Should civilian military school faculty be permitted to wear ACUs and "honorary" rank?

2014-12-24T18:27:35-05:00

My 16 year old brother attends a military school in PA. I recently learned from my parents that the civilian faculty wear ACUs daily and sport "honorary" rank. His English teacher, for example, is LT So and So. After looking over the school's website, I found that the president himself is retired from British Army, but wears ACUs with the British flag on his shoulder and a British beret. I understand that this is all meant to add to the military structure and environment, however, I feel that these titles have not been earned, and the uniform that so many have died in should not be worn so nonchalantly. Moreover, I don't understand why the president is permitted to mix and match uniforms as opposed to just wearing his country's full uniform.

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Dec 24 at 2014 6:33 PM

2014-12-24T18:33:25-05:00

They should not wear the uniforms in such a way that they would be mistaken for US Service Members.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 6:42 PM

2014-12-24T18:42:04-05:00

I don't think it is really much of an issue. As long as they don't have any name tapes that affiliate them to the military. We have security guards that were uniforms and rank that look like cops. There are even some that wear ACU or military uniforms. It really isn't an issue as long as they don't attempt to be anything more than what they really are.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Dec 24 at 2014 6:55 PM

2014-12-24T18:55:27-05:00

Well for me i dont see a problem with this as long as they are only worn on the campus. Look at the Sea Cadets and other programs there leadership wear there respective services ranks. Do there uniforms identify them as US service member's? The ACU uniform pattern is not trademarked for just Army ware. The ACU pattern is worn by tons of people who dont even serve or ever plan on serving. This is a Military school so as such they are just treating it that way im sure the students are referred to as cadets. So if are saying that the teachers have not earned there uniform and fake rank then the children should not be referred to as Cadets because they are not in a Service Academy. So i guess what I am saying is sit back relax take a sip of coke let them do as they please as long as they are not committing fraud they are fine.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 24 at 2014 6:59 PM

2014-12-24T18:59:04-05:00

Valley Forge Military Academy?

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 24 at 2014 7:30 PM

2014-12-24T19:30:25-05:00

As long as the left side tape says the school's name I am ok with it.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Dec 24 at 2014 11:41 PM

2014-12-24T23:41:21-05:00

It's not uncommon. New Mexico Military Institute commissions its instructors in the NM state militia (not the National Guard). They wore "N.M." collar brass instead of "U.S." but retired military wore their retired rank and U.S. There is a bit of a difference in that NMMI was a state school instead of private, but as long as the uniform doesn't say U.S., there should not be a problem.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2015 9:38 AM

2015-03-20T09:38:51-04:00

ACUs, yes. Rank, no.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 27 at 2016 1:49 AM

2016-09-27T01:49:49-04:00

I was a cadet at a Military Academy,Bordentown Military Institute, in Bordentown, NJ to be exact. The regular faculty member wore civilian clothes only the Members of the Military staff wore uniforms. in each case those in direct employee of the school wore their Army Uniforms. (all were US Army retired) That included the Commandant of Cadets who was a West Point graduate. . The rest of the Military staff were all active duty US Army and this was their post within the US Army ROTC Instruction Group. The picture below shows some of the Military staff in Army uniforms the one man in civilian clothes was the President and Headmaster of BMI. The entire Corp of Cadets was in the Army ROTC program.

Response by CPT Bruce Beattie made Apr 30 at 2018 5:03 PM

2018-04-30T17:03:24-04:00

When I was a cadet at Peekskill Military Academy, the faculty wore civilian clothes even if they were retired military. The military tactical staff wore uniforms. Retired officers wore their service uniforms. Military staff who were not retired officers of the armed services were commissioned in the New York Guard (the state's own military force) and wore that uniform. The NYG uniforms were army uniforms with state insignia. I am a graduate of Norwich University, The Military College of the State of Vermont. At Norwich, faculty were all commissioned in the Vermont MIlitia (Vermont's military force) and wore that uniform. Once again the army uniform with distinctive insignia. Military staff on active duty or retired wore the appropriate uniform for their rank and service. Uniformed personnel add to the military atmosphere of the institution and to the discipline and good order of the Corps of Cadets! This was before Norwich added civilian students. Cadets had no problem distinguishing the various uniforms!

Response by LCpl Severin Summers made Oct 7 at 2018 9:24 PM

2018-10-07T21:24:09-04:00

Anyone can wear ACUs , the rank should not be worn. Faculty where I went to HS didn't need to wear rank ,we knew who they were and respected and obeyed them......OR ELSE !!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 13 at 2019 3:06 PM

2019-11-13T15:06:26-05:00

The military doesn't have a Trademark on the insignia. A great many firefighter, police and militia organizations use the same insignia. So long as they aren't portraying themselves as US military, there's no issue.

Response by MSgt Lee Hartwig made Nov 14 at 2019 2:13 AM

2019-11-14T02:13:02-05:00

If it's within the scope of a properly chartered/certified/whatever military school, then it's faculty have whatever rank is assigned to them by their commandant. It's kind of like when the JROTC "cadet" gets "promoted" to Captain or Colonel or whatever, it's a case of "it is what it is." No one in the real military is going to take any of that stuff seriously. I've seen a few JROTC walking around base when I was active and they look like they are either: a) ready to start crying when they see a real military member walking towards them (~95% of them); or, b) anxiously waiting to see if I was dumb enough to salute them...which I wasn't (~5%).
As far as the British army retiree mixing and matching his flag with our uniforms and all that, I would draw the line there. I don't care if he's the "gubnah" or not... right is right and wrong is wrong. Either he wears the same uniform as anyone else at his school or not at all...honestly, not even the British army one. What country is he in? This one. If you're the commandant of an American military school, wear your school's uniform and stop setting a bad example for your "subordinates" and "troops."
Just my .02, y'all.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 14 at 2019 1:46 PM

2019-11-14T13:46:39-05:00

Was your brother a ruffian?