Why in the heck is Cuba constantly saluting Sunday and calling him "Sir"?
At varying times in the movie he's a Chief, a Senior Chief, and a Master Chief. None of which are saluted or called sir! You simply address them as their rank!
are you even in a section of the armed forces? if you are you should know that when in uniform a solider salutes a senior officer.
I'm in a glass case of emotion.
- Ron Burgandy
I came here wondering the exact same thing. Luckily the topic was at the top of the list!
I am in the Canadian Air Force and the rank structure is pretty well identical but with different titles. A Master Cheif wouldn't be saluted because he isn't commissioned. (Non commissioned Officer). The ones with the gold bars like the Captain at the end with 4 are the only ones you salute.
I was in the Navy myself and was wondering this also. Only in training (boot camp) do they salute enlisted people (which Billy Sunday was), so I thought that it was because Carl was in Navy diving school that he saluted and called Sunday "sir." He does not salute Sunday after training until the last scene in the movie, as I recall.
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I am in the US Navy so I can probably best answer your question. During the time period in which this film took place, junior enlisted personnel did in fact salute Chiefs and address them as Sir/Ma'am. This practice was changed shortly thereafter, and now only Officers are saluted and addressed as Sir or Ma'am. Chiefs are now addressed by their rank.
shareIt's my understanding now that a sailor or Marine will only salute when "covered" (wearing a hat).
Since a sailor/Marine only wears his cover indoors when armed, salutes are rarely rendered indoors.
However, given Brashear/Review Board Captain's exchange of words towards the end, it would lead me to believe that this is a "new" practice.
When I was in the navy I couldn't tell the difference between a chief and an officer, so to be on the safe side I just saluted everybody and everything. I would even salute the drunk guy passed out on the pier.
Coffee makes me a might nervousshare
LOL!! I probably would do the exact same thing! It is wise to be safe rather than sorry in the military.
Brashear probably saluted Sunday and called him sir because during that time period, it was expected of African Americans to show humility and deference to almost any white person, male or female. So I can understand why he did it, but I think it was wrong for them to have to show white people more respect than they got in return. It really must have sucked for them totally.
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I'm in the Royal Navy and we ONLY salute commisioned officers outdoors and only if they are wearing head gear. If they are not we just stand to attention and address them as Sir.
Chiefs just get called Chief, no saluting