Posted on May 22, 2024
As a retiree who served as both an officer and enlisted, which uniform should I wear to a military or civilian function?
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I had 30 years of service, active and National Guard, with 20 years enlisted and 10 years commissioned sandwiched in between. I went in the Retired Reserve in 2010 as a First Sergeant, but draw retired pay as a Captain. My question is if I want to wear my uniform to a military or civilian function, do I wear the officer or enlisted? Can I choose either? I prefer the enlisted, as that is the capacity I served the most years and achieved a higher rank than as an officer.
Posted in these groups: 
Retirement
Dress Uniform
Retirement Dress Uniform
Posted 7 mo ago
Responses: 7
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Not having looked at the regs, I would look at your retirement orders, what do they say. On mine it tells me I am a 11Z. What ever your retirement orders say is what I would go with.
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COL Randall C.
CPO Christian Wilson - Good point. While the law regarding retirement grade is the same across the Services, there could be variations as the law allows for adjustment in some cases by the Service's Secretary.
Without diving into the different Service regulations, I don't know if this actually is the case, but it could be.
Without diving into the different Service regulations, I don't know if this actually is the case, but it could be.
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MSG Thomas Currie
BLUF/TLDR: Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on their retirement order.
AR 670-1 Chapter 23
Wear of the Army Uniform by Reserve, Retired, Separated, and Civilian Personnel
23–3. Retired personnel
a. Personnel who will be advanced to a higher grade upon retirement have the option of wearing the insignia of that grade thereafter.
b. Retired personnel on active duty will wear their uniform and insignia in the same manner as prescribed for personnel in the RA of corresponding grade and branch.
c. Retired personnel not on active duty may wear either the uniform reflecting their grade and branch on the date of their retirement, or the uniform prescribed for personnel in the RA of corresponding grade and branch, when appropriate, but may not mix the two uniforms. Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on their retirement order.
d. Retired personnel not on active duty are not authorized to wear the Army uniform when they are instructors or responsible for military discipline at an educational institution, unless the educational institution is conducting courses of instruction approved by the Armed Forces.
e. In addition to the occasions for wear listed above, retired personnel are authorized to wear the uniform only on the following occasions:
(1) While attending military funerals, memorial services, weddings, inaugurals, and other occasions of ceremony.
(2) Attending parades on national or state holidays, or other patriotic parades or ceremonies in which any Regular or Reserve U.S. military unit is taking part. Uniforms for these occasions are restricted to service and dress uniforms; the combat uniform and physical fitness uniforms will not be worn. Wearing the Army uniform at any other time, or for any other purpose than stated above, is prohibited.
f. Retirees are authorized to wear the physical fitness uniform under the following provisions:
(1) With civilian attire off the installation.
(2) When wearing the physical fitness uniform as a complete uniform, retirees will—
(a) Wear only authorized accessories corresponding to those worn by personnel of the RA.
(b) Wear the uniform in accordance with the guidance provided to RA Soldiers (see DA Pam 670 – 1).
g. Retirees are authorized to wear the Retired Service Identification Badge (see DA Pam 670 – 1).
h. Retirees are authorized to wear the Retired SSI (see DA Pam 670 – 1).
AR 670-1 Chapter 23
Wear of the Army Uniform by Reserve, Retired, Separated, and Civilian Personnel
23–3. Retired personnel
a. Personnel who will be advanced to a higher grade upon retirement have the option of wearing the insignia of that grade thereafter.
b. Retired personnel on active duty will wear their uniform and insignia in the same manner as prescribed for personnel in the RA of corresponding grade and branch.
c. Retired personnel not on active duty may wear either the uniform reflecting their grade and branch on the date of their retirement, or the uniform prescribed for personnel in the RA of corresponding grade and branch, when appropriate, but may not mix the two uniforms. Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on their retirement order.
d. Retired personnel not on active duty are not authorized to wear the Army uniform when they are instructors or responsible for military discipline at an educational institution, unless the educational institution is conducting courses of instruction approved by the Armed Forces.
e. In addition to the occasions for wear listed above, retired personnel are authorized to wear the uniform only on the following occasions:
(1) While attending military funerals, memorial services, weddings, inaugurals, and other occasions of ceremony.
(2) Attending parades on national or state holidays, or other patriotic parades or ceremonies in which any Regular or Reserve U.S. military unit is taking part. Uniforms for these occasions are restricted to service and dress uniforms; the combat uniform and physical fitness uniforms will not be worn. Wearing the Army uniform at any other time, or for any other purpose than stated above, is prohibited.
f. Retirees are authorized to wear the physical fitness uniform under the following provisions:
(1) With civilian attire off the installation.
(2) When wearing the physical fitness uniform as a complete uniform, retirees will—
(a) Wear only authorized accessories corresponding to those worn by personnel of the RA.
(b) Wear the uniform in accordance with the guidance provided to RA Soldiers (see DA Pam 670 – 1).
g. Retirees are authorized to wear the Retired Service Identification Badge (see DA Pam 670 – 1).
h. Retirees are authorized to wear the Retired SSI (see DA Pam 670 – 1).
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AR 670-1, 21-3c:
"Retired personnel not on active duty may wear either the uniform reflecting their grade and branch on the date of their retirement, or the uniform prescribed for personnel in the AA of corresponding grade and branch, when appropriate, but may not mix the two uniforms. Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on their retirement order."
But.....you are retired. And since I highly doubt you would be brought back in to face punishment by violating regs for wearing 1SG rank.....
"Retired personnel not on active duty may wear either the uniform reflecting their grade and branch on the date of their retirement, or the uniform prescribed for personnel in the AA of corresponding grade and branch, when appropriate, but may not mix the two uniforms. Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on their retirement order."
But.....you are retired. And since I highly doubt you would be brought back in to face punishment by violating regs for wearing 1SG rank.....
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CPT Willis Davis
If you are drawing officer retired pay, you were advanced to the highest grade held on the retirement rolls, your ID card should be that of the Officer rank, and that is the uniform you are authorized.
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MSG Thomas Currie
There seems to be a disconnect between Para 21-3.a vs the last sentence of 21-3.c
Subparagraph a would give you to option of wearing the uniform you had at the time of retirement but the last sentence of subparagraph c would direct you to wear the grade you were advanced to upon retirement because that is the grade appearing on your retirement orders.
Subparagraph a would give you to option of wearing the uniform you had at the time of retirement but the last sentence of subparagraph c would direct you to wear the grade you were advanced to upon retirement because that is the grade appearing on your retirement orders.
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I was going to say split the difference at CW3 or 4, but that' probably isn't going to fly.
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