For duty travel - ASUs or civies on CONUS flights.

2014-06-19T06:11:38-04:00

Now hat ACUs are disallowed for CONUS flights, I've heard a lot of different opinions on what we should be wearing for duty travel. Some say that if the Army is paying, you wear ASUs. Others say civies to keep a low profile. 670-1 seems to allow both, so 5'm curious on opinions as I travel a lot.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jun 19 at 2014 6:45 AM

2014-06-19T06:45:21-04:00

Good question, Sir. It seems as if this is an ever evolving issue. I can remember when I first entered service, if you were flying on orders, you wore Class A. Period. This remained in place for several years until it was changed to all travel on commercial conveyances would be in civilian clothes which remained until, I believe, about the time we were well into Iraq and Afghanistan. Seems as if it is leaning back the opposite direction.
To your question, I think if given the choice, I would prefer to fly in civilian clothes. First of all for comfort and convenience and secondly to keep a lower profile. I appreciate those who go out of their way to thank service members for serving, but sometimes I would rather just tend to my own business; especially while traveling.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jun 19 at 2014 7:34 AM

2014-06-19T07:34:11-04:00

For myself personally sir, it would go toward being comfortable if given the choice. Whenever I am in uniform I feel the over the top need to be a visible spokesperson. If I am in civvies, I can relax and carry my backpack etc however I want.
I hate airports to start with, so anything that I can do to make it easier on myself, I am all about it.

Now, if we could just all the USOs moved to INSIDE of security, that would be great!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2014 7:52 AM

2014-06-19T07:52:54-04:00

Ive been in and out of airports the past couple months. And I always go with civies. Part of it is I don't have the correct pants yet. You can only DX every three years in the reserves and I just DX'd in '12. Also, you're still going to have to go through TSA. Which means all the metal and your shoes have to come off. So your rank, your ribbons, any badges, your belt, if you're wearing shirt stays you need to take those off as well. I would hope TSA decides to think about it and just let us bypass, but this is the TSA we're talking about. My biggest issue is I've seen SNCOs still traveling in ACUs. I don't know them, I'm not in uniform. And they're obviously a different component just by looking at their unit patch. They're clearly not coming home from overseas. And in a crowded airport, does anyone have any suggestions in addressing that?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2014 1:23 PM

2014-06-19T13:23:30-04:00

The only reason I see flying in ASU's is if you are involved being a casualty assistance officer traveling with the family or something along those lines, for any other travel, civies is the way to go

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2014 11:46 PM

2014-06-19T23:46:20-04:00

Sir,

As an Antiterrorism Officer, I would recommend you check with your BN or BDE ATO. They will have the latest threat picture for the area you are traveling. Id recommend doing it about 7 days prior to travel, that way if they don't have the current information they can reach out to those agencies and obtain it.

Most units should have a travel policy. But the best way to go is as others have stated: normal civilian attire for the area your traveling and don't carry any military color pattern bags. Some units are now requiring you to complete the online level 1 prior to travel to either CONUS or OCONUS.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2014 2:17 PM

2014-06-20T14:17:26-04:00

it depend i flew civies for the most part. But if i was surprising someone like friends or family i would change at my connection flight airport.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 22 at 2014 6:42 PM

2014-06-22T18:42:32-04:00

How many SMs have been a target of attacks or aggressive and uneducated individuals? I don't have a number but it does happen. I tend to dress in a conservative manner so I know my civilian attire would be very appropriate. If the orders says ASUs or civilian attire is allowed I would go with a conservative style; khakis, belt, Polo shirt tucked in and some nice business casual lie quarters in the event I am identified as a service member by airport personnel I will look professional. My father told me once a person thinks like the way they dress.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2014 4:10 PM

2014-08-26T16:10:02-04:00

c. Personnel on official travel and traveling by commercial travel means will wear the service uniform or appropriate civilian attire. Soldiers may wear the combat uniform on commercial flights only when deploying/redeploying or on rest and recuperation leave to and from the combat theater. However, Commanders may authorize service or utility uniforms for Soldiers when traveling by commercial travel for emergency leave or casualty assistance duties.

(1) Soldiers may not wear the combat uniform for commercial travel unless authorized IAW paragraph 3–7 b through c, above.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2014 6:34 PM

2014-08-26T18:34:13-04:00

Civilian clothes unless ordered to travel in uniform. I don't feel the need to constantly tell people that I'm in the army.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Aug 6 at 2015 6:20 PM

2015-08-06T18:20:50-04:00

And don't forget, military members, take advantage of TSA PreCheck. You can do this by providing your official DoD identification number when making flight reservations.
https://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck/members-military

TSA Pre

TSA Pre is an expedited security screening program connecting travelers departing from the United States with smarter security and a better air travel experience. Passengers considered low-riskwho qualify for the program can receive expedited screening either as a member of the program or another specific trusted traveler group.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2016 3:11 PM

2016-03-11T15:11:31-05:00

Sir, my opinion on this would be to travel in Civis. I believe that the traveling in uniform makes us, as service members as a whole, a much larger target than we already are. Although, I am only a Specialist and the Reg trumps my opinion, the reg says we have that option, so if soldiers wish to wear it, I just hope they do so with caution and stay situationally aware of their surroundings. Not to sound paranoid, there are just people who don't agree with what we do everyday.

Response by SSG Walter Corretjer made Apr 10 at 2019 6:40 AM

2019-04-10T06:40:43-04:00

For God's sake,what's the problem in using your Class A's or B's on these days.It seems like everybody is looking for an excuse or a damn reason to not use their dress uniforms.
There is not terrorist threads anymore in the states,the territories,europe or asia.Be more mentally stable and stop this cracy paranoid attitude once and for all.I'am a retired NCO,and if I have to use my Class A or B uniforms on a special event,including flying between destinations,I will use them without blinking, as I did during my whole military career,and I'am not Superman.

Response by 1SG Marc Jensen made Aug 26 at 2019 8:15 AM

2019-08-26T08:15:32-04:00

Unless your orders specify traveling in uniform, current policy is to travel in civilian clothes (business casual is appropriate). Comfort is a consideration, but flip flops and board shorts when traveling on TDY is unprofessional.