Is the army still letting soldiers roll their sleeves?

SGT Robert Cupp — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 18:30:03 -0400

I never see anyone doing it anymore. It wasn’t authorized when I was in the guard.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 6:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 18:33:12 -0400

Yes, it is currently authorized...as long as the unit hasn't said otherwise. (My current one has.) I'd check with your PSG first, but if you can enjoy.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 6:47 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 18:47:31 -0400

It's still authorized, but I think most don't do it because it's uncomfortable and looks like crap

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 6:48 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 18:48:13 -0400

Agreed, it's authorized but with OCP's it doesn't work well and you lose your only pen storage.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 7:21 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 19:21:01 -0400

I have been at Fort Gordon close to 2 months and I have seen it quite a bit, but not a lot. I would say, for sure, If I could, I would, but my current guidance is cuff only.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 7:44 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 19:44:16 -0400

You can roll sleeves. It is up to command and personally, I prefer sleeves down and would not authorize in my command for a number of reasons. If you have deployed, the benefits of sleeves down are understandable.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 8:12 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 20:12:14 -0400

I roll my sleeves every summer drill.
Someone has to show these kids what the Army used to be like.

Response by SGT Tomas "Huey" Husted made Sep 18 at 2018 8:52 PM

SGT Tomas "Huey" Husted — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 20:52:13 -0400

From 78 thru 82, from Ft Hood to Bad Hersfeld Germany, The sleeves were rolled up at a certain date and rolled down the call was always made by Top. Sleeves up in the fall in Germany made quite a difference between warm and cold. Top Barrett was very adamant about sleeves up or sleeves down. And from 79 thru 82 it was his call period. And I for one never questioned Top Barrett.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2018 10:39 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 22:39:30 -0400

It's up to Commander's discretion.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2018 2:19 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 02:19:05 -0400

If given the opportunity to take my top off I would choose that any day over rolled sleeves

Response by SSG Michael Hathaway made Sep 19 at 2018 11:35 AM

SSG Michael Hathaway — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 11:35:15 -0400

While it can be a relief in the hot Texas sun here in Fort Hood, rolling sleeves negates my only pen storage. Thus I don't do it. I also think the whole appeal of rolling was lost once it became so commonplace and it was no longer new and exciting. It is a pain to unroll sleeves everyday for formation and then reroll them.

Response by TSgt David Holman made Sep 19 at 2018 4:52 PM

TSgt David Holman — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 16:52:10 -0400

A lot of people don't realize this, but having your sleeves down (especially if authorized to cuff) is better at cooling you than with the roll. The way they are rolled, it becomes tight against the skin, and doesn't allow for the flow of air around the body, specifically, the core. This means that warm air is trapped against your body with less points of exit.

Response by SPC Nicholas Seay made Sep 20 at 2018 11:16 AM

SPC Nicholas Seay — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 11:16:46 -0400

After 9/11, we were in a state of war. No one was allowed to roll their sleeves after that. We were authorized to wear a flag patch on our right shoulder, like on deployment.

Response by SSG Randall P. made Sep 20 at 2018 12:58 PM

SSG Randall P. — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 12:58:08 -0400

It's authorized for every unit in the Army, except yours. Army times did an article on it with that headline.

Response by SPC James Anderson made Sep 20 at 2018 6:00 PM

SPC James Anderson — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 18:00:53 -0400

Miss rolling sleeves on a nice starched BDU top. It looked awesome. Starched uniform and shined boots. I hated all the up keep but it looked professional. Then I joined the guard in 2006, Wrinkled up ACU's with shitty sand colored boots, I think we looked like a bunch of homeless guys that raided a surplus store. Still press my BDU top to wear for my little girl at her Veterans Day breakfast, that with blue genes looks better then those damn ACU's. And we never got to roll the sleeves. Of course we never got to use the hood on our old winter pt uniform either, Post General said that the hood up was unauthorized.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2018 1:21 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 01:21:55 -0400

I never thought the USMC would be the only branch left with any common sense. If it’s hot, they roll their sleeves! They don’t wear these dumb ass reflector / PT belts! If something makes sense, they do it without worrying about stupid crap. I was driving home today, FT Leonard Wood, 93 degrees out, and see a group of Soldiers marching, sleeves down, but their pants cuffed and rolled...WOW! It will take a generation for these commanders / CSM’s with this nonsensical mindset to fade away and retire but sadly I won’t be around for it.