Is a Tan T-shirt with designs authorized to wear in uniform?

SGT Montana Crawford — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 13:36:37 -0400

During a busy Mascal training exercise, my soldier and I were put on separate teams and taskings. His involved getting undressed to PT shorts and a tan Tshirt and climbing into a decon suit. It was pointed out to me by two fellow NCOs that he was wearing a military style tan tshirt with a massive blood drive emblem on the front. The blood drive was one on post that didn't have to do with our unit in particular. After a thorough tongue lashing, his only defense was that the people at the drive said he could wear it in uniform. Is this authorized in any way?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 26 at 2015 1:39 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 13:39:12 -0400

I'm going to say no. And why would the Soldier ignore AR 670-1 because someone said they could wear it. Seems to be the Soldier failed to do his laundry and just put on the first thing that looked passable.

Response by SGT Montana Crawford made Aug 26 at 2015 1:46 PM

SGT Montana Crawford — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 13:46:25 -0400

I've reviewed 670-1, but I know a lot of units authorize things like Batt or Company shirts. I'll have to talk to the CO for guidance.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 2:46 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 14:46:32 -0400

Honestly, had this Soldier been one of mine, he would have a chat with me as well. Since it was not the official authorized tan shirt stated in AR 670-1 nor a unit function t-shirt, I would have told him he was out of regs as well. Just because a blood drive unit said he could wear it in uniform (as that particular unit may be allowed to) does not mean it was the correct information to give to that Soldier. When the info is in (any kind of) doubt, check it out.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 3:07 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 15:07:47 -0400

You don't know how to look this information up? You are an NCO and should know it already but at the least you should know where to find the information.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 26 at 2015 4:33 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:33:21 -0400

If the command authorizes the wear of a command sponsored pride T-shirt in the unit AO that is condoned but if you are heading out of the AO you need to be T-shirted accordingly especially if you know you will be de-blousing at any time.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Aug 26 at 2015 5:30 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 17:30:30 -0400

Did he complete the mission (I assume he did)? Since you made the correction, don't dwell on it, continue to prepare yourself and your Soldiers for your wartime mission. If he has a pattern of pushing the limits, then conduct the appropriate counseling, but in the grand scheme of things this is a very minor thing - you took action already so move forward to the next mission.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Aug 26 at 2015 8:01 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 20:01:29 -0400

I will defer to a CSM, like CSM Michael J. Uhlig , but I have seen many many folks wear tan T-Shirts with logos under ACU tops. They are GTG, until you are doing official duties in a T-Shirt.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 9:24 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 21:24:08 -0400

I wouldnt lose any sleep over this event. We do a lot of things that are not authorized by 670-1 but nobody says anything because someone higher blesses off on it. For example cat eyes on PCs, Tabs over the rank on PC, the black hats worn by Airborne Instructors. Unit shirts are the same but generally allowed to try and raise morale and usually worn as part of a dictated uniform. Sounds like this particular shirt was just for one function, now you know and he knows. I wouldnt even do counseling, if we counselled a SM everytime he did something stupid we wouldnt have any time left to run around in the woods doing our jobs.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 26 at 2015 10:33 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 22:33:34 -0400

Common sense says no!

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Aug 3 at 2019 7:24 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Sat, 03 Aug 2019 07:24:19 -0400

Not much of a defense.. I could see a first year private or Posdibly an Airman falling for that ., The R.C. Is pushing their Drive..
It’s an advertising point !.. and what would they know of Uniform Regs ?...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2020 1:51 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 13:51:51 -0500

Literally love how something like this is such an issue for some commands. Every place I’ve been it’s pretty much authorized to wear battalion or even company PT shirts as long as it’s filtered through and approved by battalion. Even more so if it’s a tan t shirt that’s essentially the same color as an issued shirt I see no prob. Not sure of the ranking person who gave you a so called “you a tongue lashing” but if it was some new jack E5 or salty E6 I’d prob argue the fact that there are way more important matters out there than a unit tan t shirt or a tan t shirt that represents a fundraiser or blood drive. I have about 7 unit or special tan t shirts from different units or whatever and I’ve been seen in them countless of times. People need to chill out.

Now if it had any derogatory or otherwise inappropriate wording or photos on it that’s a whole mother story.