Off Base In Uniform Hours After Close of Business (COB)? Epidemic?

Most installations have some sort of Blue Book or standards.  Drum, Wainwright, etc after 1900 you are wrong.  I stopped one here in Alaska last night and kicked him out of a jewelry store at 2030.  Some just don't know because they didn't read the book, their leadership doesn't tell them, or in the case of the SGT last night, he knew, but did it anyways, because his anniversary was today.  I told him he knew 365 days in advance that his anniversary was the next day, and it was not a valid excuse.  But regardless of the published rules, there are those out there who will not be in compliance for one reason or another.  If you grab a name and unit, I guarantee you, a Sergeant Major will hem them up. 

Per current Fort Drum Blue Book:

8. a. 1. The utility uniforms may be worn off post unrestricted at the discretion of the Soldier. If worn off-post, uniforms will be clean, serviceable and worn IAW AR 670-1

It is common to see soldiers in ACUs at pretty much all times of the day and night off-post.

New York state has strange business hours for their local government offices and to add insult to injury Fort Drum is not close to the City and County seat town, so long drives are somewhat normal. So whenever there is personal business to be conducted, it is often at odd times of the day, or as a result of a long drive, thus not allowing us enough time to either change/drive or go home/change/drive.

You could say we are a "special case". Bottom line is, soldiers in ACU are a normal, and I would say even "expected", sight in our towns.</div>

I am glad the Corps does not allow it, I think wearing utilities out in public doent look good, dress and service uniforms, yes.  Knowing you all can go out in your camis and grab chow and I cant, I always ask "bring me back some chow!"

<span style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-size: 12px;">I personally believe that the camo uniform in any branch should not be worn off post unless you are getting gas at the bank, at the ER, or going home. That's just me though. I actually have corrected soldiers on this issue.</span>

SPC Gamble, and fellow Service Members, the biggest thing is professionalism.

I come from a weird part of the Military world, a Reservist in NYC.  I always try to travel in civillian clothes; but like most people travelling around NYC I use mass transit.  So for me, my uniform, boots, and any other things I need for the day are in a backpack.  My commute was 2 hours, through 4 boros, a bus, 3 trains and another bus, with some walking at both ends.  And I was usually on orders, so MON-FRI, and Drill/Battle Assembly weekends.  I did a lot of commutting.

I bring up my history, because I see a lot of what all of you are bringing up in your stories and examples, and it comes down to professionalism.  Like some other posters, there is no real place for Service Members to eat during the day where I work, everybody goes to lunch, out in NYC in uniform.  But if my section has plans to eat out after work, we usually all have a change of clothes.  In my mass transit travels I see service members travel in and out of uniform.  Most of the time, neither is a problem they are travelling to and from work, but occasionally, you get people half in uniform or doing something they're not supposed to, and we need to step in and make an on the spot correction.  But I seen Service Members who have made the on the spot correction, who are worse than the Service Member they are correcting.  Yelling, drawing attention to both themselves and the SM they are attempting to correct.  If it needs to be done, it should be tactful and professional, not yelling out the window of a moving vehilce at a SM waiting at a bus stop.

The bigger thing I see, is people in bars and clubs in uniform, which I want to ask my Service Members of other Branches about.  I've seen many Marines and Sailors in clubs in dress uniforms.  And someone has told me if it is for an event, i.e. birthday then it's okay.  To me seeing any SM at a club, in any uniform, is worse than seeing them at a grocery store, mall, restaurant, or even movie theatre.

<p>Ladies and Gentlemen, </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I think it is a big deal, but I don't think that "on the spot correction (OTSC)" will work. If you were to do OTSC, you would be making them everyday for days on in. It begins with the Command. Just like SHARP, EO, and other programs, and standard implementation, it needs to brought to the commands attention first. I say that to say, you have Company Commanders, and Senior NCO's of strong influence commiting these acts. It is sad to say but, if it is not on the radar of Senior Command (Installation Commanders and Command Sergeant Majors) then there will be no effort to enforce that standard.</p>

I personally don't see an issue with wearing the uniform anytime after duty hours. I got it what the reg says, but to me t boils down to 2 things: 1) Having pride in wearing the uniform. No need in rushing home to change your uniform just to go grocery shopping, to me its silly. 2) Perk of the uniform - meaning, how many places you have gone and gotten recognition or discounts for just being in uniform? A lot of people take advantage of this as cost saving mechanisms for their budget. Whether its wrong or not, I really don't have an opinion on that. It is what it is. So, in summary, no. wearing the uniform after duty hours should not be an issue nor should it be addressed. Different strokes for different folks and circumstances vary in every case. 

Great discussion.  I think the bottom line is that Soldiers must familiarize themselves, not just with AR 670-1, but the ALARACTS from G1 that come out from time to time that provide updates to the wear and appearance of the uniform. Also, the Post/Installation Blue Books and policies vary from place to place.  What goes at Fort Drum may not go at Fort Belvoir.  For our Junior Enlisted Soldiers and Junior NCOs -Stay away from the "barracks lawyers" and educate yourselves on what right is, then educate your troops. To become a successful NCO you should know what the regulations and post policies are.