Defense Military Military Protocol 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the correct protocol for a soldier who receives a direct order they believe to be unlawful?
- Obey immediately and report later through proper channels
- Refuse and state the reason clearly (Correct answer)
- Request clarification only if time permits, then obey
- Obey only if a superior NCO also affirms the order
Correct answer: Refuse and state the reason clearly
Military personnel are obligated to refuse and clearly state their reason when given a manifestly unlawful order.
Question 2: At a military funeral, how many volleys are fired during the rifle salute for a standard military honors burial?
- One
- Two
- Three (Correct answer)
- Five
Correct answer: Three
Three volleys are fired by the firing party as part of standard military funeral honors.
Question 3: When is it appropriate to wear a cover (hat) indoors?
- When under arms (carrying a weapon) (Correct answer)
- Whenever a senior officer is present
- When attending a formal ceremony indoors
- Never — covers are always removed indoors
Correct answer: When under arms (carrying a weapon)
Personnel under arms (carrying a weapon or on guard duty) are authorized to wear their cover indoors.
Question 4: What protocol governs the order of precedence when multiple service branch flags are displayed together?
- Alphabetical order by branch name
- The order established by Congress in the National Security Act
- By date of service branch establishment, oldest first (Correct answer)
- At the discretion of the hosting commander
Correct answer: By date of service branch establishment, oldest first
Service branch flags are displayed in order of branch establishment: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard.
Question 5: During a change of command ceremony, what is the significance of passing the unit guidon?
- It signals that administrative control has transferred
- It symbolizes the transfer of command authority and responsibility (Correct answer)
- It marks the end of the outgoing commander's tour
- It is purely ceremonial with no symbolic meaning
Correct answer: It symbolizes the transfer of command authority and responsibility
The physical transfer of the guidon from the outgoing commander to the new commander symbolizes the passage of authority and accountability.
Question 6: What is the proper protocol when the National Anthem is played and a service member is in civilian clothes outdoors?
- Stand at attention with hand over heart (Correct answer)
- Stand at parade rest
- Continue normal activity — civilian dress exempts the requirement
- Render a hand salute as in uniform
Correct answer: Stand at attention with hand over heart
Service members in civilian attire stand at attention and place the right hand over the heart during the National Anthem.
Question 7: What is 'Taps' and when is it played in a military context?
- A bugle call played at the end of the duty day and at military funerals (Correct answer)
- A drum cadence used during formal parades
- A trumpet fanfare preceding a general officer's arrival
- A signal to begin morning physical training
Correct answer: A bugle call played at the end of the duty day and at military funerals
Taps is the 24-note bugle call sounded at day's end (lights out) and at military funerals to honor the fallen.
Defense Military Military Protocol 3
What is the correct protocol for a soldier who receives a direct order they believe to be unlawful?