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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There was a time in military that all you wore was your uniform. It seems that the services no longer take pride in their members wearing their uniforms. No wonder a lot of the younger servicemen and women no longer take pride in servicing. It’s been over thirty years since I put on a set of fatigues, pressed fatigues and spit shined boots. But then again our commanders were always happy to see us in our uniforms representing our service. Oh, and to snap a photo of from behind the back of this serviceman shows me cowardice. If believe they are in the wrong then you correct them right there, and you take that photograph while you’re looking them in the eye. That’s the mark of a leader.
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Like many have said, every base has its own rules with this and the regulation has no specifics on not to wear it off-base. I get concerned because soldiers are not following guidance put out at the unit and army level. Just take the wear of ID Tags. Ask anyone walking around in uniform to see their ID Tags. You'll catch a lot of soldiers without them.
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I'm a recruiter. I'm generally out of the uniform as soon as possible but sometimes I find myself in places one normally wouldn't go during the duty day. I've always been interested in how that conversation would go.
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You rocked it Sgt. Gamble thanks for being the NCO you needed to be in this instance. This NCO has not brought any pride or honor to his unit or the NCO Corps but you did! I salute you! Hooah!
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BLUF it’s OPSEC. In Bragg the Division and Corps blue books say you can make a quick stop to get a few needed items like groceries after duty hours. Hanging out at the mall or movie theaters is a big no-go. Then again in one of my units it was acceptable to go to off-post hail and fairwells in duty uniform if you came straight from work but in another unit it was totally unacceptable. How to deal with it? Introduce yourself and pull them to the side and make them aware or refresh their mind about the policy.
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I've been out a while, 1971 to be precise. Back then, a soldier didn't leave post in fatigues, (BDU's these days), unless he was on a detail or lived off post. If he did live off post, straight home, no stops. Seeing someone in BDU's or flight coveralls coming out of Wal-Mart is something I'm still not used to.
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As a Marine thats been off active duty for 24 years this is the one thing that still makes me want to scream. I hate the sight of it cause most look like a bag of shit anyway. I had a first sergeant that didnt approve of my civilian wear one day. He had me get into my Alphas abd then inspected me and drove me to town. He said in the "old corps" this is how you went on liberty and represented his Marine Corps. His favorite saying was "you joined us. We didn't join you."
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