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When does the Air Force avoid firing gun salutes?

It does not fire them during parades, reveille, or retreat.

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  1. Only on Memorial Day
  2. Only at awards ceremonies
  3. During parades, reveille, or retreat ✔

Why: Service ceremony procedures are not identical. Army and Navy installation rules describe honors during certain gun salutes, while Air Force ceremonies omit gun salutes in these three settings.

Huh, didn't know that: At Army or Navy installations, a ceremonial party salutes during a gun salute honoring a living person.

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Why was the Air Force ceremony quiet? Its honors spoke for themselves.
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References

Answer: During parades, reveille, or retreat. Service ceremony procedures are not identical. Army and Navy installation rules describe honors during certain gun salutes, while Air Force ceremonies omit gun salutes in these three settings.

  1. CAPP 60-33, Civil Air Patrol Drill and Ceremonies www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/P_6033_2217FEEE8C89F.pdf
    In the Air Force, gun salutes are not fired during any parade, reveille, or retreat ceremony.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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