Bugle Etiquette

One of my favorite articles that I am transferring from my website as I transition to blogs. 

The scene: It is 5 p.m. and you are driving through base. You come up to a green light and find some person “parked” in front of the light. You start to boil. You start to honk. You think something along the lines of, “Man- this idiot must not be paying attention!” Nope- not true…that “idiot” is probably me (or someone like me) and I’m definitely paying attention to something– the sound of the bugle call playing retreat signifying that somewhere on base the flag is being lowered.

Welcome to my pet peeve…my biggest pet peeve of all pet peeves. If you have business on base (whether you are military, a family member, a civilian employee or contractor, or even just a visitor) the you have the responsibility to educate yourself on the etiquette and protocol of how things are done on base. Which, yes, for us spouses there should be a spouse’s handbook or a mini-bootcamp teaching us all of the important things we need to know about military life (minus the rough and tumble stuff). There is part of me that thinks I cannot fault someone for not knowing, but at the same time people need to take responsibility for themselves…which in this situation if you see cars pulling over and hear music, then you might start to wonder if there is something you should know. I am posting this because this hasn’t been a once or twice thing…watching people ignore the bugle calls is a daily basis thing around my base.

So, here is my “course” in Bugle Call 101:

There are 3 times a day that the music will usually play:

Reveille- generally around sunrise. My base has a set time of 6:30 a.m. …which is also the time that you will see a lot units form for p.t. (physical training) so that they can pay proper respect  in a formation as the flag is being raised.

Retreat- generally around sunset as the flag is being lowered. 5p.m. for my base.

Taps- signifying the end of the day. 9p.m. for my base.

**Check with your individual base for actual times at your location.

The significance/history of the bugle calls:

Reveille: The bugle call of either “To the Colors” or the “National Anthem” (depending on your base) is played with the rising of the “Colors” (the American Flag). Many bases have a single canon shot accompany the bugle call. Reveille is the French word for “wake up” and is believed to have been used all the way back to the 1600′s as way of waking soldiers for battle.

Retreat: A bugle call for “Retreat” is sounded just before the American Flag is lowered and the song “To the Colors” is played during the actual lowering of the flag.  ”Retreat” is also a French Crusades bugle call. It signified the end of the day and for soldiers to return to their quarters for the night. (If only war was really that dignified and stopped for soldiers to get a good night’s rest.) The combination of “Retreat” with “To the Colors,” as we see it today, is believed to date back to the American War for Independence (otherwise known as Revolutionary War).

Taps: “Taps” is played at the end of the day signifying the end of the working day or “lights out.” The tradition originated with the playing of  the French song, “L’Extinction des feux” which was later thought to be too formal and changed to the bugle call “Tattoo” which later morphed into “Taps” that we know today. Most people think of “Taps” as a way to honor fallen soldiers at funerals, but it is also played at the end of the day to honor those who gave their lives that day.

Protocol during the bugle calls (in simplest terms):

• ANYONE IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES (military, their spouses, civilians of any type including children) should immediately stop what they are doing, face the flag (if you cannot see a flag then face either the direction you know the flag is or where the music is coming from), remove any hats, and place their hands over their hearts…same  as they would for the playing of the “National Anthem.”
• Military members not in a formation, but still in uniform (including pt-s) should come to attention and salute while the music is being played. (**Military members should definitely be aware of protocol for bugle calls for every situation and if not be clarifying with their command…so, I’m not going in depth. However, with that said, I did have a Navy person in uniform ask me what the music meant and if they were to do anything while it played…so, PLEASE- if you are on a joint military base and are not aware of protocol…PLEASE ask!)
• If the bugle calls play while you are driving on base, you should pull to the side of the road. All military personnel shall get out of the car and pay the proper respect while the bugle call is being played. (When riding in buses and military trucks, only the senior member needs to get out.)

**Note- There is no official protocol for when taps is played as it is not a “flag ceremony.” However, it is an unwritten courtesy to pay the same respects (stand at attention) for this as well…afterall, it is to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Source for Army regulation: AR 600-25 Section 3-1 Reveille and Retreat, and Appendix C-2 Ceremonies(which section 3-1 refers the reader to).