Posted on Feb 22, 2014
Off Base In Uniform Hours After Close of Business (COB)? Epidemic?
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After coming back from deployment I don't know if I am being too harsh or if I have just become overly military minded but, everywhere I go I am seeing soldiers, lower enlisted to senior enlisted and officer grades alike, everywhere in their uniforms. At first seeing people at Wal-Mart and at fast food restaurants wasn't a big deal but, I have started to see soldiers at the mall (20-30min drive from post) and even a few coming out of the movie theaters!? The soldier in me wants me to pull that person aside and ask why they are still in uniform regardless of rank but, so far I have left it alone mainly because most are with family or multiple people and calling them out feels a little over the top. Is this a big problem where you are stationed? What do you think should be said to these soldiers if anything? <div><br><div>If you feel that this is a good/reasonable post please vote it up and give me your honest opinions thanks!</div><div>***UPDATE*** Made my first correction tonight!!! With great TACT may I add.</div><div>This took place at the Wal-Mart off of Wilma Rudolph around 2130.</div><div><br></div><div>I walked past this sergeant (E-5) and knew I had to say something, I asked him if he was off duty and he said yes he was, soo I said, okay well I work at Division and we are not allowed to wear our uniforms after duty hours, I don't know your situation but it is almost 2200 and I do not believe this is authorized.</div><div>He smirked and kind of chuckled and said well I need a few groceries then I am headed to the house. I said roger that sergeant I didn't know if you were new to Campbell or something so this was just a professional courtesy have a good night and he didn't reply. </div><div><br></div><div>Then I walked off and snapped this picture</div></div>
Rules
Uniforms
Customs and Courtesies
Integrity
Edited 12 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 187
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I am a Marine and we don't have that problem. We are not allowed to wear cammies off base no matter what. I have seen many soldiers out in their cammies and I start twitching every time I see them. I even saw a PFC at a concert a couple weeks ago. If it was a Marine, I would have lit his butt up. It is a combat uniform. There is no place for it in the civilian world.
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Well, Guess its time for my 2 cents. I work at the National Guard Professional Education Center (PEC) in Little Rock, AR. And let me tell you. You think correcting a SGT to a SFC is anything. Try correcting LTC to BG.. That's who I run into. Standing out side with there cover off. Hands in there pockets, cell phone and walking. But we must do this... Its bad out there right now, and we need to keep making the corrections..
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What about the reserve side? How does the regulations on this issue affect us? I mean, I understand the going to the movies theaters is wrong. I would agree with that, but there are nights that I get out of drill and my family and I go immediately to dinner. I do not have time to change.
Just curious of your thoughts on this.
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SSG Alexander Hoffman
There is no Army-wide regulation prohibiting this practice. If the Army doesn't want us to do it en mass, they should probably address it. True, many posts have local policies that prohibit it, but others expressly allow it.
Both specifically state that "The utility uniforms may be worn off post unrestricted at the discretion of the Soldier," unless the primary purpose of the establishment is alcohol.
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Still don't see why folks do it. I have not read a single argument to justify why you are shopping off post in ACUs after 1900. It makes no sense. I know I have always managed to figure out a way to get changed and do what I needed to do in Civies and not my uniforms.
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CSM (Join to see)
I am not debating that. Even when I worked the night shift, i was able to do what I needed to do with out being out shopping outside normal duty hours. I am not saying don't drive to work in your uniform, I am saying you have no business at 2200 shopping in ACUs. You also can change prior to leaving work. I used to do that. It can be done. I am merely saying my opinion is that there is no reason to be shopping. I know at times it is inconvenient. We have gotten so used to having it our way like Burger King the last 10 years that we forgot what it was like to do the right thing. Not trying to argue at all, I have just been doing this along time, and I have never, say again never shopped off post outside of normal duty hours in uniform. For me, it was too easy to go home, change, etc.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGM, so there I was, just got to Fort Gordon, got my first weekend pass. Out with my wife after 1900 at Walmart, picking out civilian clothes to replace what I was wearing: BDU's. Quite literally i was pulled from the clothing racks to be informed, that i was in the wrong for being there in that uniform at that time. Wasn't quite sure how to take it at the time as I hadn't been at the post for 24 hours yet.
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CSM (Join to see)
Well, as for that, here is my two cents... This is a situation where I would have informed you that you were not in compliance with local regulations. When you told me your situation, A simple finish up what you are doing and get out of uniform would have sufficed. If it is a legitimate mistake, it is what it is. People do not always know. And different posts have different policies. I personally do not like to be off post in uniform after duty hours period. I try to get out of uniform as soon as I am off work.
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I think you're out of line. It's annoying when people turn minor issues into major ones. Do you follow all regs completely? I don't recall you saying if you went to parade rest for this NCO, I think that you're allowing working for division to get to your head. I'm very certain that if you were constantly observed on a daily basis, you'd be found guilty on disobeying some regs yourself. I bet your ass if it was a CSM in uniform you wouldn't have said a damn thing, so before you feel almighty for making a unnecessary on the spot correction, check yourself first. Next time you decide to make a correction, ask yourself if you'd make the same correction of it were a CSM or division commander.
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SFC (Join to see)
So is the SPC out of line if it is against the Post Regulation or blue book? Was it really unnecessary? Are you suggesting that working at Division or higher somehow makes you less of an NCO than working on the line? Because I've worked from team level to Corps level and there is only a difference if you make one. If you don't have the cohones as an NCO to use your General Military Authority to correct a Senior NCO or the CSM, or the Post Commander, then you better check yourself... Do it tactfully, but 9 times out of ten there won't be a problem.
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SGT Chris Hill
Yes I'm absolutely saying that, because he wouldn't need to mention working at division if he wasn't trying to make an impression. If it was just cohones then he would just say post regs state such and such. Why would wearing uniform at walmart be an issue worthy to be addressed? And do you notice his sense of accomplishment after correcting? His "first on the spot correction" that he proclaims. Seems to me that he was looking for an opportunity to call someone out than to educate and inform. Having rank comes maturity to know when to make a correction and when to let it go as long as it's not disrespecting our uniform.
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1SG(P) (Join to see)
SGT Hill, "Why would wearing uniform at walmart be an issue worthy to be addressed" If we let the small one get by, its just a matter of time till the big ones happen. And what's wrong with saying he's from Division. If what your saying is true, then I see you put SGT (P) Why? is this your impression. I betting you have been corrected and did not like it. I before you say it. I get it everyday. there on me all day long. And when I leave my office I make sure I look in the mirror.
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SGT Chris Hill
Sfc markley- how many times have we walked past Soldiers not wearing their headgear properly, parallel with the marching surface, but yet not say anything? If we were to focus on any possible on the spot correction, if would be time consuming. As far as having the (P) on here, that's not for impression, that's for what I've earned. But I don't go around introducing myself "hey I'm sgt promotable hill", that's unnecessary. I'm not saying it's wrong for him to say he's from division, but what other reason would he have to say it? I don't tell anyone what bde I'm in while making a correction, doesn't make any difference. Yes I have been corrected many times, nobody likes to be corrected. If that Soldier wants to correct, s/he needs to be sure they are following regs fully so they are not called out too. I had a CW3 tell me I had my hands in my pocket for more than 15 seconds, and yet he had a head full of hair that was definitely touching his ears and hair on his neck... I said "yes chief I'll be more aware of my hands in my pocket, do you realize your hair is out of regs?" Now let me mention that I did see that warrant before hand and wasn't going to say anything bc he will do as he wants, his rater can deal with him as he wishes, just as my Soldiers will be dealt with as I wish. I choose my battles
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Before we jump to conclusions, we do not know this person and he could possibly be on a soft shoe profile. He does have on the right socks and his pants are bloused.
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SGT (Join to see)
Roger that sergeant. I know a few people with foot injuries and what this type of profile looks like so I never brought it up to him. I am sure besides being there soo late, he was pretty much in regs assuming he has a profile.
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Yes, it's allowed. However, it's in poor taste. I change when off duty at the first possible moment.
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