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Proper respect during Reveille, Retreat, National Anthem

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt Alexander Cox
  • 99th Air Base Wing Command Post
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  Typically around 6:30 a.m., on my way to work. I usually have the radio off and window cracked in anticipation for Reveille to play.

At Nellis Air Force Base, Reveille plays Monday through Friday at 6:30 a.m. and Retreat followed by the National Anthem play Monday through Friday at 4:30 p.m. over a giant voice system. Music does not play on weekends, holidays, or family days.

There are certain protocols that are to be followed during the playing of the music.

Air Force Instruction 34-1201, Protocol Services, outlines the origin of the music and rendering the proper respect to the U.S. Flag.

Reveille and Retreat are both military bugle calls that originate from the French military and date back to the crusades. Reveille signified the beginning of the day and retreat was played at sunset to notify Soldiers to return to their quarters.

Bugle calls were used to signal specific actions on the battlefield. In 1867, the U. S. Army standardized the use of bugle calls to eliminate confusion experienced by the Union Army during the Civil War.

Eventually, bugle calls were used to signal daily routines.

What is the proper protocol when Reveille, Retreat, and the National Anthem are played? AFI 34-1201 clearly outlines what personnel, both military and civilian, in or out of uniform, are to do.

It is the duty of military and civilian personnel to show respect for the raising and lowering of the U.S. Flag on an Air Force installation.

For the National Anthem, “when outside and in uniform, face the flag, if visible, or face the direction the music is played, stand at attention and salute on the first note of the music, drop your salute after the last note of the National Anthem.”

For Reveille, Nellis does not play, “To the Color”, however, the flag is raised during reveille so we must treat Reveille with the same honors as, “To the Color”, (face the flag, if visible, or the sound of the music and render a salute).

For Retreat, AFI 34-1201, paragraph 8.1.6.2. states, “During the playing of “Sound Retreat,” which precedes the lowering of the flag, stand at parade rest.”

In short, during Reveille we salute; during Retreat we stand at parade rest; during the National Anthem we salute, all while facing the flag, or the sound of music if you don’t see the flag.

If you are in a vehicle, AFI 34-1201, paragraph 8.1.6.2. states “during reveille or retreat, pull the car to the side of the road and stop. All occupants sit quietly at attention until the last note of, “To the Color” or the National Anthem is played or the flag is fully raised or lowered.”

AFI 34-1201, paragraph 2.12. states “Respect for the United States Flag, Title 4 United States Code, Section 8, provides guidance on respect for the flag. No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America.”

Let’s show the U.S. Flag the respect it rightly deserves.