Posted on Jun 18, 2019
I am a retired Army veteran. What uniform am I authorized to wear to my son’s Bootcamp graduation?
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I am a retired veteran and my son is graduating army Bootcamp. He wants me to wear my Army dress blues. It is going to be 100 degrees at his graduation, is there an alternate uniform to wear?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
While you are authorized to wear Class As, I think you should wear the uniform you have earned with that retirement, Khaki pants with a polo shirt. I view this like a wedding, you don't want your appearance to take away from the Brides, so for his graduation you don't want to take away from his friends and him. Additionally, you will relieve a lot of anxiety from those young troops while they try and figure out whether they need to salute the guy with the Retired Patch on the sleeve of his uniform.
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I'd suggest Class Bs. That's what we wore for our summer OSUT graduation, anyway. No one will have a problem with a retiree wearing a different uniform than everyone else.
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Wear Class B's if it's going to be that hot and you want to wear a uniform.
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As retired Service Member, in good standing, you are authorized to wear any uniform. However, MAJ Chad Lester, since this is a formal event, not black tie level, if you choose to wear a uniform, sir, it will have to be Class A or better.
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LTC Stephen C.
SGT Javier Silva, retirees are not authorized to wear a combat uniform, so wear of "any" uniform is incorrect. Wear of the uniform is restricted to service and dress uniforms on proper occasions of ceremony. It's fully discussed in AR 670-1, paragraph 23-3.
Personally, I agree with SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA, and would suggest Class Bs. It's an authorized service uniform and would be more suited for a hot day. Why do you think that Class As are the only authorized uniform for that event?
MAJ Chad Lester CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Personally, I agree with SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA, and would suggest Class Bs. It's an authorized service uniform and would be more suited for a hot day. Why do you think that Class As are the only authorized uniform for that event?
MAJ Chad Lester CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
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LTC Stephen C.
MAJ Chad Lester, the Class B ASU uniform is blue (as I'm sure you know), so you could honor your son's wishes of wearing blues, and still be comfortable in a warm weather environment. The service cap or the beret could be worn as shown.
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA SGT Joseph Gunderson CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA SGT Joseph Gunderson CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
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SGT Javier Silva
LTC Stephen C. - My fault, sir. Forgot about the ACU, since we don't usually think of the ACU as a combat uniform, more of a utility uniform . Thank you for the heads up.
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It will depend, I am assuming, from branch to branch but a serviceable dress class A from when you retired, if it "hasn't shrunk" (wink wink) or a current issue of a class A.
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Sure! Class B's, dress blue pants, white shirt with shoulder boards, rack, etc. I would leave off the tie.
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