Drinking in Uniform? Good idea?

At an official event, I don't see a problem as long as the service member maintains their bearing. But in the picture, it just looks like a bunch of Soldiers at a local bar drinking up. With all the alcohol abuse in the military, this doesn't set the best example. It's one thing to go out celebrate. But drink a beer or maybe two and leave it at that. To be seen slinging back shot after shot after shot just sends the wrong message.

Just a bad idea. The uniform identifies you as a member of the United States Armed Forces. Wearing the uniform means that you are a representative of the United States and you should represent our country with the correct courtesy and military bearing at all times. Drinking in public in uniform does not project the correct image. What would you think if you observed Police Officers or Firemen drinking in uniform?

As long as its kept in control and off facebook and the MP blotter. pictures like this, while celebratory in nature, have a way of giving the wrong impression if they appear in the wrong media.

Take the photo of the soldier licking the MIA logo - that could have been part of one such celebration, but look what message that sent.

I have seen drinking in uniform a few times, Right Arm, Boss nights and at Dinning IN/OUTs 

In the picture there are all leaders, Don't leaders always do the right thing

My question is -- how does this impact the good order and discipline of the unit, or of units whose personnel see this?  I think this would have a negative impact in that regard.  If these were junior enlisted personnel, my guess is that in many cases they would face consequences within the unit and get scuffed up by their first line supervisors.  

As long as it is done responsibly, I don't see a problem with it.

more then a single mixed drink or beer is just asking for trouble.

my train of thought is if I wanted to go out and have a beer or a shot or 2 then I need to change into civilian attire.

There is only ONE exception for this for me personally and that is Dining In. Other than that, I never have and I never will. Just my personal opinion.
Why? The media loves to show the "Out of control Military" and when it comes to our troops and these last 12 years of war, I would say it's been 80% Negative and 20% positive displayed in the media. I am not willing to assist in tarnishing the reputation of our Military in any way.
Second... Self control! If I need to drink that bad, I can also change clothes to do it. Five minutes changing clothes beats the hell out of someone taking pictures in an establishment without me knowing and claiming "They are out of control" because someone laughed at a joke with a glass in his hand. 2015... perception is everything!

I personally never see it OK to drink in front of your Soldiers even at a military function. We try so hard to make excuses in today's society for what we want to do to be ok, but what we fail to do now days is uphold that image of honor, respect, dignity, and perception that you can have fun and not have to include alcohol to do it. The first thing that happens when a military ball rolls around are Hospitality rooms and the competition to see which chain of command can put on the best room. What is the image we are portraying, we have a zero policy but yet we offer SM alcohol at a military function and then don't mandate they spend the night there, we don't even monitor their intake or give breathalyzers prior to leaving, but we sure will write someone up quick, fast and in a hurry if they are stopped for a DUI. We leaders need to display the values and behaviors we expect our Soldiers to uphold and show them that it does not require alcohol at an event to have a good time.

this send a bad massage when drinking in uniform

Probably wasn't too kosher in my day and I'm sure it is less so now but I guess something's never change. Alcohol Abuse at its finest although I am not one to talk. Pretty sure I never had a sober day in Adak or Diego Garcia.

Here is a question to ponder now that this has come to light. Ft. Lee has a plethora of young soldiers that are social media nuts and have undoubtedly seen this and assumed it is proper. Now they decide they want to stop by the local bar on post in uniform and do the same. What do you think some senior NCO is going to do?

I just don't see an issue here. In fact I like it when leaders of all ranks can meet and come together in a relaxed atmosphere.

It's a bad idea. It sends the wrong image of the unit and if something happens it makes it easier to figure out who was involved. If I'm going to drink I'm going to have a good time and don't want to wear any type of identifying work related clothes. Might just be the Marine is used to our utilities (our name for what you guys refer to as ACUs) is for work and not liberty.

Posting the picture in yet another social media outlet? Good idea? probably not.

The problem I see with this type of thing is that it has been going on for years (I know that doesn't make it right) and has become a tradition of sorts. With social media, and almost every person on earth having a camera at their immediate disposal by means of cell phones, and the ability to upload to the internet for the whole world to see in seconds, is what makes it unbearable.

The older NCOs on here know good and well, this use to happen all the time on on-post facilities (which this was) in order to bring leaders together and build camaraderie and esprit de corps. At least in the combat arms arena it did.

This was on Fort Lee. Here is the Fort Lee Policy Letter on alcohol.

http://www.lee.army.mil/documents/policy/FL%20Policy%2004-05%20Alcoholic%20Beverages%20Policy.pdf

I leave it to you to decide. For reference, the establishment is on post. Personally, I know it looks bad, but after reading the 670-1's and the policy letter, for me there's nothing specific to point at and say "you violated that".

It looks bad, but..

Here's the thing.... ten years ago this picture would probably never had been taken, and certainly would not have ever ended up on the internet making fast rounds on the social media sites. Ten years ago, most people didn't have cell phones with cameras, many people didn't own a digital camera, and no one had even heard of Facebook. That wouldn't have made this situation acceptable, but let's admit, drinking has always been something that happens in the military (both in and out of uniform - and at all levels).

The lesson that seems to be constantly not learned is that no one is safe from observation in today's world. At some point you are going to be photographed without your knowledge, and at some point that photo is going to make it onto someone's social media site. If the behavior that is captured is something that people can pick apart you better believe that people will come after you like a hungry pack of wolves.

I just don't understand how individuals such as these (from the picture here it looks like they are all Sergeants Major - or at least Master Sergeants), can ever again dish out constant advice on Soldier's behaving appropriately and the dangers of social media now that they have been bit by the Facebook monster. A total loss of credibility has occurred, and as a result a potential for a loss of discipline.

This is an easy fix. All NCO Calls, O Calls the uniform is Civilian. I won't sit here on my soap box and say I never went to a Engineer Call or NCO Call and didn't have a beer. Back to the question, No drinking in uniform is not a good idea, to many eyes looking around. Social media will twist and turn it all around as this proves. My question is, didn't Facebook say this photo was taken off post? Why was this NCO Call happening off post? Situational awareness.

Not a good look.