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

Is the reason you’re in an overseas environment wearing civilians around non US personnel on or off the military installation? For example there are US military guidelines separate from ARs for how service members will dress in civvies Otherwise it’s a question of your unit’s specific policy. Either way it can become subjective to what leaders determine is appropriate attire when off duty. Consider stateside you can dress however you want off post but you comply to post standards at the PX, commissary and MWR facilities.

A Bra is an undergarment, just as a teeshirt, and skivees are. In uniform yes, you should wear those. Our of uniform, who cares! So now we have the underwear police!

It would be wise to peruse the unit policy boards, through each level of your command. NCO’s enforce adherence to command policy, and Army Regulations. Commanders will rightfully add to Regulations, and policies enacted by higher commands to ensure adherence to the Total Army image of Readiness and Professionalism. If there be no stated guidelines, you may end up being the reason for such a policy to be enacted. I’m not saying you’re wrong to ask your command for further clarification, but it is always advisable to comply before you complain. Be wholly armed with knowledge of your entire Command Policy before undertaking such endeavors. Soldier 24/7

A lot of times, young leaders don't communicate well or they underestimate the importance of it especially when dealing with interpretive regulations. It sounds like the PSG failed to make herself understood and is just using her rank alone to effect action. (Rank is a way, but using leadership is better.) You're in a position to ask for clarity (be sincere) but ask for clarity. Ask her what specifically makes your nipple situation a problem. Is it a unique personal thing with your body, or does she just have her own belief about public attire in general? Unfortunately, there are more questions than answers on this issue. It may end with an education for someone, which is fine as long as everyone is honest, straightforward, and mature about it. I know that sometimes that's alot to ask. If you keep going with the issue in tactful manner, you just might make a difference in you PSG's, your platoon's, and your own professional life. Keep it up.

I don't know about today's Army, but the Female soldier IS (was) REQUIRED to wear a bra while in uniform. I didn't have any problems with the women that worked for me while in civilian attire. I was told by a captain (female) that the women were required to wear bras with their uniforms. Secretly I think the Captain enjoyed my discomfort making sure women wore bras... to the extent that I had to pull inspections on their personal areas... to include making sure their clothes were folded correctly - how many men know how to properly fold a bra? I sure didn't. I made no comment on the first inspection, "touched nothing" made mental notes, and figured they knew better than I, how to fold their personal clothing. Luckily I transferred out, and no longer had any female troops.

PLEASE READ THIS. I THINK I HAVE A GOOD INSIGHT ON THIS. I was a SPEC4 long ago, but from my experience as a 22 yr old smarty pants super troop who seemed to rub older females the wrong way by being book smart and not knowing yet how important the "social game" is, the fact she told a male leader to tell you says that she may not be so concerned with your safety or honor, or as an older female, interested in connecting with you and helping you understand what going without a bra might depict to men. She may be testing your team leader, or you, or the both of you. She may be looking to see if he had the balls and professionalism to talk to you about a somewhat touchy subject, and then looking to see how you react. My though is if she really cared about you, she should have talked to you woman to woman herself instead of making him do it. I imagine the discussion was embarrassing for him and for you. Did he say WHY the platoon SGT wants you to wear a bra at all times? Did he say her reason was something helpful to you personally, like she thought it was giving people the wrong impression of you? If the platoon SGT's reasoning that was relayed to you was something to the effect that would help you personally, then maybe you should go talk to her yourself and ask her why didn't she say something to you herself. Tell her it was hurtful for you to hear that from a male and not her. Tell her you admire her (doesn't have to be true, but it will flatter her) and you would like to receive sensitive correction like this from her in the future because it would help you be a better soldier and woman. I hope she was testing the team leader. I hope she really does care about you, and she isn't just being a bitch to be a bitch. I hope the two of you can connect and she can be more of a mentor to you because that is part of her job and being the platoon leader. Good luck to you.

your platoon sergeant needs to find better boogers to pick..........

I would not say a word to her...I would talk the the WM gunny and let her handle it. \A word to the wise

Com'mon men, don't we have more important things to do than worry about if a female is wearing a bra in civilian atire off base?

I think apart from a more specific context and situation hard to respond too. In the Navy and ports of call overseas in leave and liberty situations, off duty or liberty attire is managed at the Quarterdeck per SOFA and Fleet Directives, and is not gender specific. Usually common sense dictates being attune to cultural sensitivities and what could be seen as offensive to the host nation. Would it be wise to dress for an evening in Istanbul or a tour of the Vatican as one would for a night out on Hampton Blvd in Norfolk? That wisdom applies equally to both men and women.