THE CANADIAN FORCES MANUAL OF DRILL
AND CEREMONIAL
COMPLIMENTS
GENERAL
1. Compliments are formal marks of respect and courtesy, i.e., salutes.
2. The military salute is a traditional demons tration of trust and respect. Although the method of saluting varies with circumstances, the paying of compliments is a fundamental requirement that is indispensable to service discipline.
3. In Canada, military compliments are only paid to the Sovereign; the Governor General; members of the Royal Family; recognized foreign royalty; foreign heads of state or government; the Prime Minister; the Minister and Associate Minister of National Defence; lieutenant-governors; and commissioned officers. Exceptions, such as compliments paid to deceased service members, are as detailed in paragraphs 20 to 23 and paragraphs 25, 26, 28, 29 et 41.
4. Service individuals receiving a compliment shall acknowledge it.
20. Cenotaphs. Officers and men shall salute individually and formed military groups shall pay compliments when passing the National War Memorial and cenotaphs to military dead.
21. Colours. Individuals and formed military groups shall pay compliments to uncased Colours, except when the Colour is part of an escort to the deceased during a funeral (see subparagraph 23a.).
a. Halted armed groups shall present arms.
b. Military groups marching past uncased Colours shall give eyes right/left.
c. See also paragraph 30.
22. Religious Services and Buildings. Conventional marks of respect and courtesy shall be observed during religious services and in places of worship, depending on the customs of the religion involved and the faith of the member (see A-AD-265-000/AG-001, CF Dress Instructions, Chapter 2, Section 3 for further explanation).
23. Funerals. The following compliments shall be paid at state, military and civilian funerals:
a. The remains of the deceased take seniority and alone receive compliments during a funeral.
b. Members shall wear headdress and pay respects by saluting when passing the casket at a vigil.
c. Formed military groups shall be halted and turned to face a passing funeral procession, and the officer or member in charge will salute the deceased while passing. Individual compliments shall be paid in a similar fashion.
d. Individuals and formed military groups bearing arms shall salute a passing funeral procession by presenting arms.
e. Salutes, as above, shall be accorded the casket during interments.
f. At the end of a Service funeral, the officiating chaplain will proceed to the foot of the grave to pay his respects. Service members should then proceed to the foot of the grave, in order of seniority, to pay individual respects by saluting. When numbers warrant, members may approach in small informal groups.
g. See also paragraph 26.
25. Courtesy Salutes
a. Foreign officers shall be saluted in the same manner as Canadian officers unless the circumstances clearly dictate otherwise.
b. Service members may express their respect for individual civilians by using a salute as a formal means of greeting or farewell.
26. Memorial Services and Funerals. Compliments to the dead shall be paid during the sounding of the calls “Last Post” and “Rouse” when they are used in memorial services and funerals. Compliments will commence on the first note and terminate on the last of each call when sounded. Compliments shall be paid as follows:
a. All ranks who are not part of a formed military group shall salute.
b. Formed military groups will be brought to attention and all officers shall salute. A Royal or General Salute will be ordered if appropriate. The funeral guard will present arms, the escort will remain at the order,
officers that form part of the escort will salute with the hand. In the latter case the salute shall be held for the silent interval between “Last Post” and “Rouse”.
c. On defence establishments, all vehicles in the vicinity shall be stopped and the occupants shall dismount and pay compliments.
28. Anthems and Salutes (see also paragraph 30). When the Royal Anthem, Royal Salute, Vice-Regal Salute, National Anthem (see A-AD-200-000/AG-000, Honours, Flags and Heritage Structure of the Canadian Forces) or the national anthem of a foreign country is played, all shall stand and:
a. all ranks who are not part of a formed military group shall salute. The salute shall commence with the playing of the first note of music and shall be cut away at the end of the last note;
b. formed military groups shall be called to attention and all officers or the person in charge shall salute; formed military groups bearing arms shall present arms;
c. on defence establishments, all vehicles within hearing distance shall be stopped and the occupants shall dismount and pay compliments; and
d. anthems are not sung when played as part of a salute, or on a parade other than a church parade (remembrance or commemorative service/ceremony). If ordered to sing on a drumhead or remembrance ceremony, the parade will be brought to attention and all will join in the singing of the National Anthem, officers do not salute.
29. National Flag. When the National Flag is hoisted or lowered at defence establishments, all ranks in or out of uniform within view shall face the flagpole or mast, stand at attention and pay compliments as follows:
a. All who are not part of a formed military group shall salute.
b. Unarmed military groups shall be halted facing the flagpole and the officer or non-commissioned member in charge of the group shall salute;
c. Armed parties shall present arms.
d. Motor vehicles in view shall be stopped and the occupants shall dismount and pay compliments.
41. Service personnel shall salute when:
a. boarding or leaving a commissioned warship; and
b. mounting the quarter deck.
