Is it okay to wear the deployment OCP when you've never been deployed?

Yes he can wear it.

I have a friend, who knows the perfect answer to your question. His name is AR 670-1. Get to know him well and stop worrying about retired O-6's and their beards. If you're still serving, you have bigger things to worry about. Another option is to go up to the guy who spent more time in the US Military than you have probably been on this planet, and legit ask him if what he is doing is authorized. Be respectful obviously, but just ask him and let him know that you were curious if it was ok for him to wear it like that? But these are all questions that you should either be researching yourself in the regs, or asking your NCO's, Not Rallypoint.

If it is not listed on your ERB it is not authorized, that is why it is wise to look at your ERB every month. Even pending Article 15 will be listed, which is how I caught a bogus Article 15 on my ERB put on there by my !st SG in hopes he could find something prior to my retirement. It was pulled so I could retire under a medical discharge. Never leave anything to chance.

Multicam was supposed to be phased out in 2018/2019, but we have people in my reserve unit with them still because the rollout of OCPs has been...well...not uniform...Other units got them too, particularly if they had people who needed fire retardant uniforms (think fuelers, drivers, etc.). Also, nothing illegal about buying them used on ebay because your supply people failed you.

They are also issuing a new jungle uniform, also available for purchase through AAFES. He could have had those, as they have the old style of pockets (but using buttons instead of velcro).

I also have made the mistake of underestimating soldiers and NCOs who did not show off their bling. We had an NCO with no deployment patches or anything, but was a whiz with everything both medical and comms (was a medic for an armored unit active duty). Also was in Mali and Israel, amongst other assignments. Probably the most valuable E5 we had, and definitely deserved more praise than he got, but he did not want to limelight all the bling brings. Nothing wrong with that.

Was this person in a garrison environment or in the field or coming back from any FTX? If it’s garrison and walking around post ect then eh it can be sort of not in question of really the regulation per say, but just not taking pride in his uniform and sloppy neatness of dress. Nobody is required to wear a deployment patch or tabs or badges but a clean serviceable uniform is a different story. However being infantry when we know we’re going to be doing some field training, rucking for PT, tactical training, competitions, or going to be getting in some dirt or sweating hard, I tend to wear more of a “field” uniform not a technical term but it could be a bit faded, older Multicam uniform that could be stained or a combat top. Then after I’ll change into a clean presentable uniform.

Have pride in yourself and uniform.

I have a question about the question. When did it become a "deployment patch". Been retired now about ten years. We called them combat patches.

That is an extremely STUPID question. Why don't you wear a Purple Heart and a Medal of Honor just because you like the way they look and draw attention to you. IF YOU DID NOT EARN IT, YOU DON'T WEAR IT.

If you do a quick check on the internet, you will see that OCP had $1.4 million in sales, not issue, since July when they went on sale. It seems to me that it means if you didn't spend your money at the local bars, you could buy them for yourself.
I have been retired for many years now and did not know what OCP was so I looked it up before making a statement. I typed in what is OCP in the Army and there was my answer.

Shame on him for making it to SPC/E4 and not knowing to look in AR 670-1. Most units still have a bulletin board with hard copies of important information on them, and I recall seeing charts of wear out got to have dates posted. And shame on the leaders who fail to teach their troops where to find the info they need; my mentors taught me everything they could and expected me to pass it on as I progressed.

Those are new Summer OCPs.. anyone can buy them and wear them..