I drove onto the Air Force Academy today. The security forces at the gate saluted me. I wasn’t in uniform. I’m never in uniform anymore. But my hand went up anyway. Automatic. Like muscle memory that never actually left. I returned the salute. And in that moment, sitting there behind my steering wheel in civilian clothes, I realized what I actually missed. Nobody truly knows the exact origin of the salute but supposedly it comes from medieval knights… in armor they would raise their visors when they passed each other. They’d show their face. Show they weren’t a threat. Show they respected who was in front of them. The junior knight always saluted first. Respect moved both directions. Over centuries that evolved into what we do now. The hand raised. The gesture back. A ritual so old that your body remembers it even when your mind isn’t paying attention. That’s what got me at the gate. I wasn’t thinking about history or protocol or anything else. My hand just went up. Because some part of me that’s still a Navy SEAL saw someone showing respect, and respect demanded a response. What I missed in that moment wasn’t the uniform or the rank or the title. I missed the two-way thing. I missed being part of a team where respect actually flowed BOTH directions. Where you led people because you served them, not the other way around. Where you had a full team depending on you, and you had their backs, and they had yours. That’s what leadership REALLY is. It’s service. It’s the salute back. It’s showing people you see them and you respect what they do… and more importantly who they are. I don’t have that anymore. I love the work I do now. I coach now. I speak. I write. I help people one at a time. I help groups. And that work matters. I know it does. But it’s different than standing in front of a team of men and women who would follow you into hell because they trust you. Different than knowing that your people have your back and you have theirs. That security forces kid at the gate… he probably doesn’t think about it much. Just does the job. Salutes when someone walks by who earned the right to be saluted. But he was offering something there. Connection. Recognition. The ritual that says “I see who you are, and I respect it.” And I felt it. I don’t know how to get that back. I don’t think I can. The teams I led were specific. That time was specific. You don’t get to relive it. But sitting there with my hand raised, answering that salute… for a second, I remembered what it felt like to be part of something where respect went both ways. Where you led because you served. Where the people around you mattered more than anything else. That’s what I miss. Not the rank. Not the authority. The people. The team. The purpose of being there for them. What’s something you gave up when your life changed that you still miss? (And yes, this is an AI generated image… so not my license plate 😉)
That's what trully belonging means. Thanks for sharing, I feel the same here. BTW... 🫡
One of the best explanations I have heard. Reminds me of an incident when I was a Lt. in the AF at Norton AFB. When we would walk between the office, the Exchange and the Post Office we would often meet junior enlisted members. They tended to not salute Lt.'s and we were expected to reprimand them or get counseled by the senior officers. Then one day I met a couple of airmen and could tell when they were still several steps away that they were not going to salute me. So I rendered them a smart salute and greeted them with "good morning Airmen". As they stumbled to salute back one of them managed to say "Sir, we are supposed to salute you first. But we have so many officers on base saluting all of them is so hard." I responded by pointing to my 'butter bar' and saying "You only have to salute the Officers, I have to salute everything on this base that moves." After that It seemed that us Lt.'s had much less trouble getting the Airmen to salute. A new level of mutual respect?
I remember having breakfast with my wife and sister on the morning of my father's funeral. It was around 0600 hrs and a group of local day shift Police Officers were having breakfast together as they began their shift. After reminiscing with them a minute and picking up their tabs, I returned to our table. I must have been still gazing at them as they carried on as guys tend to do when fellowship is at play, when my sister asked me: "What do you miss the most about being on the job?" Without hesitation, I nodded my head towards them and replied simply: "That, right there..."
Great post! I believe service and serving others have to evolve and transition with us in this next chapter of our lives and careers. I feel fortunate still to have that sense of camaraderie, trust, mission, and being part of something bigger than yourself in sports at the elite level. That’s actually the same reasons I joined and stayed in the Army. In the off season when I'm doing the same things you are that looks different, but the direction, alignment and commitment to serving and supporting others is the same. So I don't miss the salute, customs, and courtesies at all. It's all part of the previous chapter is not the current or the next chapter we’re writing.
And, I remember Bryan Lasater, the story of the salute you made while on duty in Security Forces in the Air Force, & if I recall correctly it was a female Colonel!! You were very impressive! ♥️
I miss that sometimes too. But Ill say this brother: Its possible to *still* have that trust, loyalty, and fellowship. Im blessed enough to have a pretty incredible staff at Bold Face who we trust eachother with our rough days, but also trust eachother to show up and take care of our mission, and eachother. We dont salute eachother, but we hug it out, drop what we're doing to go fish when one of us is having a rough day, and trust eachother like the teams we used to be a part of. Also, within my family, I may mess it up a lot of days, but I try every day to serve them as best I can. We obviously dont salute eachother(lol), but when Annabelle gives me a drawing, Sam asks me to help build his marble track, and I filled up Krishas car and aired her tires without being asked. Our family fights, lose our patience, and get frustrated at eachother, but we also look out for eachother in the little things...laundry, dinners, getting up early with the kiddos so the other can sleep in, and doing all things we do for our kiddos little smiles and thank yous. It may not be the SAME team, and may be a lot harder to manage at times, but it sure is a good team;-) And the uniforms are way more comfortable!lol
Living in San Diego, and working as a lifeguard/water safety instructor on a Navy Base, I drive on bases often. The security teams vary, always new faces, but they always render a salute... It's humbling to me every time. I'm an old guy in their eyes, sometime on a scooter, sometimes in a beater van, but they do it every time. I tell them thank you for serving and what you do each day. That comment brings a smile on their faces and twinkle in their eyes. Showing appreciation and kindness everyday is so important. Great post Jon, meaningful. 🫡🙏
Today! Can’t wait to see pics. Lived there in O-6 housing while mom started Center for Character Development. Post Tailhook. We lost hubcaps in that mouse infested house while I went over Rockrimmon to Eagleview in the C-S “valley.” I’d love to know if there are any plaques there of my mom, Colonel early 90’s.
Being part of a team with a unifying mission, mutual respect, and collective sacrifice is an amazing human experience. We had that in cardiac surgery and I feel fortunate for having experienced it.
Jon Macaskill I don't know how I found your profile on Linked-In but every day I now look forward to reading your posts and think "what might have been". At 63 it's probably too late to sign up but if I had my time over knowing what I know now I most certainly would. I do prefer the Chevvy Silverado though 🤣