What should you do if you do not know the names of officers in formation?

• A. Salute and announce their names loudly.
• B. Salute if outdoors, say “Sir/Ma’am” if appropriate, and follow established protocol.
• C. Ignore them.
• D. Discuss everyone else’s uniform.

Answer: (B)

In a formation, showing respect to officers is about using proper address and following drill protocol, even when you don’t know their names. If you don’t know who an officer is, you should still salute and, when appropriate, address them as Sir or Ma’am while adhering to established procedure. This keeps the formation orderly, communicates respect for rank, and avoids guessing or overstepping boundaries. Saluting outdoors is the standard practice, and indoors you follow the appropriate form of greeting per the unit’s rules. Shouting names, ignoring the officers, or discussing others’ uniforms are not proper ways to handle the situation and don’t reflect the discipline expected in training.