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While watching the New Years Celebration at Times Square I saw a Marine PFC in his dress uniform there. I was a little surprised why you would ever do such a thing.<div><br></div><div>There are functions that you can't wear your uniforms to such as political events or to an extremist organization. I will admit that I did get married in my blues. But is there a time and place for it. I recall seeing video from the WWII era where all soldiers would wear their uniforms while on pass. Now we don't do that but some will still wear their dress uniform to events. I often tease my wife that I am going to wear mine to my sisters wedding because I refuse pay to rent a used tux for two hundred dollars. But I will get the tux to keep the wife happy, at the loss of my wallet.</div><div><br></div><div>Where have you seen military members wear their uniforms to in public? Did it seem professional and respectful for the occasion? The last question, how did it reflect on the military?</div><div><br></div><div>Just don't be like the Navy Seal that killed Bin Laden.</div><div><br></div><div>(I have heard that if you are going to military wedding and you out rank the groom or have more decorations than the groom you shouldn't wear the uniform as you don't want the groom to look any less compared to you.)</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://t.fod4.com/c/8e464776e6/c480x270_custom_10436fc7852ae75711ac2de0a2594570_30678.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/8e464776e6/the-navy-seal-who-killed-osama-bin-laden">The Navy Seal Who Killed Osama Bin Laden</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">with Rob Riggle, Funny Or Die</div></div><div style="clear:both"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>
Posted in these groups: 
Events
Dress Uniform
Events Dress Uniform
Edited 12 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 142
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I would much rather personnel wear a dress uniform in public that ACU's/Cammies, etc...
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Maj (Join to see)
MSgt Bill Loveli - well said Master Sargeant Loveli - Jay Rothmeyer, Major USMC Ret (97)
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MSgt Bill Loveli
Maj (Join to see) - thank you major. Good to,see someone who know how the Corps works
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TSgt James Shanahan
Well LCpl Eggers that was also a big non no when I was in as a matter of fact at my last active duty assignment you were not allowed to wear an ear ring on base if you were a male even off duty
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LTC (Join to see)
1LT William Clardy It doesn't really matter what uniform the S1 wears they are never in the office. They have better hours than bankers.
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It is much more appropriate for a Marine to wear dress blues in public than for an Army soldier to wear BDUs to dinner in town!
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GySgt Ken Norwood
SGT (Join to see) - My original comment was about it being more appropriate to see a Marine in town in dress blues than to see a Soldier in town in BDU/ACU.
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SSG(P) Raymond Ogg
Especially since doing that is actually an infraction, I agree. I generally disdain people who make corrections like that in front of family members, but it is tempting.
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SSG(P) Raymond Ogg
SSG (Join to see) - Making a quick stop is accounted for in the regs, but the issue is going somewhere that requires a bit of prior planning
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GySgt Ken Norwood
SSG(P) Raymond Ogg - Then you should have been around when I observed a Army CWO and SFC in Cabella's shopping! Or the numerous times I see then walking around town!!!
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LT,
I realize this was some time ago, but it just hit my box tonight. I guarantee that was a young PFC who just within the week had graduated from boot camp. Am I wrong on the uniform-in that it was his Dress Greens (Alphas)? I wore mine to the Zoo with my parents! (of course that was 29 1/2 years ago) As long as that young man was acting right, I say God Bless him for his pride (of course it could be that was the nicest things he had to wear and was hoping to look smooth for the ladies).
And in retrospect, have we not done some crazy things for the ladies?
I realize this was some time ago, but it just hit my box tonight. I guarantee that was a young PFC who just within the week had graduated from boot camp. Am I wrong on the uniform-in that it was his Dress Greens (Alphas)? I wore mine to the Zoo with my parents! (of course that was 29 1/2 years ago) As long as that young man was acting right, I say God Bless him for his pride (of course it could be that was the nicest things he had to wear and was hoping to look smooth for the ladies).
And in retrospect, have we not done some crazy things for the ladies?
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SSG Martin Petersen
I remember coming home from basic wearing my Class A's to the mall, I was always told as long as it wasn't a political event and you didn't bring discredit to the uniform it was okay.
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SPC Jackson Stevens
I was a PFC, still in AIT. I was dating a Col.'s daughter. She wanted me to wear my Class A's out to dinner. I was young, proud, AND a gentleman. And her father could not have been nicer!
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Sgt Christopher Wenzel
Holy hell, weren't you hot in your blues? I couldn't imagine wearing my blues anywhere not air conditioned.
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SPC Allen Schott
1970 to 1972, we would wear either the Class A's or Class B's to take advantage of reduced airfare from our base to our parents home. The fatigue uniform was allowed only from base to your home near base. Getting caught meant a long lecture from the SM and the Section Chief. I was proud to wear my Class A uniform home, fit better than the civilian dress jacket.
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During my time as an instructor I would wear my class B's in the classroom because it set me apart from the students and drill's. It looked more professional in my role as an instructor in the dress uniform. I still don't understand wearing ACUs in an office, are we expecting indirect fire from the coffee room?
For weddings and special ceremonies it was full dress, I'm a soldier, why hide it? The dress uniform is for these type of events, and now retired I wear the dress uniform during veterans and memorial day events and to graduations and dining in's on post when invited.
If the dress uniform is set up correctly and worn with pride and your In physical shape to wear it right then wear it IAW with the regulations as they apply to your status, reserve, active retired. Its a privilege to wear my dress uniform and when the time comes it will be the last thing I will ever be dressed in.
For weddings and special ceremonies it was full dress, I'm a soldier, why hide it? The dress uniform is for these type of events, and now retired I wear the dress uniform during veterans and memorial day events and to graduations and dining in's on post when invited.
If the dress uniform is set up correctly and worn with pride and your In physical shape to wear it right then wear it IAW with the regulations as they apply to your status, reserve, active retired. Its a privilege to wear my dress uniform and when the time comes it will be the last thing I will ever be dressed in.
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CPT Chris Loomis
SFC Matthew Parker SFC you and I are cut from the same clothe.... Pun intended. I see things and feel the same way about everything you said.
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SPC Randall Eichelberger
I can see doing it as an instructor. It is important to set yourself apart from the students and the drill sergeants. However, there is no reason to be in Class B's in the S1 shop. This is the military, not a beauty contest. The only thing the Class B/A does is show off what you did...does that really matter?
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CW2 Fred Baker
SPC Randall Eichelberger - I think that the Class B in the classroom is very appropriate and anyone in an instructor position should wear their full compliment of ribbons. They earned them and are also setting an example.
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In my opinion thats why we have the dress uniform. Or even wear the less formal "B" in public. However, that being said some one should inspect that uniform before that Soldier goes out in public that way he doesnt embarass him self or his unit.
I think the military in general needs to go back to the wear of the more formal uniforms I think wearing the ACU or any type of "Combat Uniform" should only be worn when training or deployed. I think it should go back to how it was in the KOREA / NAM era for uniform wear. but thats just my two cents.
I think the military in general needs to go back to the wear of the more formal uniforms I think wearing the ACU or any type of "Combat Uniform" should only be worn when training or deployed. I think it should go back to how it was in the KOREA / NAM era for uniform wear. but thats just my two cents.
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CW3 Gregory Billeaud
I remember a day when every service member wore a Class A uniform while stationed in the MDW. They stopped wearing that because we were at war. Soldiers sitting in a professional building and comfortable office for 8 hours do not need to wear the ACU while everyone else is in business attire. Makes the military look really unprofessional.
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SGT Eric Knutson
CPT (Join to see) - Cpt, those are considered under the "duty attire" and yes, for day to day wear on post, the BDU/ACU is usually the perscribed uniform and is so ordered. Those who are considered "field soldiers" expect to get dirty in the course of a day, If you are at higher HQ, offices, (Finance, Div PAC, then the Class A.B. and C is more appropriate and so ordered. I will whole heartedly agree that we should put the troops in class A's more often, we used to call them "Payday activities" and the day would start with a class A inspection, then the Pay call which I know does not happen anymore, then it was light duty for all for the rest of the day, or everyone was off with the stipulation of needing to stay in uniform until at least 1500. The exceptions being people who had certain duties, or punishment details being allowed to change back to BDU's after the pay call.
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LTC (Join to see)
ACU/OCP should be worn for field/combat use or for jobs like the motor pool. In an office or public environmen (ie recruiters) with the exception of public field demonstrations/displays. It should be ASU. The Army is the only service where the field/utility uniform is routinely worn in an office environment or in public. Admittedly the current class B is bad. we need to go back to something like khaki or maybe a WW2 style uniform.
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1LT William Clardy
LTC (Join to see) and SGT Eric Knutson , referring to them as "Class A" or "ASU" makes it easier for everybody to forget that the "S" in ASU stands for "Service", not dress. As CW3 Gregory Billeaud pointed out, the service uniforms are the equivalent of business attire -- something which people used to wear all day without considering it remarkable.
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I have no issues with a soldier wearing the ASU in public, as long as he's not doing something that would discredit him or the military. Obviously in today's world of security concerns, wearing the uniform could make you a target, however its appropriate to wear it. I wore it at my wedding, have worn it to several black-tie civilian functions, and a few other times. I like wearing my dress uniform, to me there's a certain sense of pride in doing so. <div><br></div><div>What I feel that is inappropriate is soldiers wearing ACUs when ASUs or civilian attire would be more appropriate. At my civilian job, I did a presentation for a group of visiting college students & professors and one was in AFROTC. He showed up their version of the ACU, and fell asleep during the presentation. Neither should have been acceptable. </div>
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CPT (Join to see)
That is epic. What a way to represent the AFROTC. If you knew the LT you would have thought the same thing. I am not going to say it was wrong but it was not professional and did not represent the military to civilians well.
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SGT (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see), Thanks for your post! I know it was a LONG time ago, but I'm attending a civilian gala in February and will be recognized. I was planning on wearing my Mess uniform!
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MSgt Billy McDonough
Not that it excuses their actions, but, was the person sleeping a cadet or a professor?
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I don't see anything wrong with it as long as the soldier conducts themselves properly while in uniform. I am feel a strong sense of pride every time I put on my ASU's. And quite frankly, with a strong sense of patriotism today, it is not frowned upon to see a person in uniform. When I originally enlisted in 1992, I never had someone thank me for my service (and on more than a few occasions I remember hearing teenagers saying Gomer behind our backs while in public. Not so today. Long answer to a direct question, but let soldiers where them should they choose when going out in public.
Hooah!
Hooah!
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CPT (Join to see)
He was a girl. He may have met her that night. Marines love tell everyone they are marines. I wear mine once a year. Only for our dinning out.
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When my grandfather passed last year, after the funeral in NY, I found my mind unsettled. After I returned to my room, I just had to leave. I was still in my ASU's and near the Empire State Building which I remembered lets military in uniform up to the 86th Floor Observation level for free. Since they charge $48 to go, I jumped on in. It was a cold, clear night, and some of the most beautiful views of the city I love and found it very calming. But most importantly, the New Yorkers that have a rep for being rude and nasty, treated me with respect and deference, and most importantly kindness. They even let me go up to the 102nd floor, which is an extra charge. I don't believe I was doing anything wrong, nor did I represent my service poorly. My uniform, hair and makeup all met the standards of AR670-1 nor was the venue I went to listed on any off limit establishment list that I know of.
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Concerning veterans and retirees:
DoD Instruction NUMBER 1334.01 October 26, 2005 (still current)
"3.2. Former members of the Armed Forces, unless under another provision of this Instruction or under the terms of Section 772 of title 10, United States Code (reference (d)), who served honorably during a declared or undeclared war and whose most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions may wear the uniform in the highest grade held during such war service only on the following occasions and in the course of travel incident thereto:
3.2.1. Military funerals, memorial services, weddings, and inaugurals.
3.2.2. Parades on National or State holidays; or other parades or ceremonies of a patriotic
character in which any Active or Reserve United States military unit is taking part.
3.2.3. Wearing of the uniform or any part thereof at any other time or for any other purposes is prohibited.
3.3. Medal of Honor holders may wear the uniform at their pleasure except under the circumstances set forth in paragraph 3.1., above.
Keep in mind that the uniform must still be worn in accordance to service branch's
military uniform regs.
** See also 10 USC 771 AND 772 AUTHORIZED AN UNAUTHORIZED WEARING OF MILITARY UNIFORMS.
DoD Instruction NUMBER 1334.01 October 26, 2005 (still current)
"3.2. Former members of the Armed Forces, unless under another provision of this Instruction or under the terms of Section 772 of title 10, United States Code (reference (d)), who served honorably during a declared or undeclared war and whose most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions may wear the uniform in the highest grade held during such war service only on the following occasions and in the course of travel incident thereto:
3.2.1. Military funerals, memorial services, weddings, and inaugurals.
3.2.2. Parades on National or State holidays; or other parades or ceremonies of a patriotic
character in which any Active or Reserve United States military unit is taking part.
3.2.3. Wearing of the uniform or any part thereof at any other time or for any other purposes is prohibited.
3.3. Medal of Honor holders may wear the uniform at their pleasure except under the circumstances set forth in paragraph 3.1., above.
Keep in mind that the uniform must still be worn in accordance to service branch's
military uniform regs.
** See also 10 USC 771 AND 772 AUTHORIZED AN UNAUTHORIZED WEARING OF MILITARY UNIFORMS.
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