8
8
0
Is the Army able to force you to buy Unit T-Shirts? I know in AR670-1 it says I am able to wear civilian attire off installation with my PT Shorts but what about during PT? If it is the Uniform for that day of PT then would it be required I buy it and better yet if I owned it wouldn't I have the choice not to wear it if it is not required to be purchased?
Regulation
Uniforms
Policy
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 37
40
40
0
- I am not tracking that the Army as an institution can force you to buy a unit T shirt.
- I am not tracking that your unit (CO/BN) can force you to buy a unit T-shirt.
- Your unit (CO/BN) can highly encourage you to buy a unit T-Shirt.
- What is the difference between force and highly encourage? The same difference in "wait a minute" depending upon what side of the bathroom door you happen to be on.
- I am not tracking that your unit (CO/BN) can force you to buy a unit T-shirt.
- Your unit (CO/BN) can highly encourage you to buy a unit T-Shirt.
- What is the difference between force and highly encourage? The same difference in "wait a minute" depending upon what side of the bathroom door you happen to be on.
(40)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(2)
(0)
(0)
(0)
SGT James LeFebvre
SSgt Joseph Baptist - I know it was a month ago, but oh, well. I agree with you about making the Tshirt one where they'd WANT to get one. Had a unit in Korea that had one that was just awesome (think I still have it somewhere) I wanted it and got it. Frankly, if I thought all my Soldiers should have one, I would purchase it for them, but if they really didnt want one, I would go to bat for them with anyone who kept trying to "encourage" the purchase.
(0)
(0)
29
29
0
SPC (Join to see) James, As you have heard no they cannot. As you have also heard... Pick your battles. This to is wise counsel. Yes... You will be encouraged in some units... Some will truely simply encourage with no reprecussions... Others will not and will highly encourage and make it very uncomfortable. No, your annual clothing allowance is not suppose to be used for there purchase also... That money is to replace your initial issue and update your "barracks bag" with new items.
Now for some Honesty!
That " highly encourage position" is nonsense and anyone over the rank of SGT and 2LT knows it. Units can make life unbearable for a soldier who simply doesn't wasn't to buy one.
I watched it so many times I promised it wouldn't happen in the companies I was 1SG for... and it didn't. Pride has nothing to do with it. It stems from not wanting to burdening a soldier with another questionable expense... As was a burden on many of us. Don't believe me... Then you're fooling yourself. I had a whole drawer full of "esprit de corps" that were worn once a week... They did make a cool quilt my mother in law made me a few years ago though. What gave me pride in my unit was the leadership and the team... Not a T-shirt! If you need a T-shirt for espirt then your unit has a larger challenge.
On one occasion I relented. The CO of my second company really wanted the soldiers to have a unit T-shirt for OIF the original. I made my position clear and he agreed and asked if i knew a way where the soIdiers didnt have to pay. I managed through a series of highly creative resourcing methods (don't ask I'm not telling) to purchase 400 at no cost to the soldiers... the CO and I coughed up $50 ea. But not a big issue. We were able to give each soldier a T-shirt and the bulk to the supply sergeant for "free issue" to new soldiers as they came in. Which was another stipulation... There would be no elitism.
I commend any leadership team that doesn't burden a soldier with this questionable expense... And when you are apart that leadership team... Remember. Don't let your integrity get bruised with that "highly encouraged position".
I will now shut up and get off my soap box.
Now for some Honesty!
That " highly encourage position" is nonsense and anyone over the rank of SGT and 2LT knows it. Units can make life unbearable for a soldier who simply doesn't wasn't to buy one.
I watched it so many times I promised it wouldn't happen in the companies I was 1SG for... and it didn't. Pride has nothing to do with it. It stems from not wanting to burdening a soldier with another questionable expense... As was a burden on many of us. Don't believe me... Then you're fooling yourself. I had a whole drawer full of "esprit de corps" that were worn once a week... They did make a cool quilt my mother in law made me a few years ago though. What gave me pride in my unit was the leadership and the team... Not a T-shirt! If you need a T-shirt for espirt then your unit has a larger challenge.
On one occasion I relented. The CO of my second company really wanted the soldiers to have a unit T-shirt for OIF the original. I made my position clear and he agreed and asked if i knew a way where the soIdiers didnt have to pay. I managed through a series of highly creative resourcing methods (don't ask I'm not telling) to purchase 400 at no cost to the soldiers... the CO and I coughed up $50 ea. But not a big issue. We were able to give each soldier a T-shirt and the bulk to the supply sergeant for "free issue" to new soldiers as they came in. Which was another stipulation... There would be no elitism.
I commend any leadership team that doesn't burden a soldier with this questionable expense... And when you are apart that leadership team... Remember. Don't let your integrity get bruised with that "highly encouraged position".
I will now shut up and get off my soap box.
(29)
(0)
1SG Cameron M. Wesson
SFC Christopher Wilson thank you for you kind words but truthfilly all I ever tried to do was take care of soldiers... was I successful. I like to believe I was
(1)
(0)
SPC (Join to see)
Sure wish my unit had leadership like you. Right now it is sports week, and we are told we can't wear civilians unless we bought a battalion shirt of some kind or were on a team. My unit didn't help with my bah nor bas paperwork, so I will happily wear my pts though I am being 'punished' for not wearing fake esprit de corps.
(1)
(0)
1SG Cameron M. Wesson
Brother... in one unit in the 101st... as a SFC in 99... i did not buy a t shirt. I was as l so a cadence caller. First time anyone gave me shit... i just didnt call cadence. 1SG tried... i said my voice was bothering me. Then he tried a 4856... which i took to the IG and then... it got fun.
I was asked by the CO why i didnt bring it to his attention... I had my CPT with me... and asked why I should when was he was instigating the issue with the tshirts. He said he was not aware that the 1SG was harassing soldiers and NCOs about t-shirts... and this is when my CPT (we were on staff) called BS.
It was amazing... i could go on and on... but that shit stopped. A few month later when I was acting 1SG... we did PT in army gray.... period.
I was asked by the CO why i didnt bring it to his attention... I had my CPT with me... and asked why I should when was he was instigating the issue with the tshirts. He said he was not aware that the 1SG was harassing soldiers and NCOs about t-shirts... and this is when my CPT (we were on staff) called BS.
It was amazing... i could go on and on... but that shit stopped. A few month later when I was acting 1SG... we did PT in army gray.... period.
(0)
(0)
25
25
0
I say choose your battles. $10 of "espirit de corps" can save you $1,000 in headaches.
(25)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
I'd chip in for some unit gear, supposing we had any. And we don't. However, if someone can design anything cool around a transportation MOS, I'd be willing to, uh, roll the idea to command.
(6)
(0)
SGM Mikel Dawson
I will use a piece of advice given to me by the TRADOC Commander at the time (with a few words changed to fit the situation), "Specialists, You're Pole Vaulting over Fly Sh!T"
(6)
(0)
6
6
0
Can they make you buy it? NO.
Do you really want to be the guy who is different? NO.
Thing is, you should WANT to be proud of your unit and sport its gear.
If you want to stand on principle, be prepared to hear all about it every time there is a battalion/ company PT event.
I'd say choose your battles. This protest will get you heartburn disproportionate to the point you are trying to make.
Do you really want to be the guy who is different? NO.
Thing is, you should WANT to be proud of your unit and sport its gear.
If you want to stand on principle, be prepared to hear all about it every time there is a battalion/ company PT event.
I'd say choose your battles. This protest will get you heartburn disproportionate to the point you are trying to make.
(6)
(0)
SFC Douglas Davis
All Units that I was in had something that set them apart, it brings me many fond memories of long ago friends because I have kept everyone in my old footlocker.
(1)
(0)
4
4
0
Ask yourself, "Is this the hill I want to die on?"
There will surely be far more important issues in your career upon which to stand on principle, yet I think this could be a house of cards in the grandest scheme of things.
Plus esprit de corps!! :)
There will surely be far more important issues in your career upon which to stand on principle, yet I think this could be a house of cards in the grandest scheme of things.
Plus esprit de corps!! :)
(4)
(0)
SGM Erik Marquez
CMSgt (Join to see) Yes,,, with a side dish of, every SM is and has individual issues, needs, ect. I have had two SM over the years that were in dire financial straights.. of there own making so to speak but with good cause.
One was due to a huge financial obligation to fund his mothers medical treatment.
Another was desperately trying to gain the release of a family member from a politically driven incarceration (Not in the US) and then fund immigration to the US.
in 28+ years those were two of the most notable exceptions to the general rule.. There were a few other s,, but not as many as some here in RP would have you believe.. The majority of SM in financial trouble are of the poor decision making realm.
One was due to a huge financial obligation to fund his mothers medical treatment.
Another was desperately trying to gain the release of a family member from a politically driven incarceration (Not in the US) and then fund immigration to the US.
in 28+ years those were two of the most notable exceptions to the general rule.. There were a few other s,, but not as many as some here in RP would have you believe.. The majority of SM in financial trouble are of the poor decision making realm.
(3)
(0)
CMSgt (Join to see)
Holy sh*t! I just wrote an incredibly similar vein in your other post!! Great minds... Lol
Agreed!! One million times agree!
Agreed!! One million times agree!
(3)
(0)
SSG (Join to see)
If you have kids and are struggling to keep milk and bread in the house, having to pay $10 for a t-shirt can be more than a little irritating. That said, fighting it will still most likely be more trouble than it's worth. My advice is to be like 1SG Wesson and when the time comes, do better than your current leadership.
(0)
(0)
4
4
0
SGT Sam Decker
Sir, since the t-shirt in question is not an initial issue item, CIF issue item, or RFI issue item, the clothing allowance does not apply. The unit cannot force a Soldier to purchase the shirt anymore than they can force a Soldier to donate to AER or any other organization.
(3)
(0)
1SG Cameron M. Wesson
Running shoes are one of the barracks bag item that must be purchased. The Army made a choice many years ago to not make running shoes standard issue... Unlike boots.
(1)
(0)
SGT Sam Decker
That said, like so many others have pointed out, it is probably in the Soldier's best interest to buy one. I know in my units past, if a Soldier was strapped for cash and just couldn't afford it, a lot of times, leadership in the platoon would just pitch in and buy one for them.
(1)
(0)
3
3
0
Is it legal? no...does it happen, all the time. Especially in the new unit morale shirt on friday thing.
(3)
(0)
TSgt Joshua Copeland
SSgt Alexander Ingram, friday's at my base looks like a bag of skittles exploded. My unit's morale shirt is the same shade of blue as our name tapes and stripes so it doesn't look that bad. But the hunter orange ones I see for the one unit...wow...just wow.
(0)
(0)
TSgt Joshua Copeland
SSgt Alexander Ingram, well the Squadron Commander's were suppose to be the approval authority and one would have thought they would have stayed conservative. That said, every unit wants their own color and there are only so many shade of blue out there. Our Mx/Ops units went with the colors of their tail flashes (Green/Red/Lt Blue), I think the NAF and MAJCOM went with Lt Blue, the Wg HQ went Green with all of the other squadrons fighting it out for the rest of the rainbow. My unit was an early adopter so we got a pretty sensible color.
(0)
(0)
TSgt Joshua Copeland
I know of at least one LRS unit that did pink and one MDG unit that did pink (for the obvious reason). And RED HORSE is of course...red. Our CE is a blue in between light blue and dark blue. I am just waiting for them to bring back squadron ball caps and be done with it.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
Short answer...NO.
But what is the root of your opposition?
1. If it's a financial thing, I'm sure someone would purchase for you, however, this would prompt some financial counseling if this would break the bank.
2. Do you hate the unit your in? Are there issues, what is it that would keep you from wanting to represent them? Is there something there that needs to be addressed?
3. Are you just standing your ground since they said you had to, and you know they can't make you? Like many said pick your battles...how about quoting the fact that you cant be required to purchase it as you purchase it "to support the unit".
Either way I'm sure this shirt is not the real issue, and you need to figure that out.
Enjoy your new shirt ;)
But what is the root of your opposition?
1. If it's a financial thing, I'm sure someone would purchase for you, however, this would prompt some financial counseling if this would break the bank.
2. Do you hate the unit your in? Are there issues, what is it that would keep you from wanting to represent them? Is there something there that needs to be addressed?
3. Are you just standing your ground since they said you had to, and you know they can't make you? Like many said pick your battles...how about quoting the fact that you cant be required to purchase it as you purchase it "to support the unit".
Either way I'm sure this shirt is not the real issue, and you need to figure that out.
Enjoy your new shirt ;)
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Take it out of the clothing maintanance allowance you get yearly and it will feel as though Uncle Sam bought it for you, right?
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Technically no, but practically yes. It all depends on how much negative attention you're okay with receiving from your chain of command. Personally, I'd just buy the shirts and be done with it.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google