Have you ever wanted to know how to draw a soldier giving a salute? In this short tutorial, we will see how to draw an army man saluting.

Below is a reference photo that will come in handy. It definitely came in handy for me. Even though I myself am an army veteran, it has been roughly 15 years since I last wore a set of fatigues, also known at the time as BDU's (or Battle Dress Uniforms). I have since learned that there have been a lot of changes! As of 2004, they are called ACU's (or Army Combat Uniforms) and look very different from what I used to wear.

[caption id="attachment_2267" align="aligncenter" width="800"]<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/how-to-draw-an-army-man-saluting.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2267 size-full" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/how-to-draw-an-army-man-saluting.jpg" alt="how to draw an army man saluting" width="800" height="600" /></a> <center><b> © <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/burlingham_info">Elliot Burlingham</a> | <a href="http://www.dreamstime.com/">Dreamstime.com</a></b></center>[/caption]

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<h2>Draw the Basic Outline</h2>
Draw the basic shapes for the head and torso. As you can tell from the photo, this is not a direct frontal view but rather a quarter-turn view. Account for this as you sketch the head shape by planning for the side of the face on one side and the back of the head on the other.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/01-how-to-draw-an-army-man-head-and-body-outline.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2279" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/01-how-to-draw-an-army-man-head-and-body-outline.jpg" alt="01 how to draw an army man head and body outline" width="800" height="565" /></a>

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Sketch the shape for the saluting arm. A salute is formed with the upper arm parallel to the ground and the fingers of the hand extended and meeting the eyebrow.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/02-how-to-draw-an-army-man-arm-saluting-outline.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2278" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/02-how-to-draw-an-army-man-arm-saluting-outline.jpg" alt="02 how to draw an army man arm saluting outline" width="800" height="565" /></a>

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<h2>Draw the Face and Saluting Hand</h2>
Sketch the <a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/how-to-draw-faces-tips-techniques-and-short-tutorials/">basic guidelines for the face</a>. Again, since the face is turned, your guideline going down the center of the face should reflect the direction the soldier is facing.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/03-how-to-draw-an-army-man-face-guidelines.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2277" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/03-how-to-draw-an-army-man-face-guidelines.jpg" alt="03 how to draw an army man face guidelines" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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Since the soldier's chin is slightly up, notice the upward curvature of the eye guideline as the head is tilted back. As you draw the eyes looking slightly up, don't forget the highlights, eyelashes, and eyebrows.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/04-how-to-draw-an-army-man-eyes.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2276" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/04-how-to-draw-an-army-man-eyes.jpg" alt="04 how to draw an army man eyes" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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Next, draw the nose. Use the reference photo and guidelines to sketch the nose at the same angle as the turned head.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/05-how-to-draw-an-army-man-nose.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2275" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/05-how-to-draw-an-army-man-nose.jpg" alt="05 how to draw an army man nose" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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Repeat this process as you draw the mouth.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/06-how-to-draw-an-army-man-mouth.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2274" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/06-how-to-draw-an-army-man-mouth.jpg" alt="06 how to draw an army man mouth" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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Finish the face by drawing the ears, jawline, and neck. The collar of the jacket will be drawn just below the neck later.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/07-how-to-draw-an-army-man-ears-jawline-neck.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2271" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/07-how-to-draw-an-army-man-ears-jawline-neck.jpg" alt="07 how to draw an army man ears jawline neck" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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At this point, you can erase the guidelines that helped you draw the face. Then begin adding details to make the hand. Draw the fingers extended straight but put slight bends in the knuckle areas to make them appear more natural. Make a few visible lifelines on the palm underside and a few wrinkles along the side of the hand for a touch of realism.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/08-how-to-draw-an-army-man-saluting-hand.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2272" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/08-how-to-draw-an-army-man-saluting-hand.jpg" alt="08 how to draw an army man saluting hand" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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<h2>Draw the Uniform</h2>
Draw the hat. Look at the reference photo to see how to properly shape the hat. Draw stitching along the seams to make it appear sewn together like real fabric.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/09-how-to-draw-an-army-man-hat.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2268" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/09-how-to-draw-an-army-man-hat.jpg" alt="09 how to draw an army man hat" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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Next, draw the collar along the bottom of the neck...

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/10-how-to-draw-an-army-man-collar.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2266" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/10-how-to-draw-an-army-man-collar.jpg" alt="10 how to draw an army man collar" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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...and draw the jacket. Continue to use the reference photo to stay true to the design of the uniform. This includes noticing where parts of the jacket are fastened and how the pockets are angled. Don't forget to make a few <a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/picture-perfect-clothing-a-beginners-guide-to-sketching-clothes/">well-placed folds</a> that are always found in clothing.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/11-how-to-draw-an-army-man-jacket.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2273" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/11-how-to-draw-an-army-man-jacket.jpg" alt="11 how to draw an army man jacket" width="800" height="572" /></a>

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Draw the sleeve.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/12-how-to-draw-an-army-man-sleeve.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2270" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/12-how-to-draw-an-army-man-sleeve.jpg" alt="12 how to draw an army man sleeve" width="800" height="571" /></a>

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<h2>How to Make a Camouflage Pattern</h2>
Now it is time to begin adding a camouflage pattern to the uniform. Here is a pattern I created on the hat.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/13-how-to-draw-an-army-man-hat-camo.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2269" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/13-how-to-draw-an-army-man-hat-camo.jpg" alt="13 how to draw an army man hat camo" width="800" height="573" /></a>

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Make shapes for the foliage green.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/14-how-to-draw-an-army-man-sleeve-camo-foliage-green-outline.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2263" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/14-how-to-draw-an-army-man-sleeve-camo-foliage-green-outline.jpg" alt="14 how to draw an army man sleeve camo foliage green outline" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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Use a crosshatch pattern to fill in the shapes.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/15-how-to-draw-an-army-man-sleeve-camo-foliage-green-crosshatch.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2262" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/15-how-to-draw-an-army-man-sleeve-camo-foliage-green-crosshatch.jpg" alt="15 how to draw an army man sleeve camo foliage green crosshatch" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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Repeat similar shapes to represent the urban gray, only use a hatch pattern rather than a crosshatch.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/16-how-to-draw-an-army-man-sleeve-camo-urban-gray-hatch.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2261" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/16-how-to-draw-an-army-man-sleeve-camo-urban-gray-hatch.jpg" alt="16 how to draw an army man sleeve camo urban gray hatch" width="800" height="600" /></a>

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Here we have more foliage green crosshatch patterns on the jacket torso.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/17-how-to-draw-an-army-man-jacket-camo-foliage-green-crosshatch.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2265" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/17-how-to-draw-an-army-man-jacket-camo-foliage-green-crosshatch.jpg" alt="17 how to draw an army man jacket camo foliage green crosshatch" width="800" height="571" /></a>

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Add approximately an equal number of urban gray hatch patterns to complete the uniform and the drawing.

<a href="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/how-to-draw-an-army-man.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2264" src="http://www.letsdrawpeople.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/how-to-draw-an-army-man.jpg" alt="how to draw an army man" width="800" height="568" /></a>

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