Can a platoon sgt tell a female soldier that she is required to wear a bra when in civilians?

The only conceivable reason I could come up with is the fact that you are US military in a foreign country and your platoon sgt feels your lack of a bra could be offensive to the locals. In any event, you deserve more information from your platoon sergeant directly without putting your team leader in what could be an awkward situation.

Wow! I've read all the comments so far. Let me start out with... this is a damn minefield.

I can make my comments from the safety of not being on active duty.

I do not care what any hetero-sexual male says to the contrary. We are programmed to notice the secondary sexual characteristics of a female. Trust me it isn't the nipple color that catches our eye. The motion of a well endowed female's breasts will attract my attention from at least 200 yards. If you expect me (and other hetero-sexual males) not to notice, you are out of your mind. I bet if you asked my wife, she would say she can pick out that information from even farther away. I know because there is virtually no time between me noticing and the open handed slap to the back of my head.

However, that programming does not give me license to be an idiot. One of the differences between humans and animals, between men and children, is impulse control. It is my opinion that from a military point of view, your bralessness in civvies is not a problem, unless it is a problem. You have not given us enough detail for us to make a valid assessment. My guess is that you would only know that it is a problem, if you were intentionally making it a problem, (Jessica Rabbit comes to mind... "I'm not bad... they just draw me that way.")

If your platoon sergeant feels it is a military problem, she blew it. She told your male team leader to "navigate the minefield" and walked away, taking the mine detector with her when she left. She let down you AND the male team leader.

If it affects the way your viewed by the soldiers around you, it is more a personal problem for you than a "military" problem. She cannot order away the perceptions of those around you, only their inappropriate comments and actions. She OWES you a bit of "sisterly advice." So she still blew it.

If it is a problem because of the culture of your overseas station, it is still a military problem; but it would probably be handled with less discomfort all around, if she addressed it, because she is a woman.

If it is not any of the above, it is her problem.

I've read the comments, and I am stunned by many, and my post here is as much to the other posters as it is to SPC Chastity Bolden.

In the Army a Platoon Sergeant (PSG) is generally a Sergeant First Class: a Senior NCO, Like a Navy Chief Petty Officer, a Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, or an AirForce Master Sergeant. In the Army, a Senior NCO is responsible for the actions and behaviors of their subordinate Soldiers, and for the leadership development of junior NCO's and the counsel and mentorship to the Platoon Leader, typically a 2nd Lieutenant (O-1).

Regardless of where in the world this is occurring, regardless of the gender of the PSG or Team Leader, regardless of the type of Command, and regardless of the presence or lack of Command Policy Memorandums:

1. Civilian attire during non-duty periods is still subject to the Commander's discretion. This guidance is not illegal, immoral, or unethical. Civilian attire is a privilege- not a right. A Commander could require soldiers to be on PASS to wear civilian attire. In some Commands, the Commander even directs sleeping attire- eg. the APFT Uniform with undergarments.

2. Senior NCO's job is to anticipate and execute the will of the Commander. If a Senior NCO's assessment is that a Soldier's attire is not appropriate- negatively impacts readiness, order, discipline, health or safety- then the Senior NCO has the authority to give corrective direction. Not every policy is necessary to be written down, and not every order must be written down. Failure to follow a legal order- that's an order that is not illegal, immoral, or unethical- may still receive Non-Judicial punishment. If you push the lack of written policy- it will result in a written policy. Be careful what you wish for, once something becomes a written policy it is likely more restrictive, eg. banning civilian attire without a pass, and becomes punitive in nature. Your peers will not appreciate you.

3. It is likely that the PSG has the experience that supports the decision and likely would have the support of the Commander. Commanders rely on the experience of Senior NCOs. Commanders expect Senior NCO's to be professionals, to be competent, and to take care of business without the Officers needing to be involved. There is an entire Creed about it that I estimate a PSG is more familiar with than the SPC is. ( https://www.army.mil/values/nco.html )

4. If the Soldier assesses that the PSG's guidance is discriminatory, then the Soldier should respectfully request- through the 1SG- to exercise the Commander's Open Door Policy.

5. And finally- there is nothing wrong with a PSG directing a Squad Leader/ Team Leader to provide guidance or corrections to an enlisted Soldier. It is leadership. The Team Leader benefits from performing a leadership function that may be awkward or uncomfortable. These experiences are necessary for leaders to develop on their path to Senior NCO ranks. The PSG shouldn't be expected to have every interaction with every issue with every enlisted soldier, that is contrary to the purpose of subordinate leaders.


Just my 3 cents worth.

Choose your battles. Put a bra on. They can even tell you something if your bra is visible through your uniform top (I work without my blouse) it’s distracting... kinda like in uniform you don’t fix your hair in public you go to the restroom. You are a representation of the military some cultures do not accept it and it’s not your country to decide to have your boobs unrestrained. Respect the culture represent your military

I would certainly ask for some serious clarification and justification/rationale for this decision. As for me, IMHO, I don't care that you aren't wearing one because: 1) I'm not going to be staring at your chest and possibly create a situation neither of us want to be in and, 2) It's none of my business if you aren't wearing one while in civilian clothes.

This is something I think you should demand that your PSG put into writing. I don't know of a single battalion commander willing to stand behind this as an order as long as your appearance is not inappropriate.

You have to wear one in uniform. You don’t have to wear one in civilian clothes unless you are in a location that requires a more conservative approach to civilian attire. Going braless in a tight t shirt in downtown Doha might not be advisable. If you are “gifted” in the chest area it might be in the best interests of your reputation to wear one out on the town but, that’s on you. I used to walk around on laundry days overseas without one but no one ever noticed enough to complain. I think I kind of feel bad about that now. I wish someone would tell me to put one on. i am feeling inadequate.

So my answer may not be liked, because of the strides us females have made in the military, and how we need to be treated equal. I will say though, perception is reality. Even though there is nothing wrong with a woman not wearing a bra in her off time, unfortunately due to society, it is not really viewed as appropriate. Especially in a work environment (your overseas rotation). No matter what we females have done to try to pave our own way, there is unfortunately a stigma. Not wearing a bra can be viewed the wrong way. Also, it could also be a safety issue, or honestly hinder unit cohesion. Individuals could be uncomfortable, yes I know that is their problem. But it is easier to tell you to wear a bra than to tell someone to feel comfortable especially if they are distracted. I would not really look at this badly. Instead look at it as a senior female NCO is looking out for you. She has seen more in her time. I would go to her directly. It would be a good mentoring moment.

Look at AR 670-1 , para 3-9 sub (a),( b),( c), Civilian Clothing. If they feel it somehow detracts from the professional image of the service then, yes they can. Also check the unit policy book and see if there are any local civilian clothing requirements based on cultural considerations of the host nation.. If this bothers you schedule an appointment with the 1SG as they and the Commander by regulation have the say on what fly's and what doesn't in civvies in regards to the regulation .
One pesky local policy that comes to mind was the prohibition on males wearing ear rings while in civvies in Germany in the 1980s and again in Korea in the 1990s. Resulted in more than one tense on the spot correction.

First and foremost, if you are okay with not wearing a bra in public, you are wrong. Your female platoon sgt didn't put you on blast in front of the entire battalion. I'd say she did you a solid by having your squad leader pass on the information instead of putting you on blast in front of every swinging dick. Stop questioning your superiors over little shit like this. They are either looking out for your own good, or they don't want you displaying your girls. It isn't just trashy. It makes the Army look bad. Everywhere you go, and everything you do is a display of your branch, and your country.