2ID civilian clothing policy; are tank tops allowed?

2014-10-10T08:27:19-04:00

I'm a PFC with less than a year TIS, so I am not the most knowledgeable soldier but I love to read regulations and to steer myself straight. I am currently on TDY in korea and the big thing here is off-duty appearance.

I use to be a bodybuilder pre-army so I always wore a tank top at the gym. Since being here the gym is less than a 1 minute walk from the barracks so I sprint to the barracks to get my PT in. I have a soldier(not sure if NCO or officer,they didnt not clarify who they are) telling me I can't wear a tank top going to the gym and back but I can wear it AT the gym, he says it goes against 2ID regulation. By that he is pretty much saying to wear something over my tank top.

I read 2ID warrior standards and it states
"Articles of clothing that by being cut out, transparent, excessively tight and serve to accentuate immodestly the sexual characteristics of the wearer are prohibited. This provision does not prohibit reasonable tight clothing worn during appropriate activities at the swimming pools, sunbathing, beauty pageants, bodybuilding competitions, fashion shows, and athletic activities/physical training."

My tanktop is not tight,transparent or serve to accentuate immodestly my sexual characteristics.

Am I in the wrong?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 8:46 AM

2014-10-10T08:46:50-04:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member , while you are TDY are you assigned or otherwise attached to 2ID? If you are not, their divisional policies do not apply to you.

However, if the policies are Post policies where you are staying, then they DO apply. I would ask the NCO who is serving directly over you at this point as to what the standard is.

Based solely on what you posted, I would say that you are probably doing the right thing, but I would submit to you that simply wearing a shirt over the top of your tank would alleviate any questions regarding the policy that you quoted.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Oct 10 at 2014 8:51 AM

2014-10-10T08:51:35-04:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member, the entire military knows - and now you do as well - that the 2nd Infantry Division will always maintain the mantra of the "Best Dressed Division in the U.S. Army"
Head over to Itaewon and get yourself some nice threads before leaving there! Just don't ever wash 'em because they'll disintegrate in the laundry!

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Nov 16 at 2014 4:12 AM

2014-11-16T04:12:04-05:00

Whoever corrected you should have identified themself. Maybe you should "do as the Romans do when you are in Rome" so you don't attract attention. If you want, print out the post policy and the next time someone corrects you, tactfully take out the printed regulation and ask them to show you where you are wrong.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 5:10 AM

2014-11-16T05:10:58-05:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member, you should be able to find the regulation in the USFK 8th Army Bluebook. It has a reference to the posters you'll find posted in public places (gyms, etc.) that show pictures of unauthorized attire. One of the pictures is of a person in a tank top.

My assumption is that tank tops are prohibited because they're considered an undergarment, and the reg states that undergarments can't be displayed in most public places.

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Nov 16 at 2014 10:31 AM

2014-11-16T10:31:01-05:00

Simple solution: get a 3 or 4 xl t-shirt to wear back and forth.

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 6:18 PM

2015-02-20T18:18:03-05:00

You're over thinking it. Honestly, instead of worrying about whether or not you're in the right, just wear a shirt over your tank top on your way to the gym.

Truth is, during your time in, you're going to have to determine what battles to fight and which ones to walk away from. It's a shirt. Why chance drawing unwanted attention to yourself? This is not a battle you fight or stress yourself over; especially if you're just TDY.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2018 11:44 AM

2018-04-10T11:44:23-04:00

Yes agree. Choose you battles. You do not know who called you out so just throw a T Shirt over the top. Hey maybe the guy was jealous either way do not fight that battle. Save it for another day when you know your right. Also FYI if he doesn’t say who he is and this is just my experience but usually there your rank or lower.

Response by SPC David Willis made Apr 10 at 2018 11:51 AM

2018-04-10T11:51:38-04:00

You're not wrong, but the guy who corrected you isn't wrong either. Many of the standards addressing uniform wear and appearance or wear of civilian clothes including hair cuts and mustaches are incredibly subjective. You may think its ok and I may think its ok, but if someone higher ranking comes by and says its not ok then its not ok.