Posted on May 9, 2014
MAJ Deputy Director, Combat Casualty Care Research Program
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Every time I'm in civies and go walking outside, I immediately freak out because I can't find my cover.
Posted in these groups: 4276e14c Uniforms
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SSgt Investigative Analyst
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No, but I still take off my hat if I walk indoors.

On one of my first trips to New Orleans, I ducked into this little hole in the wall bar to get some water and catch some air conditioning (as it was only 2000 degrees that summer), and removed my ballcap as I crossed the threshold.

The biggest, ugliest, meanest, drunkest biker I had ever seen pointed to me and said “You! Come here!” My fire team (just buddies I was in NO with) waited outside to see what was going to happen (thanks for the backup, guys). And all I could think was this is where I get stomped.

As soon as I get within arm’s reach, he grabbed me and hugged me, turned to the girl at the bar, and said “This guy is a MARINE!”

Actually, it was Air Force. The girl said “How can you tell?”

“Because he took off his hat when he came inside.” After a bear hug, he stood at the entrance of the bar and screamed down the road “GO AIR FORCE!”
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
5 y
Capt Jeff S. That is the amazing back story of America’s armed forces. All sizes, colors, types, appearances and our common bond, we served!
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CPT Daniel Cox
CPT Daniel Cox
>1 y
Capt Jeff S. - Before moving to Las Vegas, If you saw my one room cabin next to an old single-wide trailer in the middle of the Mojave Desert (my grandmother built it as a homestead cabin in 1958) you would feel the same way, though the inside was beautifully decked out. The funny thing was when we finally made the outside beautiful by adding a room between the two and having it all stuccoed. A neighbor I got into a pissing contest with turned me in to code enforcement and I had to tear down the new structure and close off the trailer. The new construction was not to code because the single-wide was too old. We moved to Las Vegas because buying a house when the housing market crashed there in 2011 was cheaper than a new build in 29 Palms.
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1LT Voyle Smith
1LT Voyle Smith
>1 y
I’m 79 years old and ex-Army. I always uncover when entering a building.
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Maj Gail Lofdahl
Maj Gail Lofdahl
>1 y
SPC David Hannaman - Another "tell" is that (if possible), a former military person carries all his/her suitcases in the left hand (so the right hand is free to salute). It took me years to unlearn this behavior. And yes, the first week I was retired, I found myself walking out of the house saying, "OMG! I forgot my cover!"
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MSgt Shawn Doyle
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I don’t miss it at all, but I always cover when I'm out playing golf. On the other hand, one of my biggest pet peeves is seeing someone wearing a hot indoors, especially while in a restaurant and sitting at a table for a meal. I consider it very distasteful and inappropriate; hats are intended for cover and unless you believe the roof is going to come down crashing on your head… Take the damn hat off!!! Thank you.
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MSG Wade Huffman
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yes.. sort of like forgetting a watch or wallet!
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