Ash Wednesday: Wearing ashes while in uniform?

MAJ Monique Salinas — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:30:23 -0500

Is it considered violating the regulation to leave ashes on your forehead while in uniform?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 12:38 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:38:31 -0500

If you choose to wear them, no one may notice. If someone corrects you be humble. My gut, it should be allowed but i can't give you a cite.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 12:42 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:42:04 -0500

That is a very interesting question MAJ Monique Salinas, I will have to research.

I have seen it done and no one made any derogatory comments but that does not mean it is O.K. in Uniform.

Response by SSG Clarence Moore made Feb 18 at 2015 12:43 AM

SSG Clarence Moore — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:43:06 -0500

Well there are certain anti-religious/atheist groups that may see it as violation of separation of church and state but 670-1 does not have any thing to say against it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 12:46 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:46:12 -0500

I've seen it before, and no deal was made about it.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 12:58 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:58:48 -0500

BLUF: Would you feel the same if it were blood instead of ashes?

I had a NCO on my last deployment who "blooded" himself before each mission outside the wire. Imagine 'Catholic Ashes' or American Indian war paint on a face, in blood. On a small team you get close, even E5 to E9, and I knew him - personally and maybe better than the three NCO's in between us. One of the best machine gunners I've ever known and a damn good NCO. It freaked out other members on the team.

I talked to him and he admitted his 'belief' or 'religion' did not specify the blood had to be on his face, so I got him to compromise and 'blood' himself on his chest, then cover it with clothing. Our team mates were cool about it and he didn't have to give up his 'religion'/'beliefs'. Would Catholics be willing to do the same?

Just curious.

Response by SPC Benjamin Smith made Feb 18 at 2015 1:16 AM

SPC Benjamin Smith — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 01:16:43 -0500

I rocked the ashes last year and got zero complaints. But then again, SGM was right next to me ashed up too. Aren't the Sikhs allowed beards and special headgear? I've seen Jewish Chaplains with ACU yamakas. Most likely though, the ashes will rub off on your headgear between mass and going back to work. Either way, I wouldn't sweat it if I were you. I won't.

Response by SGT Rik Thibodeau made Feb 18 at 2015 6:23 AM

SGT Rik Thibodeau — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 06:23:54 -0500

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 7:11 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 07:11:19 -0500

MAJ Monique Salinas It seems that 1LT Scott D. provided you with the right guidance followed by a lot of other people who have done it. I have only been in uniform during one ASH Wednesday, and that was while deployed. We wore the ashes then, and no one said a thing. I think that you're good.

Response by PO2 Jacinto Segura made Feb 18 at 2015 7:16 AM

PO2 Jacinto Segura — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 07:16:30 -0500

No it is not did it while I was in the Navy

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 7:32 AM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 07:32:54 -0500

Yes. but as stated above it is at the Commanders discretion. As to some of the other responses though, I did want to say one thing. It doesnt have to be ON the uniform to cause one to be out of uniform. Walking around with a Bluetooth device in your ear causes you to be out of uniform (or having cellphone plastered to your ear). You are only to be using it while in the car. Wearing head phones while in PT uniform anywhere else OTHER than inside the gym or on a track makes you out of uniform (and no you arent allowed to wear them during an APFT regardless of where you run NOR are you to wear them while running in civilian clothes while running on the streets on base like I see a lot of soldiers doing. They always give me a dumb ass look when corrected. This isnt new people). The point is, being out of uniform is more than just what is or isnt on the uniform itself but also what you are wearing with or neglecting to wear with it. I used to have a field day with the livestrong bracelets everyone wanted to wear not long ago.

Response by SPC Neil Hood made Feb 18 at 2015 9:16 AM

SPC Neil Hood — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 09:16:19 -0500

It's just for a day if that. I think it's fine.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 9:19 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 09:19:28 -0500

MAJ Monique Salinas I don't see why it would be a problem. It is not like you are forcing anybody else to do it. If they would let people wear beard and religious headgear in uniform, I don't see how some ash on your forehead would make much of a difference.

Response by LTC Herman Valentine made Feb 18 at 2015 10:27 AM

LTC Herman Valentine — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 10:27:06 -0500

Not at all....during my 32 years of service, I've seen everyone from PVT to LTG sporting ashes on Ash Wednesday. When they wear-off, they wear-off...no big deal.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Feb 18 at 2015 11:34 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 11:34:14 -0500

If you can smoke in uniform then I say inherently you can wear ashes.

Response by 2LT Scott Armstrong made Feb 18 at 2015 12:49 PM

2LT Scott Armstrong — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 12:49:28 -0500

Cathoflauge.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Feb 18 at 2015 1:20 PM

SGT Francis Wright — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 13:20:36 -0500

1Lt Scott, D. hit the nail on the head....

Response by SPC David S. made Feb 18 at 2015 1:39 PM

SPC David S. — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 13:39:53 -0500

There where allowed when I was in ma'am.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 7:19 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 19:19:26 -0500

I'm not even Catholic and I say leave a Catholic soldier alone on Ash Wednesday. It doesn't affect the mission.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Feb 18 at 2015 7:26 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 19:26:36 -0500

When the command chaplain is putting them there, I would wager not.

Response by SSgt Randy Saulsberry made Feb 19 at 2015 3:41 PM

SSgt Randy Saulsberry — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:41:05 -0500

I don't think it is a violation but I think it should be. That is granting special permission to a specific religion to practice something while In uniform.

QUESTION: Would you have a problem if a Muslim woman that was married wanted to wear her head scarf in honor of her religion and out of respect for her husband?

If you let one religion have special privileges while in uniform then you let all of them, or we can abide by the constitution and not allow it from any of them

Response by CWO3 Shawn Kopaczewski made Feb 19 at 2015 4:05 PM

CWO3 Shawn Kopaczewski — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:05:36 -0500

I wore my uniform to mass on ash Wednesday's for the whole 21 years I was in the U.S.M.C. No issue.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 4:38 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:38:15 -0500

If it is, I wouldn't call you on it.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Feb 19 at 2015 7:32 PM

SSG Leonard Johnson — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 19:32:54 -0500

hahahaha you know what???? in my 49 year life....I never thought of the concept. Thx Capt

Response by SMSgt Judy Hickman made Feb 19 at 2015 11:22 PM

SMSgt Judy Hickman — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 23:22:35 -0500

I haven't seen anything in the regulations or AFIs stating otherwise. So, I don't see how wearing ashes on your forehead is violating any regulations. If anything it encourages religious tolerance, even if the nice old ladies at the hospital track you down and tell you have dirt on your forehead :).

Just curious is this just a casual question or was there an issue brought up?

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2015 2:28 PM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 14:28:22 -0500

For me, my religion is my business. I'm proud of it but I have never been the type to flaunt it or felt a need to advertise it. Going to church and receiving the blessing and ashes is part of my religion and important tor me. However, I feel in public, the ashes single me out and make me more than a Marine or a Soldier. When I wore Marine uniform or when I my Army uniform I was not interested in being more than I am. I would not leave the ashes on while in uniform. We're all green, and we are all one faith.God knows I am a Catholic Christian, I know I'm a Catholic Christian and that is all I care about.

BUT, I would like to see everyone in the service follow the same philosophy and make their religion their own business while in uniform and in public. I believe it's disrespectful to the uniform you are wearing to wear ashes, or wear a Yamaka or burn incense or using a prayer blanket.

Response by CWO3 Shawn Kopaczewski made Jan 29 at 2016 12:53 AM

CWO3 Shawn Kopaczewski — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 00:53:39 -0500

No Ma'am for my 21 years in the Marine Corps not one word was spoken to me. However now I do not know as I have been retired for eight years.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Feb 26 at 2020 4:08 AM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 04:08:33 -0500

Just a long standing unofficial exemption to policy by a former majority who could claim injuries if directed otherwise. So much for the 1st Amendment.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made May 25 at 2020 1:10 AM

MSG John Duchesneau — Mon, 25 May 2020 01:10:43 -0400

I don't know if it was a violation but I did it when I was in Iraq. No one seemed to mind. Bear in mind that I was in a National Guard unit from a state with a lot of Roman Catholics who "get it" even if they are not observant. BTW - I am not a Catholic.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2023 11:52 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 11:52:55 -0400