Does Active Duty Soldiers adhere to AR 670-1 while at home?

2014-03-14T21:30:57-04:00

Im in the National Guard (but have a DOD career that requires me to wear my uniform to work, a dual status technician) I get home and sometimes knock out some yard work, or take my blouse off and play catch with my daughter. I was always curious. When living on post do Active Duty guys walk around their yard with no cover and blouse to do yard work or play with their kids when they get home. I mean or do they run inside, change, so they can play catch? Is it witnessed is the question, not so much if YOU do it. Is it commonplace. Or is there always a pissed off CSM or General that writes down addresses of Soldiers to have their leadership counsel them?

Response by CSM Christopher Irwin made Mar 14 at 2014 9:42 PM

2014-03-14T21:42:21-04:00

SSG Dear,

I very much do adhere to AR 670-1 when I get home but not for reason most think. I just want to get OUT of my uniform and try to keep home and work a separate as possible. Both my wife and I are active duty and endeavor to keep work and home distinctly separate.

To answer your question, yes...you definitely see people that live both on and off post doing what describe and it personally drives me crazy. It is a work uniform and should be treated as such.

However, I seldom make the correction because I respect a person's right to enjoy their home-life and feel that their home should be their home, regardless of location. I would no more chastise a guy that works at a garage or for Sears; a cop, fire fighter, or EMT than I do my own Soldiers.

Your last question....Yes, there are always pissed off CSMs and GOs...that's what we do...I have never in my 23 years seen any of them write down an address to have leadership counsel them. With those I've crossed paths, they will make the on the spot correction versus writing anything down for someone else to do later - that takes far too much time figuring out the unit, phone number, and chain of command when you can/should correct the infraction right away.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2014 9:54 PM

2014-03-14T21:54:12-04:00

I am with the CSM on this one. I am active duty and I adhere to AR 670-1 while at home. In addition, regardless of active duty, reserve or national guard, I believe all soldiers need to adhere to the regulation especially NCOs. The first thing I do when I get home is take my uniform off before doing anything else in my home.

Response by 1SG Frank Rocha made Mar 14 at 2014 9:54 PM

2014-03-14T21:54:23-04:00

I am in the National Guard as well and am also a prior Active Army Soldier. In my experience I always adhered to policy on and off duty and never came across anyone that I knew that would violate Ar 670-1 on or off duty.

Their may be places or organizations within the Military (regardless of branch or component) that may on occasion, or to some degree or another, relax or seem to relax certain standards but it doesn't make it okay or acceptable. We, as professionals, must take it upon ourselves to ensure we are doing the right thing even if it inconveniences us. We owe it to our country, our service but most importantly ourselves to present ourselves in the most professional way we can. I certainly didn't do all the work, put in the time and effort, and make it as far as I have just to treat it like its a burden or a chore. I want to show it off as flatteringly as I can anytime I have the chance.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 14 at 2014 11:13 PM

2014-03-14T23:13:41-04:00

If I'm in uniform, I wear it properly. Regardless of where I am.

Until recently, I would have said that the expectation was there for everyone, but recent threads here on RP have revealed that we have a lot of NCO's and Officer's who think regulations and standards are optional when inconvenient..

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2014 12:33 PM

2014-03-15T12:33:45-04:00

I agree with CSM Irwin, I see it and usually never say anything about it. I would like to say that I take my uniform off as soon as I get home but that would be a lie. After spending hundreds of days straight with it on, it kind of becomes a second skin if you know what I mean.That being said, if your are going to be doing work outside for extended periods of time or other like activities...take it off or wear it right.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2014 12:50 PM

2014-03-15T12:50:58-04:00

Outstanding. I didn't want to sound as though I disgrace the uniform. I wasn't sure how strict policies were enforced on post's. With all my deployments (and no offense) my National Guard counterparts really step up the adherence to AR and FM's. Almost to a basic training standpoint at times, seriously. Then we notice that the Active Duty components laugh at us because we are doing things that way. Years of talking to AD Soldiers in chow halls at various camps and actually witnessing it. I suppose I'll be checking that habit when I get off work. I completely agree that my uniform was earned to wear and should not be abused. Thanks you CSM Irvin and SFC Rocha. Easy correction.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2014 7:35 PM

2014-05-15T19:35:39-04:00

It's very common place to see Soldier's walking in to their home from their driveway not wearing their cover. Other than that it's not common to see them just hanging out in ACU's. After the long day of wearing the uniform it's time to get out of it. Also after 18:00 if you are not performing official business, most of your Post commanders have it as offical policy to be out of the uniform.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2014 10:22 AM

2014-08-01T10:22:35-04:00

I'm active and live on post, and when I get home I do not wear my cover to go from my car to my house. If have to go to the yard or garage or whatever, I don't wear cover or ACU top or even boots (usually I'm in the process of taking my uniform off but have to go outside real quick for whatever reason). To do yard work or play outside with my kids, you will never see me in uniform doing those things. First thing I wanna do when I get home everyday is take my uniform off. It's my home, my private little world, I'm not a soldier when I'm in my home, I'm not a Specialist. I'm simply a husband and most of all a father, that's it. I don't talk military in my house (unless something happened at work and I wanna tell my wife about it). I don't address my neighbors by there rank, I address them by there first or last name but no rank(most are E-5 or E-6).
However, outside of the neighborhood, in uniform, I will address them correctly, even if back at the house we are buddies and hang out together. Gotta keep it professional ;).

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2015 8:37 PM

2015-01-04T20:37:50-05:00

670-1 doesn't just cover the uniform. Don't we males now have to be clean shaven on or off duty, on or off post, in or out of uniform?

How many shave on the weekends or on leave. I know that between Battle Assembly weekends, sometimes I will, when working from home, not shave for a day or two....