Can veterans wear their retirement uniform in public whenever they want to or only on Veteran's Day?

2015-05-27T15:33:07-04:00

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 3:54 PM

2015-05-27T15:54:43-04:00

Interesting topic.. Let me do some digging on this end as well! Retirement uniform?

Response by CPT Chase Park made May 27 at 2015 4:16 PM

2015-05-27T16:16:44-04:00

Chapter 23
Wear of the Army Uniform by Reserve, Retired, Separated, and Civilian Personnel
23–1. Occasions of ceremony
a. As used in this regulation, the phrase “occasions of ceremony” means occasions essentially of a military character, at which the uniform is more appropriate than civilian clothing. These functions include, but are not limited to: military balls, military parades, weddings, and military funerals; memorial services, meetings, conferences, or similar functions of associations formed for military purposes, of which the membership is composed largely or entirely of current or honorably discharged veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States. Authority to wear the uniform includes wear while traveling to and from the ceremony or function, provided the travel in uniform can be completed on the day of the ceremony or function and must follow guidance included in paragraph 3–7c.
b. All persons wearing the Army uniform will wear awards, decorations, and insignia in the same manner as prescribed in this regulation for active duty Soldiers. For civilian attire, individuals may wear only those awards, decorations, or insignia authorized by this regulation for wear on civilian clothing, in the same manner and approxi- mate location as the equivalent military uniform.

e. In addition to the occasions for wear listed above, retired personnel are authorized to wear the uniform only on the following occasions:
(1) While attending military funerals, memorial services, weddings, inaugurals, and other occasions of ceremony.
(2) Attending parades on national or State holidays, or other patriotic parades or ceremonies in which any active or reserve U.S. military unit is taking part. Uniforms for these occasions are restricted to service and dress uniforms; the combat uniform and physical fitness uniforms will not be worn. Wearing the Army uniform at any other time, or for any other purpose than stated above, is prohibited.

Response by MSgt Robert Pellam made May 27 at 2015 5:25 PM

2015-05-27T17:25:48-04:00

Awesome topic for us Retires. I honestly don't know myself. I would love a copy of the AF regs on this too. I assume similar to the Army ones. I was going to wear my dress uniform in for a speech I was giving on "the US Air Force" for speech class (Professor let me pick the topic ) but while I found a clause that said something about education, I could not find anything definite, so I did not wear it, and would love some clearance on this. CPT Chase Park Thanks for the Army reg. Honestly that does help even us AF people. IF I find anything while I roam around Ill return here and copy and paste.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made May 27 at 2015 5:36 PM

2015-05-27T17:36:18-04:00

Here is what the AF has to say on the issue:

http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afi36-2903/afi36-2903.pdf

12.4.
Retired Personnel.

12.4.1.
Retirees may wear the authorized uniform prescribed at the date of member’s
retirement or any of the uniforms authorized for current active duty personnel, including the
dress uniforms. Do not mix uniforms.
12.4.2.
Retirees who had an assignment prior to retirement that included command at
squadron, group or wing level are authorized to wear the Command insignia pin on the left lapel.

12.4.3.
If member’s last assignment prior to
retirement was a First Sergeant and/or Command Chief, the member is authorized to wear appropriate chevrons in all instances the uniform is worn.

12.4.4.
Retirees may wear the retired lapel pin on civilian attire. The retired lapel pin is
placed on the left lapel. If member is authorized to wear the Command insignia pin, it is placed on the same side, below the retired lapel pin.

12.4.5.
May wear full-size or miniature medals on civilian suits or equivalent dresses on
appropriate occasions such as Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day.

12.4.6.
May wear the uniform at occasions of military ceremonies.

12.4.7.
May wear the uniform at military funerals, weddings, memorial services and
inaugurals.

12.4.8.
May wear the uniform at patriotic parades on national holidays, other military parades or ceremonies in which any active or Reserve U.S. Military unit is taking part.

12.4.9.
May wear the uniform at educational institutions when engaged in giving military
instructions or responsible for military discipline.

12.4.10.
May wear the uniform at social or other functions when the invitation has been
influenced by the member’s active military service.

12.4.11.
May wear the uniform when traveling to or from any function listed above when travel is within 24 hours of the scheduled function.

12.4.12.
Members of the reserve components who are eligible to retire but are not at
mandatory age (60 years) do not wear the uniform while traveling on military aircraft.

12.5.

Medal of Honor Recipients. May wear the uniform at any time Chapter 1 does not prohibit wear.

12.6.

Separated Personnel.

12.6.1.
Honorably discharged Air Force personnel (including service with an air component
of the Army before the Air Force was established and other than retired, Reserve or ANG with war time service, during a declared or undeclared war), may wear the authorized uniform prescribed at the date of member’s discharge or any of the uniforms authorized for current active duty personnel, including the dress uniforms. Do not mix uniforms.

12.6.1.1.
Honorably discharged members who served during World War II wear the
Honorable Discharge Emblem on the left lapel.

12.6.1.2.
May wear full-size or miniature medals on civilian suits or equivalent dresses
on appropriate occasions such as Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day.

12.6.1.3.
May wear the uniform at military funerals, memorial services and inaugurals.

12.6.1.4.
May wear the uniform at patriotic parades on national holidays, other military
parades or ceremonies in which any active or Reserve U.S. Military unit is taking part.

12.6.1.5.
May wear the uniform on any occasion recognized by the Secretary of Defense
in DODI 1334.1 or when authorized by law.

12.6.2.
Discharged Air Force personnel (other than retired, Reserve or ANG without war
time service) may wear the authorized uniform from place of discharge to home, within three
months after discharge. The member will wear the highest rank authorized on date of separation. Do not mix uniforms.

12.6.2.1.
Installation commanders authorize such separatees to use military clothing sales stores (MCSS) to purchase uniforms and accessories required for special occasion such as military funerals, parades or other ceremonies.

12.6.2.2.
Separatees purchase only the service dress or mess dress uniforms and accessories.

12.6.2.3.
Separatees may not purchase items commonly available from commercial
sources. MCSS establish adequate controls over quantities of uniform items each
separatee purchases.

12.6.2.4.
Commanders ensure separatees present proof of honorable discharge under honorable conditions and know current uniform and grooming standards

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 27 at 2015 5:35 PM

2015-05-27T17:35:34-04:00

Simply put, "As appropriate" but the regulations go into much more depth.

Events like weddings, funerals, military functions, balls etc, are all "as appropriate."

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made May 27 at 2015 5:38 PM

2015-05-27T17:38:06-04:00

Here is the USC for uniform wear

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/772

10 U.S. Code § 772 - When wearing by persons not on active duty authorized | US Law | LII / Legal...

June 3, 1916, ch. 134, §12 (words before 4th semicolon, and words after 7th semicolon, of 1st proviso of 1st par.; and last proviso of last par.), 39 Stat. 216; July 9, 1918, ch. 143, subch. XVII, §10 (last proviso), 40 Stat. 892; June 4, 1920, ch. 228, §8, 41 Stat. 836; June 6, 1942, ch. 382, 56 Stat. 328; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, §15(b) (last proviso), 63 Stat. 91; July 6, 1953, ch. 180, §1, 67 Stat. 140.

Response by PV2 David Minnicks made May 27 at 2015 5:40 PM

2015-05-27T17:40:03-04:00

The short answer even in the most recent regulation specifically AR 670-1 which is the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia effective April 10, 2015 is no it can not. The retired servicemember or a veteran can not wear their uniform in public whenever they want and for specifics in regard to when and how the uniform can and is to be worn please see the summary excerpts below:

Wear of the Army Uniform by Reserve, Retired, Separated, and Civilian Personnel
Occasions of ceremony
a. As used in this regulation, the phrase “occasions of ceremony” means occasions essentially of a military character, at which the uniform is more appropriate than civilian clothing. These functions include, but are not limited to: military balls, military parades, weddings, and military funerals; memorial services, meetings, conferences, or similar functions of associations formed for military purposes, of which the membership is composed largely or entirely of current or honorably discharged veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States. Authority to wear the uniform includes wear while traveling to and from the ceremony or function, provided the travel in uniform can be completed on the day of the ceremony or function and must follow guidance included in paragraph 3–7c.
b. All persons wearing the Army uniform will wear awards, decorations, and insignia in the same manner as prescribed in this regulation for active duty Soldiers. For civilian attire, individuals may wear only those awards, decorations, or insignia authorized by this regulation for wear on civilian clothing, in the same manner and approximate location as the equivalent military uniform.

3–7. Required or prohibited wearing of the Army uniform
k. Wearing Army uniforms is prohibited in the following situations:
(1) In connection with the furtherance of any political or commercial interests, or when engaged in off-duty civilian employment.
(2) When participating in public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, rallies, or public demonstrations, except as authorized by the first O–5 in the chain of command.
(3) When attending any meeting or event that is a function of, or is sponsored by, an extremist organization.
(4) When wearing the uniform would bring discredit upon the Army, as determined by the commander.
(5) When specifically prohibited by Army regulations.

Response by SSG Joshua Rubio made May 27 at 2015 6:45 PM

2015-05-27T18:45:35-04:00

What about facial hair? I didn't read anything saying that we had to follow the same shaving guidelines as active duty only that the uniform itself will have the medals and awards properly worn as if on active duty.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 27 at 2015 11:20 PM

2015-05-27T23:20:23-04:00

Whenever the uniform is appropriate. Military Balls, etc.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2015 2:31 PM

2015-10-29T14:31:09-04:00

Get a suit.

Response by A1C Joseph Arsenault made Nov 2 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-11-02T11:43:30-05:00

Is Facial Hair allowed?there is no answer yes or no.after seperation.

Response by SGT Alfredo Rubalcava made Mar 22 at 2016 11:43 PM

2016-03-22T23:43:06-04:00

The regs dont point out that you cant wear one. Just in case, I'll change my religion to being a sykhism, wear a turbon and sport my civil war beard.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2019 4:02 PM

2019-03-23T16:02:00-04:00

Can be worn, as others have described.
With regard to hair, beard, and mustache, that is a personal standard, as there is not a requirement to comply with those standards.

Response by SGT James Murphy made Jan 11 at 2021 3:19 PM

2021-01-11T15:19:01-05:00

Really? Good Grief!

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jan 11 at 2021 3:55 PM

2021-01-11T15:55:19-05:00

Here is the thing. It is a yes and no answer. By regulation they are restricted as to when and where they can wear the uniform. In reality as long as they are not attached in any way to the military ie AD, AR, NG then they can wear the uniform anytime, anyplace. UCMJ no longer applies to them nor the regulations.

Honor wise I would stick with the regulations.

Response by Wayne Soares made Jan 11 at 2021 6:32 PM

2021-01-11T18:32:24-05:00

Thanks for the question Tim

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jan 11 at 2021 10:43 PM

2021-01-11T22:43:22-05:00

Veterans on appropriate occasions but retirees any time they feel like it.