How to Greet OSOs or Other Military Officers as an Applicant or Poolee

Candidate’s Question:

[caption id=”attachment_2995" align=”alignright” width=”150"]

A Change of Command Ceremony. These men are about 25 years removed from being candidates.[/caption]

I’m an OCS applicant/poolee and would like to know if there is an appropriate and respectful way to greet my OSO in public or private. I understand that saluting is inappropriate for a civilian but is it appropriate to stand at attention when greeting a commanding officer?

A:

No need to stand at attention even once you’re a Marine unless it’s truly a commanding officer of a unit like a battalion. Just give the greeting of the day and say “Good afternoon sir, how are you?” or something like that. By the book, it is more polite to address someone you know well by Rank, LastName so “Good afternoon, Major Smith,” for example.

I would stand if he enters the room, personally, as a poollee until commissioning,