Do you always wear proper civilian attire?

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 21:32:55 -0400

I am sure every branch of service governs how they want their personnel appearing in civilian attire.
Do you always wear proper civilian attire? On base? Off base?

For us Marines there is a civilian attire you must abide by on or off duty which include things like...
Belt loops must have a belt through it.
Shoe laces must be tied.
No plain white T-Shirts or undershirts as outerwear.
No PT gear or related clothing as casual wear.
If you have a face it must be shaved.

I remember as a boot there were a few times where we were told to change over into civilian attire prior to liberty and had inspections to ensure we were in proper attire. Not abiding by the Corps and/or base regulations will have you chewed up at a minimum by a salty Lance Corporal (pictured).

Fashion and the Marine Corps don’t typically mix, at least not when you’re considering what many SNCO’s define as “proper civilian attire”.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2014 10:44 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 22:44:11 -0400

Posters like these are posted all over the exchanges to remind you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2014 11:13 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 23:13:52 -0400

I see the CP's (courtesy patrol) here on Schofield Barracks, and I think they decide who they will & won't let in. I was in the Commissary and saw a dependent with her husband and she was wearing an Army pt shirt, it had been altered to where it would fall off of her shoulder when worn.  I think they are called off the shoulder shirts.  I honestly feel that dependents should not be allowed to wear them in the Commissary or PX at a minimum. 

Response by SFC Benjamin Harrison made Mar 29 at 2014 11:24 PM

SFC Benjamin Harrison — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 23:24:58 -0400

I believe "Proper" is in the eye of the beholder. I tend to look like a biker, a country boy, a golfer, an athlete, etc. based on the activity I am conducting. I also support OPSEC and believe my family and I are safer if I do not present a "Soldierly" appearance while off duty. I do have my pet peeves about how some choose to dress though, i.e. Pants hanging off the butt and sometimes below... If you want to be a gang banger or inmate, time to change your employer.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2014 11:54 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 23:54:53 -0400

I haven't seen the CP yet. We are all waiting for the new changes to Army Regulation 6701-1 (Uniform & Appearance). But currently we don't require Soldiers to shave off duty or to dress a certain way. (At least in 1st ID). There is an unspoken rule that officer are expected to dress "appropriate" at all times. I know when I attend off-duty socials with the Commander it is expected for me to wear professional attire. An example would be a button down long sleeve, tucked in, with a belt, and slacks with closed toes leather shoes. I rarely see an office show up in shorts and a t-short. For official events we are expected to wear our ASUs.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Mar 30 at 2014 1:37 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 01:37:22 -0400

I tend to wear whatever I want.... seldom go on base and even more rare is running into anyone that I know off base (I live off base).  I dress for my occasion...biking, hiking, shooting, grocery shopping, just got out of bed and kept the fleece pants on/added t-shirt/flip-flops....all is good!  If I am wearing civies for a military function, it is appropriate for the festivities.  otherwise, I wear the uniform as correctly as I can.  down time is my time until requested to come in.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2014 10:32 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 10:32:33 -0400

I'm usually the T-shirt, Jeans. boots type of guy.

BTW I wish our E-3s would "police their own" like the Marines do!!!!!

The army cultivates to much of the "worker" vs "leader" mentality. And you are not expected to police anyone else untill you are a SPC team leader or SGT.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Mar 30 at 2014 1:07 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 13:07:20 -0400

<p>On post I would always wear "proper" attire, off post, well I wore what was comfortable for me on that day. But I never would wear anything that would put a bad image on my military family.</p>

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2014 1:09 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 13:09:24 -0400

Great Post! I will use these guide lines in the future.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2014 2:23 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Mar 2014 14:23:50 -0400

The only civilian clothes I got is my unit PT shirt

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2014 3:03 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 May 2014 03:03:35 -0400

check this out

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2014 6:58 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 May 2014 06:58:33 -0400

I wear clothing that will help me blend in with the general population.

Proud soldier, but I don't have to broadcast-ed to the whole population.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Jun 8 at 2014 2:03 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 14:03:04 -0400

Being a civilian I am in proper civilian attire no matter what I wear. What is this AR 670-1 I keep hearing complaints about. If you don't like what they tell you should be worn, get out and stop whining! so much for my .02.

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Jun 8 at 2014 2:10 PM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 14:10:21 -0400

Me personally, if I won't wear it in front of Jesus, I won't wear it in public.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2014 2:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 14:24:17 -0400

Im a T Shirt and jeans guy or shorts and t shirt if the teparature warrents it...... but if going out in public. ya I can say I adhere to the proper dress that is expected of me. I try to instill this in my soldiers. But there is a time and place for everything. We are service members 24/7 weather we choose to accept that or not. Our attire should be appropriat at all times on and off duty. But in regards to that lil boy that got asked to leave the Commisary....... Cmon people its summer and he is just a kid I doubt he was hitting the gym I dont se the problem whith waht that boy had on..... how ever if that was a soldir then yes wear something with sleaves and nicer shorts no one wants to see that outside the gym.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2014 5:51 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jun 2014 17:51:24 -0400

I know my installations policies on off duty clothes and follow that. Males not allowed to wear earings on base and so forth. Though for the most part, I just wear what makes me comfortable when I am off.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Jun 9 at 2014 2:13 PM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:13:49 -0400

Nope me and shaving on the weeknds do not go together. If I have to go to base I will ensure that I am good to go but out and about in town not so much.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 9 at 2014 3:47 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 15:47:22 -0400

I will be the first to admit, that on my days off and on leave I don't shave....of course, being asian, I don't have much to shave off anyways... ;o)

As for clothing, a by product of being in my 40's now means "dressing my age" actually conforms to what most folks would consider "being within regs." As long as you don't look like a hobo or a baby gangsta, I really don't care what you wear when you are not on duty. My one caveat to that is when you are stationed overseas. While American-inspired fashions are becoming more and more common throughout the rest of the world, there is something to be said about not wearing clothes that screams "I AM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER! WATCH ME ACT STUPID!" Having just come back from a 2 year tour in Korea, I can tell you that it made we wince seeing how soldiers going out for the night would dress. What is appropriate wear back home may not be appropriate wear in a foreign country...

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Jun 9 at 2014 5:46 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:46:35 -0400

While I was on Active Duty you couldn't have caught me outside my barracks/room/tent without proper attire.
As a Reservist, It slipped a little.
As a Retiree occasionally I might not have a belt and I am not going to be wearing socks with sandals. And I may be wearing a printed T-shirt out and about; but frankly, Docksiders with Socks is just Un-American to start with.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2014 6:16 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:16:44 -0400

This past weekend while strolling the Oceanside pier, I noted two obviously boot Marines trolling for locals. What caught my attention about these two, was their attire, which at first I chuckled about and pointed out to my wife. However, it then registered that these were two Marines and this was how they were representing my Corps. 1st was wearing matching shorts and tank top blue with giant peeled bananas all over, top and bottom. 2nd matching tank top and shorts with giant marijuana leaves.

On a family outing with 4 of my kids and having a good time, I let them pass by and tried not to think more about it. However, upon reflection I debated whether I should have stopped them and let them know they were dressed in appropriately.

I think being out of the corps 20+ years I have mellowed; where once upon a time I would have pounced, now I just shrug. But I wonder at the reaction if I would have called them on it. Would my call out and subsequent reaction be something I would want my family to witness? And then again, no other Marines present made an overture to call them to task either.

While the bananas were just in poor taste the marijuana, as far as I remember is strictly forbidden.

What would you do?

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Dec 19 at 2014 8:40 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 08:40:50 -0500

As a young buck, this would have rankled me to no end. Jimmies Rustled. I can understand the need for it, especially with a bunch of slacker punk kids as your majority work force. I think I have to draw the line at "belt loops must have a belt through it". I blame saggy-pants jackasses for that, though.

Glad I'm a civilian now.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 9 at 2018 9:36 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 09 May 2018 09:36:31 -0400

Each service has their rules when it comes to this, USMC has higher/harder standards than the others.

Response by Sgt Mona Hemphill-Bellmore made Jul 9 at 2019 10:14 PM

Sgt Mona Hemphill-Bellmore — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 22:14:07 -0400

I have to admit that I didn't dress very appropriately when off-duty back in 1970-1974, stationed at Tyndall AFB, FL for 3 yrs. I was 18, tall and slender, went bra-less quite a bit in halter tops, tank tops or T-shirts, wore cutoffs, hot pants, mini-dresses and skirts in summer; and of course my bikini when at the beach. I also went barefoot, wore sandals or moccasins when running everywhere on base, since I didn't have a bicycle or car. I was an Admin Spec assigned to the Security Police Sq. and was never cited for anything (might have been the times). I had been very introverted before joining AF and was sowing my wild oats after I gained some self-confidence. I did dress more modestly when stationed at Korat, Thailand my last year of service, wearing jeans and sleeveless tops with collars or T-shirts most of the time off-duty.

Response by CPL Joseph Elinger made Jan 21 at 2020 2:59 AM

CPL Joseph Elinger — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 02:59:35 -0500

Wow!
Definitely not Army.
Though we try not to ever be mistaken for "Captain Obvious" ie
- You can wear your black Army windbreaker, or overcoat with your civies, only your regulation mustache & haircut give you away.
Same for boots, though I wouldn't wear a pair of low quarters needlessly & get wear n tear I can avoid, but yes, it's authorized.
* When PCS for Overseas our Briefing was to avoid being "visibly conspicuous" off duty / base..
This can mean not wearing Service uniform needlessly, possibly even avoiding "touristy" brands (which the newbees buy up @ the Exchange).

Response by Jeffrey Blatt made Jul 30 at 2020 6:56 PM

Jeffrey Blatt — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 18:56:32 -0400

While on active duty I wore clean clothing, usually tucked in my shirt, and tied my shoes so I would not trip on the laces. But it would have been an interesting scene if someone told me I had to wear my shirt tucked in while off-duty and off-base.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Mar 19 at 2021 8:34 PM

SMSgt Bob Wilson — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 20:34:37 -0400

When I walk out that gate, I'm on my own, unless I get recalled. I try not to go back until "duty calls". Today, if you are sick, go to Urgent Care. The "big hospital building" only sees people M-F 8-5. Exchange prices and quality are equal to WalMart. The Commissary is a toss-up. So, why would I want to shop on the base/post? And get "dressed up" to do it?

Response by SP5 Derick Johnsohne made Mar 24 at 2021 3:05 PM

SP5 Derick Johnsohne — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 15:05:13 -0400

I was once refused exit of the post while wearing my hippie attire (Europe 70s) :D .
But not a problem for lt Flap in Beetle Baily strip .
I had a csm who would leave post, then don his gay biker garb once outside (europe 80s) .
It also reminds me of a reader's digest 'humour in uniform' gag : this british officer was caught running naked after a woman in a Cairo hotel lobby . the judge dismissed the charge because it was permissible to leave the uniform and don the proper attire for the practice of sports .

Response by LTC(P) Christina Moore made Apr 22 at 2021 12:33 AM

LTC(P) Christina Moore — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 00:33:47 -0400

I think it is more important to reflect pride in your service and personal appearance and a projection citizenship representing the people of this country and the best it has to offer. Any service members attire should not reflect badly or offend. In my opinion, this is where the Marine Corps has it right!