Just for everyone's information, in Gagetown, the Standing Orders state "Officer cadets will be saluted outside of a course context." I think this stands more because of a perceived training opportunity - reminding the about-to-become officers that their scope of responsibility is about to get a whole lot bigger (and give them a chance to learn and practice returning salutes...)
Garry said:
Second- there is no history that I know of to support saluting an Officer cadet filling a command position. The position could just as easily (and probably more competently) have been filled by a Warrant Oficer- you going to salute him? (bet if you do, you don't do it a second time)
A couple years ago, the Artillery School employed an Officer Cadet (awaiting a Phase) as a Troop Commander in W Battery for several months - logic being to give the OCdt some command experience. In such circumstances, you'd better believe the TC gets saluted - and the aforementioned WO, the TSM, would enforce it.
Garry said:
Third- never "thank" someone for saluting you. As stated above, they're NOT saluting you, but the commission- and they're not doing anyone a favour- they're doing what's required. Need to say something? say "good day" , nice weather,,,whatever, but NOT thank you.
Agreed here - this always bugs me when I see it. I'd like to think that the guy saluting me is doing it out of respect for me personally, as well as because of the rank, but he doesn't have to for THAT reason. I try to say "good day..." - thanking the guy for something he's ordered to do anyway just doesn't feel right...
Garry said:
Fourth- an Officer Cadet is nothing more (and nothing less) than a future leader- and a current member of OUR team. He/she is there to learn- the quality of YOUR teaching will most likely manifest itself in his/her behaviour later on.
Fifth- bottom line, the salute is an acknowledgement of two professionals.
May I ask how you square these two statements? They seem contradictory to me. Even assuming the OCdt isn't a professional (that's a dubious statement at best, but we'll leave it), how can you seriously expect them to "manifest" "quality teaching" if you don't treat him as a professional?
I'm not saying that just because he's a professional, you should salute him. Personally, I agree with the previous posts - unless otherwise ordered, NCMs shouldn't feel obligated to salute OCdts who don't hold command roles. There's a training incentive in that, as well - an OCdt who works hard and wins the respect of the troops around him starts getting salutes, and will be encouraged to keep it up ... and learn in a direct way that the trust and respect of the troops is very important.