Posted on Apr 22, 2017
Can male soldiers wear lipstick, earrings and ripped clothes while off duty, but on post?
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Had an interesting moment where in a soldier had me direct dial his BN CMD while correcting him about him wearing black lipstick, earrings, finger jewlery and ripped pants.
The CMD informed me I needed to read the regulations, which I have done so.
As far as I've read and know, there has been no update that allows male soldiers to wear this off-duty while on post.
The CMD informed me I needed to read the regulations, which I have done so.
As far as I've read and know, there has been no update that allows male soldiers to wear this off-duty while on post.
DA Pam 670-1
Regulation
Army Regulations
NCOs
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 363
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Been awhile since I read the regs....they may have changed.....but as I recall there are no provisions that prevent the wearing of black lipstick ear rings etc off duty on or off post.
As I remember it vaguely alludes to "appropriate attire".....or basically leaving it up to the local command to establish local standards. With the new policies regarding homosexuals and transgender I am guessing these standards are currently somewhat relaxed. While neither you nor I will ever be caught dead dressing like that......I think you should shift your focus to how the uniform is worn and leave the off duty attire to his chain of command.
As I remember it vaguely alludes to "appropriate attire".....or basically leaving it up to the local command to establish local standards. With the new policies regarding homosexuals and transgender I am guessing these standards are currently somewhat relaxed. While neither you nor I will ever be caught dead dressing like that......I think you should shift your focus to how the uniform is worn and leave the off duty attire to his chain of command.
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MSG James Hughs
SGT (Join to see) - basically I agree this whole discussion is a waste..... not because the Sgt is wrong....he is right..... not because he feels the standards were violated ; they were..........BUT because he has no power to effect change.... you operate within the circle of power you can control....I had ho power to get the "Hot Dog" Chinook pilot to pay the bill on the thousand of dollars of damage he did.....and the good sergeant has no power to force the chain of command to comply with branch regs....
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SPC Erich Guenther
MSG James Hughs - The Hot Dog pilot issue translates into the Commercial Airlines as well. My Brother a long time ago used to work for America West at their hub in Phoenix and narrowly missed getting hit in the head with a flying aluminum skid. The reason, an America West Pilot was tired of waiting and gunned the jets to accelerate fast and the jet wash lifted the skid and sent it airborne where it ultimately struck another plane that had to be inspected for damage as a result. Pretty sad behavior.
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MSG James Hughs
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - There is no question you quote the regulations correctly.....the problem comes when trying to enforce those regs outside your subordinate chain of command..... suggest you try a little experiment.....select another unit at random.....go into that unit and inspect things.....then go to the 1st Sgt and demand he correct the discrepancies you found.... if you survive come back and talk to me
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MAJ Don Bigger
"With the new policies regarding homosexuals and transgender...". Now that's a conversation I would never have imagined 20 years ago. Along with a male wearing black (or any color) lipstick. :)
But, I'm sure we're far more enlightened as a society today. Yes, far more
But, I'm sure we're far more enlightened as a society today. Yes, far more
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Not sure where to begin on this one...not sure there is a right way to address it here so let the current Service members. Transgender still weren't allowed in when I retired.
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SGT (Join to see)
I thought it was the case too after a buddy of mine pointed that out to me.
I asked the servicemember if he was transitioning, he confirmed he was not and that we wasn't transexual.
I asked the servicemember if he was transitioning, he confirmed he was not and that we wasn't transexual.
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SPC Erich Guenther
The last Secretary of Defense made it pretty clear that the cross gender stuff was a no-go as far as he was concerned when he rolled out the new regulations, hence I suspect the BN CMD supporting this guy is probably in the wrong. They had a grandfather clause for transgenders currently enlisted that had to make a choice which gender they identify with or have surgury by a specific date I thought. New people comming into the Army were NOT to do the cross gender dress stuff. Pretty sure that is true but since I have been out of the Army not 100%. Just remember a reporter asking the last Secretary of Defense about people learning to identify which gender they are AFTER they enlist and the SecDef getting very irritated at the question (because it was implying DoD should pay for gender surgury forever instead of a short limited time) and explaining why that was not covered.
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Whatever your branch of service, you are on duty 24/7. That is the bottom line, if on liberty you are still responsible to be able to report for duty on recall. Part of the requirement for being ready to serve is to properly represent your branch of service both in appearance and in behavior. This is the crux of an article 134 violation. So, applying this to the matter at hand, no, a male may not wear lipstick, ripped pants and ear rings on or off base on liberty. Ya want to be a flaming individual do it after you leave the military, till then you have no right to be "special".
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SCPO Lonny Randolph
When authorized, which of course ear rings, lipstick and ripped clothing are not.
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SFC Robert Lee Rice
And the idiot,in the photo above ,probably complains because he cant find a job,....
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PO3 John Priest
Oh he probably has a job...as a street performer or an art studio owner. However, I don't care if he has all his stuff from Harvard and he's an A+ student with IT Certs out the arse, I wouldn't hire him.
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SFC Robert Lee Rice
Darn,I would love to see this clown in Vietnam,We would have won that war,Because the NVA and VC,would have been laughing at this guy,too hard to fight.
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Whatever happened to dress regulations while on base? And off base wearing of the BDU uniform? Everything has gone to hell in a handbasket as far as I'm concerned.....
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
MGySgt Gerry Sweeten My grandfather beat you to that response in 1920!
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Because I am retired, I will comment.
Why in hell would a man wear lipstick and ripped up jeans, anywhere!!! I understand that the Army is evolving BUT when in Rome, do like the Romans and not like the Spartans!
Sexuality and sexual orientation has gotten too much attention from the military community. Keep your sexuality private and come to work to do work. The sad thing is that if you give it less attention, the crazy attention seeking people will only amplify their actions, to get the desired attention. Gay marriage is ok, for those who want that, straight marriage is fine, for people who want that and the military has been more than accommodating. But, as previously stated, THE MORE YOU GIVE, THE MORE PEOPLE WILL TAKE! I don't care who does not like it but lipstick and ripped jeans are for for women and MEN don't do that, ON OR OFF POST! Get out of here with that craziness!
Why in hell would a man wear lipstick and ripped up jeans, anywhere!!! I understand that the Army is evolving BUT when in Rome, do like the Romans and not like the Spartans!
Sexuality and sexual orientation has gotten too much attention from the military community. Keep your sexuality private and come to work to do work. The sad thing is that if you give it less attention, the crazy attention seeking people will only amplify their actions, to get the desired attention. Gay marriage is ok, for those who want that, straight marriage is fine, for people who want that and the military has been more than accommodating. But, as previously stated, THE MORE YOU GIVE, THE MORE PEOPLE WILL TAKE! I don't care who does not like it but lipstick and ripped jeans are for for women and MEN don't do that, ON OR OFF POST! Get out of here with that craziness!
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1SG Charles Simpson
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - The topic of this thread is "Can male soldiers wear lipstick, earrings and ripped clothes while off duty, but on post?" and I didn't see the word "homosexual" in there anywhere. The fact that you bring up your homosexual brother in this discussion puts you completely and the fact that you wasted so much font laying out your established talking points and defending a certain lifestyle that nobody in today's world cares about seems to indicate you have some fear of being associated with a homosexual family member. What a soldier does in private is nobody's business except that soldier's unless it is illegal and/or harmful to others. What a soldier does in public is certainly the business of those who are charged with the regimentation and discipline of the force. Soldiers dress and act like soldiers 24 hours a day and for them to either dress or act in any manner that brings disgrace to the force is totally unacceptable. You need to get a grip on reality or disassociate yourself from the US Army.
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PO3 John Priest
The answer is still off post, ??? as long as the CO doesn't forbid it. On post "Oh Hell to the NO he didn't!"
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SGT Frances Richardson
"THE MORE YOU GIVE, THE MORE PEOPLE WILL TAKE! " funny you say that as a black male when it was barely 50/60 years ago that the same was said about black folks wanting equal rights.
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Reading all these comments just makes me so happy I am no longer serving my country. I spent years of my life defending Americans rights of freedoms why on earth are we taking them away from ourselves? If on Friday night he dresses like that but Monday morning he is in uniform willing to do anything required of him in defending our country then there is no problem in my eyes. Like any other price of paper it’s our understanding of the text we base our opinions. We would pool our energy on the real issues we face suicide.
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LTC Charles Barber
When an individual joins the military they belong to the government and and there are limitations...even on off duty hours. Service members want to have it both ways. This has always existed. If they want to be like their boys/girls back home on the block then they need to go join them. The fact is when we raised our our right hand we agree to protect and preserve The US Constitution...not practice/challenge it while serving our country...
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Anyone that wants to harass someone who is off duty as to how they are dressed needs to get a clue. This is the problem with todays military and one of the reasons I got the hell out. Mind your own business. YOU are the reason for morale being low. If you approached me while I was off duty and tried to tell me how to dress, I would tell you to shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. You may not agree with him wearing lipstick or having “finger jewelry”...using that terminology is a red flag as to the type of person you are. Bottom line, get back to your desk and shut your mouth.
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Why would a male anyone, want to wear Lipstick, ripped shirt or jeans, paint their finger nails ( like a woman ) and basically look like a Punta ? What is that individual trying to prove? Most likely that person will get his a** kicked, walking around on base looking like a Dork.
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SGT Frances Richardson
LCpl Cody Collins - Can't believe people are still being homophobic. I guess we're both in shock.
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LCpl Cody Collins
SGT Frances Richardson homosexuality doesn’t have to have anything to do with it. Gothic and other cultural youth fads, the males wear lipstick and eye liner. That’s not compatible with military decorum.
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Old Sgt Major used to say if being a Marine was a crime would there be enough evidence to convict you. In other words be a 110% dam Marine 110% of the time. Take pride in what you are and show it off to the world. Don't hide from it, wear your title with Honor. Another famous quote by a Sgt Major after many men got sick was Marines there is only one way to get clap of the yap and that's by eating that shit. Don't eat from the "Y" Gay or Straight follow the Military dress code and look like a Dam Marine, hell you earned it.
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