Quote:
Originally posted by servicepub
The Army and Air Force saluted palm out until unification, ca. 1968. The Navy saluted palm down - part of an old tradition where they wouldn't show their dirty hands to the officers, silly Navy! Unifivcatiohn made the army adopt RCAF and RCN practices while losing all of their old 'British' habits, silly politicians
'The RCMP still salute palm out, silly wannabe cavalrymen.
|
The reason usually given for the 'palm out' salute is to prove that the soldier wasn't hiding a weapon that he could strike the officer with - a reflection on the quality of the officer or soldiers perhaps. Another reason for the 'palm down' salute is that originally one would lift the hat to an officer, this evolved into just touching the brim and from there to the salute.