distance of 3 paces.
8. Salute after a conversation.
9. When in a group, not in a formation, all will rise and salute.
10. When in formation, only the commander salutes.
11. Salute is used in making courtesy calls.

When not to salute:

a. While at work.
b. Indoors, except when reporting.
c. Carrying articles with both hands.
d. The driver of a vehicle in motion.
e. When actively involved in games.
f. In churches, theaters, or in public.
g. When meeting a prisoner of war.

Honors to the National Color and Anthem:

1. When the National anthem is played;
2. Salute to passing colors;
3. Reveille and Retreat;

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 HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ROTC UNIT
Lucban, Quezon
4. Vehicles are brought to a halt;
5. Passengers in a vehicle sit at attention and do not salute; and
6. The driver may disembark and stand by the door of the vehicle and
salute.

Display of the Flag

It should be hoisted fully at the top of the pole.

When displayed with another flag, the National Flag is on
the right side.

If the flag is hanging vertically, the sun and stars should

be on top while the blue field should be on the left in times of
peace and on the right in times of war. (In times of peace, red
is right)

When displayed in a horizontal position, the

triangle is on the right side with the blue part up.

When displayed over the casket, the triangle in the direction of the
head of the cadaver with the blue part on the right side.

Other Forms of Courtesy

1. Avoid undue familiarity with your seniors.
2. Walk on the left of the senior and keep in step with him.
3. The most senior enters the cars last and gets out ahead of others
4. To pass a senior while walking, salute and ask permission to go
ahead.
5. The word “I wish” and “I desire” are to be taken as orders.
6. Inside a car, the place of honor is on the right (same with the back
seat).
7. When walking in a group of three, the most senior occupies the
middle position.
8. For Officers, never invite an EP to an Officer's Club.

Military Discipline
▪ A state of order and obedience exists within a Command.
▪ subordination of individual will for the good of the group.
▪ demands habitual but reasoned obedience to command.
▪ created by training, use of punishment, and rewards.
▪ demands correct performance of duty

Military Professionalism

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 HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ROTC UNIT
Lucban, Quezon
“Men who adopt the profession of arms submit their own free will to a
law of perpetual constraint. To their own accord, they reject the right to live
where they choose, to say what they think, to dress as they like. From the
moment they become soldiers, it needs but an order to settle them in this
place, to move them to that, to separate them from their families and dislocate
their normal lives. On the word of command, they must rise, march, run,
endure bad weather, go without sleep or food, be isolated in some distant
post, and work till they drop. They have ceased to be the masters of their fate.
If they drop in their tracks, if their ashes are scattered to the four winds, that is
all part and parcel of their job.”
----President Charles de Gaulle

Importance of Discipline

❖ ensures orderly & effective group action

(teamwork)

❖ instill a sense of obligation to oneself, to his

commander, unit, and entire organization

❖ ensure unit efficiency in battle

Creating a Climate for Discipline

❖ Training
❖ Judicious use of punishment and rewards
❖ Instilling a sense of confidence and responsibility

Training

✔ Develops Teamwork in accomplishing tasks.

✔ Unify actions into a single effort to accomplish the mission
✔ Develops habit of prompt obedience to orders
✔ Enables one to learn what is required on the battlefield

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 HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ROTC UNIT
Lucban, Quezon

Judicious Use of Punishment

1. Punish only the guilty person.
2. Impose the punishment promptly.
3. Make the guilty person realize his mistake.
4. Impose punishment appropriate for the offense.
5. Unlike giving rewards which should be done in public, punishment
should be administered in private.

Instilling a sense of confidence and responsibility

1. By instilling a sense of confidence and responsibility among his

subordinates, a leader succeeds in creating a climate of
discipline in his unit.

2. A confident and responsible soldier realized that he has an obligation

not only to himself but also to the other soldier in the unit.

3. He knows that violation of the rule of discipline will not reflect in him as
an individual but will also discredit, if not cause irreparable damage to his unit.

How Discipline is Measured

♦ result of the job

♦ subordinate’s attitude
♦ performance of jobs even in the absence
of the commander

Creating a Climate for Discipline

Indication of Military Discipline

♦ Attention to details
♦ Harmonious relations between unit and individual
♦ Devotion to duty
♦ Proper subordinate relationship
♦ Proper conduct of individuals on and off duty
♦ Standard of cleanliness of dress, uniforms, equipment, barracks, and
materials
♦ Promptness in responding to commands and directives
♦ Adherence to the chain of command

General Courtesy & Discipline

1. Being late in any engagement is the height of bad manners.

2. An Officer of the Armed Forces is expected to behave & conduct
himself with dignity & restraint.

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 HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ROTC UNIT
Lucban, Quezon
3. It is bad taste to address a woman by her first name or
nickname unless she has indicated otherwise.
4. An officer always asks to be permitted to smoke in the presence of a
woman, especially in a room or automobile.
5. An officer always stands when introduced to a woman.
6. It’s not polite to compliment a person in a company because the others
might feel slighted.

Taboos
1. Uniforms must not be defamed. 5. Avoid going over the officer’s
head.
2. Offer no excuses. 6. Harsh remarks are to be
avoided.
3. Avoid praising your commander to 7.Excessive indebtedness to be
his face. avoided.
4. Old man to be spoken with care.

"Discipline is the soul of an army."

References:

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 HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ROTC UNIT
Lucban, Quezon
Military Science 1 – ROTC Manual 1999 (Wikipedia)

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 HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND TACTICS
SOUTHERN LUZON STATE UNIVERSITY ROTC UNIT
Lucban, Quezon

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