Ash Wednesday: Wearing ashes while in uniform?

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.

Cathoflauge.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.