Final answer:
The compulsory formality at the entrance to all camps varies, but in military settings, it typically involves giving up personal belongings and embracing new regimented identities, which could translate into saluting superiors as a regular formality. However, presenting identification documents is generally the most common and required formality for entry into various camps and institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
What was the compulsory formality at the entrance to all camps? The compulsory formality at the entrance to all camps, particularly in the military and sometimes in other institutional settings such as prisons, involved a process to resocialize new members into the institution's identity. For example, upon entry to the military, new recruits undergo a variety of formalities which may include handing over personal belongings, receiving a standard uniform after being stripped of old clothes, and having their hair cut short, to create uniformity and remove symbols of their former identity.
In addition to these formalities, recruits also go through a period of basic training. This includes learning the new rules of the military society, bonding with fellow recruits, and adhering to structured schedules enforced by their superiors. Inspections of personal areas, learning to march in the correct formations, and saluting in the presence of superiors are also necessary components of the process. Based on the information provided, the most applicable answer could be saluting the camp leader if we consider this as a consistent formality that occurs regularly upon encountering superiors during one's time in the military. However, without more specific context from the question, presenting identification documents would generally be the most universally required formality for entering many types of camps and institutions.
The passage also describes a military environment where soldiers are conditioned to maintain discipline and follow a set of rigid structures imposed by military life.