PC with civilians with rank & name tape?!

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 13:57:10 -0400

My husband & I (both military) are at an amusement park where today military gets in free (Cedar Point). Well, we're in line for a ride & my husband spots some guy a ways over wearing a PC with his civilians. Now, I know anyone can buy a PC but this one has rank (SPC) & name tag on it.

Thoughts? What would you do/say if you saw this guy?

Response by SGT Edward Thomas made Jul 4 at 2015 2:00 PM

SGT Edward Thomas — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 14:00:04 -0400

I would start a conversation with him and ask what unit he is on and what his MOS is. If they are t veterans or military they will usually have some off the wall answer. If they rattle off the unit and MOS just remind them it is against Regs to wear uniform items with civilian clothes. I would try not to make a big issue of it in public.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 4 at 2015 2:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 14:24:52 -0400

I would say that is unprofessional and unauthorized wear of uniform and would appreciate for him to remove his his PC. If he gets snotty then I will use a wrestling or judo move to take him to the ground and pound his head against the ground.

Disregard the violence.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jul 4 at 2015 4:29 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 16:29:42 -0400

The guy could be an ETS'd Veteran.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 4 at 2015 4:34 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 16:34:27 -0400

SrA Private RallyPoint Member, hard to say. The guy very well could have been a civilian who bought it at an Army Navy Surplus store, an honorably discharged veteran (in either case nothing wrong with him wearing a PC) or a Soldier who doesn't know/care about Army uniform regs (AR 670-1 if I'm not mistaken).

Regardless, you don't know the situation. If it really bothered either of you I would suggest that you politely engage in conversation with the man and nonchalantly ask about the PC he was wearing.

If it didn't really bother you, carry on and continue to enjoy Cedar Point "The Amazement Park!" (I'm originally from Michigan so I've been to Cedar Point many times and absolutely LOVE it).

Response by SGT Anthony Rossi made Jul 5 at 2015 1:49 AM

SGT Anthony Rossi — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 01:49:53 -0400

If he's a vet wearing it in memory of his past service I see no problem with it. However, if he is currently on active duty he should be reprimanded. I would correct him as I have done before. All current military personnel must, at a bare minimum, honor their uniform. Of they do not do so they don't deserve the right to serve.

Response by FN Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2015 11:34 AM

FN Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 11:34:24 -0400

When I went to Cedar Point I saw a man walking around in black Digi Camos. I asked a gentalman sitting next me "What branch do you think he's in cause I've never seen those" his answer was Walmart. I don't think people should be partying in military uniforms portraying they are serving. They just don't know the truth of wearing the uniform.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jul 10 at 2015 8:34 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 08:34:14 -0400

My advice is to ignore it. If it bothers you or your husband, then check with the park management and learn their policy for admittance for military personnel. If their policy is to let veterans in for free, I would drop it, it is not worth the time or trouble. Especially if the ticketing agent is applying park policy correctly, to wit - During this special event, all active, retired and honorably-discharged members of the United States military can receive free admission into both Cedar Point and Soak City, with a valid ID, from Friday, May 22 through Monday, May 25. (Valid forms of ID include: active duty ID, retired personnel ID, VA ID or a copy of DD-214 discharge papers and photo ID.) Therefore just wearing a PC with rank and name is not a "Stolen Valor" act within the definition and my interpretation of the law. In addition, this closely ties in with their discontented military ticket policy - One-Day Military Discount Admission - $39.99
Valid for a one-day Cedar Point ticket for active or retired members of the Armed Forces as well as honorably discharged veterans from the United States and Canada. The discount also applies to family members (spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, etc.) or others in the group. There is a limit of 6 discounted tickets per service member.

Response by SPC David S. made Jul 20 at 2015 2:26 AM

SPC David S. — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 02:26:17 -0400

I do wear my old tac hat from time to time - no rank or name on it. Being that I've been there and done that this guy is more than likely is a vet.

Response by Seth Byrnes made Jun 29 at 2018 12:01 PM

Seth Byrnes — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 12:01:40 -0400

Does PC stand for Patrol Cap? I'm not military.

In any case, people wear army surplus all the time - the government sells it wholesale to the civilian market. It isn't wrong or illegal unless they are directly impersonating military personnel, at which point I think just about anyone would take issue.

Also depends on if they are wearing current issue or older gear.