The salute is made by joining the index and middle fingers of the right hand (holding the other fingers with the thumb) and touching the extended fingers to the cap visor or forehead. The hand is held the same as for the Cub Scout sign, except the two fingers are together.

The Cub Scout salute is used to salute the flag when in uniform and to show respect to den and pack leaders. It can be used when greeting other Cub Scouts.

The salute was devised by Robert Baden-Powell and originally represented the two ears of a wolf cub, since the original program was based on Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.