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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 personally love wearing my ASU. I am proud of the heritage and the profession I represent when I put them on, proud of the work I put in to earn them, and also well aware of what they cost to buy them, alter them, etc. As a junior Officer who is (admittedly) still a little excited about all the baubles and the rank, I don't see an issue in wearing the ASU off duty to an appropriate occasion, such as a wedding, holiday church service, black-tie party, etc. You never have to wonder "is this appropriate?" as long as you're sure the situation warrants its wear. They sure as hell look better and more appropriate than wearing your fatigues.
Now, just as with everything, one can abuse the notion/privilege of when and where to wear the uniform, but that goes with common sense. Political rallies, clubs, or to go get hammered with your buddies is obviously a no-go. But I don't see a problem with smart off-duty wear.
Now, just as with everything, one can abuse the notion/privilege of when and where to wear the uniform, but that goes with common sense. Political rallies, clubs, or to go get hammered with your buddies is obviously a no-go. But I don't see a problem with smart off-duty wear.
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I see no problem with wearing the Class A uniform in public. It used to be required.
Now, the behavior of the SM in question may raise a different issue. However, as long as the SM is behaving professionally and honoring the uniform, then certainly wearing it is appropriate.
I am bothered more by the relaxing of the regulations that allows work uniforms in public. That used to be forbidden with the exception of going to and from work.
Now, the behavior of the SM in question may raise a different issue. However, as long as the SM is behaving professionally and honoring the uniform, then certainly wearing it is appropriate.
I am bothered more by the relaxing of the regulations that allows work uniforms in public. That used to be forbidden with the exception of going to and from work.
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CPT (Join to see)
I strongly agree. I don't like seeing work uniforms in public. When I joined back in 99 my recruiter only wore class B's. I only saw him in BDU's a couple of times.
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I have read many post on this subject, most being from Army personnel. It seems wearing of the ASU causes consternation whereas most have not mentioned any objection to wear the ACU in town whether it be eating at the local choke and puke or shopping as Safeway. As a Marine we would NEVER wear our combat uniform when on liberty but will wear either Dress Blues or a daily Alpha,Bravo or Charlie service uniform. Obviously we see the wearing of a uniform in public differently.
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CPT (Join to see)
I agree. The Army has much disdain in relation to the ASU. I am not really sure why. It might be for lack of pride or for just being too lazy to get it out and put it on. But I recall reading a memo from my State National Guard HQ stating that the ACU is not an approved uniform for attending a military funeral. I was shocked that you would do such a thing. Why wouldn't you wear your best for such an event.
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GySgt Ken Norwood
Army personnel have gotten so adjusted to wearing ACU to any and everything they do outside of the confines of their military occupation that they think of it as acceptable wear at any civilian function.
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SGT (Join to see)
I'm something of an anomaly here. I take great pride in the ASU, just as my ACU. The difference in the pride is that, for me, ACU is a work uniform. I mean, be proud of it and what it represents, but It's not a uniform for which pride is the primary function like the ASU is. I wore mine at any excuse until they switched to the blues. Only reason for that is the National Guard is kind of a grab bag when it comes to dress uniform issue and I can't afford to buy it.
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Cpl Kurt Huber
I was Marine Corps Infantry, I wore the Hell out of my Service Charlies when I was stationed with 3D Marines in Hawaii, everyone else was wearing flip-flops, shorts, shit kickers and ten gallon hats with a Copen hagen ring, whereas I wore Chucks.
Never left a bar without a chick on vacation!
Never left a bar without a chick on vacation!
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I have worn mine twice. 3 days after returning from Iraq, my uncle passed away and he was a law enforcement officer. The second time was my step brothers wedding, and it was very formal. My youngest step brother and I both wore our uniforms.
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CPT (Join to see), I have worn mine to weddings, funerals, balls, court, and once to my best friend's little sister's prom. I have also seen them at graduations from high school and college, military graduations, business seminars in the private sector, and even just out walking downtown. The way I see it is this: so long as you are not misrepresenting yourself or your Branch of Service, then there is no problem with wearing your Service/Dress uniform. But if you choose to wear it, then remember where you come from and who you represent, and conduct yourself accordingly at ALL times. Just my two cents.
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It's entirely appropriate in many situations. I don't see a problem with it as mentioned above... However, I was in a bar in Albuquerque one evening and witnessed a marine in his blues making out with a young lady...I identified myself and spoke quietly with his NCO, the situation was addressed with...alacrity ;)
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If you have ever watched the New Years celebration in Madison Square Garden you would have noticed there have always been thousands of soldiers, sailors and airmen in full dress uniform. It's a tradition that goes back long before your time.
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I went to National Hurricane Conference in Miami in 90 refused to vote about using USAF Hurricane Hunters since I was in uniform, and talked to another UASF member about refusing to vote. I wore dress blues formal white shirt and bow tie to my wedding. At first when I was in 70s you could not stop off base in fatigues latter just essential stops now they can stop to shop or eat in fatigues. Should be no where you cannot wear military uniform if you are not seen as making a statement for the service. A political event is seen as a statement for the service as I see it.
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SSgt Jonathan Ayers
At my first assignment (04), our First Sergeant would catch people in town in BDU's shopping/at the mall and rip their asses. New Air Force now, so I'm told...
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Marines in general love to wear their dreass uniforms out in public. While the other services preffer to wear their cammies everywhere vice their dress uniforms while out in public?
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CPT (Join to see)
That is what thing that I have also noticed. The Army used to do that before 9/11 but after that we were told that we are an Army at war so everyone started to wear cammies. I hope we stop doing this. I miss seeing a recruiter in their Class B's.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Personally, I think AF guys wear their ABUs in public more because we have the most bland dress uniforms (in my honest opinion)
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IMHO, unless you are in a position that requires you to wear your service uniform normally in public (ie recruiting), or service uniform is your daily uniform and you are running errrands during lunch or on the way home, there really isn't a reason to wear your service uniform in public on a normal basis. This does not include special occasions like social events (i.e. weddings, balls, funerals), sanctioned PR events, etc.
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