What are your opinions with Soldiers wearing ACUs to the airport...should it be allowed?

2014-02-26T14:16:03-05:00

So here are my thoughts, my understanding is wearing your ACUs during off duty hours is unauthorized on off post establishments with the exception of picking up an item or 2 from the store on your way home. Shouldn't this also apply to wearing your uniform to the airport? I get it, you are coming home on R&R during a deployment, and those are just certain exceptions that are made for those on a year long deployment. My issue arises from Soldiers who are not deployed going on leave or pass, and wearing the ACUs to the airport to gain favor and recognition from the airline. We all want to benefit for our military service and what we have done for our country while wearing this uniform. I've been on 4 deployments (3 to Iraq and 1 to Afghanistan), but even when I go on regular leave or pass I always wear appropriate attire while traveling. I'm not sure if your Soldiers are up to date on their AT level 1 training, but specifically states that we should not being wearing anything that may draw attention to us while we travel whether it be abroad or with the continental US. This is a serious OPSEC violation, and we as Officers and NCOs should be letting our Soldiers know that they should not be traveling in ACUs. I travel abroad often, and to see a Soldier who is going on leave flying on the same flight as me makes me nervous, because they do not know who is watching. I am quick to pull that Soldier to the side and tell them who I am and explain to them that they should not be wearing that uniform while traveling because it draws attention to them and the others that are on the same flight. I see it as if we are no longer putting decals on cars because it draws attention to us as servicemembers and makes us a target, than wearing this uniform in an airport or any where outside of a military establishment draws just the same if not more attention as the decal on our cars. What are you thoughts?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 26 at 2014 2:21 PM

2014-02-26T14:21:30-05:00

Other than R&R leave, I say no. If you want attention and free drinks that badly, take the time to put a service or dress uniform together and wear it well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 2:22 PM

2014-02-26T14:22:10-05:00

I came home from R&R in my DCUs and ACUs because I had no civilians to change in to. If you have a change of clothes it is probably good to change but if not I dont think its a big deal. If you are going home trying to get attention I think its pretty sad.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 2:24 PM

2014-02-26T14:24:24-05:00

You are correct. Unless you are traveling to or from country, or traveling in an official capacity (aka. escorting a fallen hero), it is a violation of OPSEC. I blame the airline companies for perpetuating this practice by offering early boarding to men and women in uniform, offering upgrades, offering free beverages, etc.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Feb 26 at 2014 2:24 PM

2014-02-26T14:24:51-05:00

Personally, I am not a big fan of traveling in uniform. I remember way back in the day, official travel was done in Class A or Bs. That is how I traveled to Germany for my first assignment and how I reported back to CONUS after that tour was complete. I remember when the Army moved away from that because of, and not limited to, OPSEC and such. The OPTEMPO of our Army over the past decade plus has made travel in ACUs the norm; especially unit moves and moves back and forth from R&R Leave. I think that travel into and out of theater should stay in ACUs, but once you first stateside location, you should change into civilian attire. I believe that this would be more in-line with good practicing of OPSEC, AT principles, etc. Ands besides, the ACU is a utility/work uniform.

Response by CSM Allen Dahl made Feb 28 at 2014 2:41 AM

2014-02-28T02:41:09-05:00

SSG Slaton, very well put. I travel to and from Europe quite a bit, and have often played question and answer with the young troops in ACU's at the airport. You can almost always tell who is coming and going on R&R leave (and who is not). With changes and draw-downs in deployment tempo, as well as changes in the R&R leave policy, the requirement to wear ACUs in travel should be minimal. We really count on the team leaders and squad leaders like yourself to continue that direct Soldier mentoring on subjects like this. Not only does it avoid the OPSEC issues, it alleviates the problem of the poor wear and display of the uniform and immature behavior in uniform in the public eye.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2014 4:38 AM

2014-02-28T04:38:50-05:00

I know several TRADOC units that still require their Soldiers to travel in ACUs when flying in and out the unit. In that case it's the unit's fault and the Soldier can't be blamed for it. Every time I travel though, I see Officers and NCO's in their ACUs or ASUs, and while you can say that they're wearing it just because they're "proud of their service", I think a lot of it is just them wanting that recognition. I too am proud of my service, but I'm also extremely humble. I know what I do and I don't need strangers coming up to me in the airport to thank me or pay for my meal to validate that.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 28 at 2014 9:56 AM

2014-02-28T09:56:59-05:00

This is one of my pet peeves. My current position requires a lot of travel. I see Soldiers, and only Soldiers wearing their ACU's for domestic flights, only in the hopes that they receive some kind of freebie, and it's maddening. The risk to personal OPSEC is not worth early boarding to Atlanta. I have witnessed Soldiers travelling with their families, and the Soldier of course is wearing his ACU's. There used to be a standing rule explicitly against travelling in uniform on a commercial flight...I wonder what happened?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2014 4:33 PM

2014-03-01T16:33:52-05:00

I remember when I was in AIT, if they told us we didn't have to travel in uniform I wouldn't, simply cause we couldn't wear civilians that often and they were more comfortable anyways, and then my deployment leave, soon as I got into Europe, I changed, by then I knew who was with me from over there

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2014 5:44 PM

2014-03-01T17:44:57-05:00

I travel TDY maybe twice a month for the last 2 years and I think most if not all Soldiers in uniform are traveling on orders. I almost travel in uniform fairly often, just because that's the way my itinerary always seem to work out. I'm not sure there is even an issue here.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2014 7:14 PM

2014-03-01T19:14:25-05:00

This is definitely a pet peeve of mine when I see soldiers walking around the airport in their ACUs (sometimes in their ASUs) just to see if they could get first class on the plane or to get special treatment from civilians. The uniform should only be worn for official travel (i.e. TDY, escorting remains of fallen soldier, and those coming home on Christmas exodus from basic or AIT training). The uniform is not something that we as soldiers should use to get special treatment from civilians. Me personally, I never wear my uniform nor try to seek out special treatment/discounts just because I am in the military. Don't get me wrong, I do love this job but never should we as soldiers use it to get the upper hand.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2014 11:40 AM

2014-03-02T11:40:15-05:00

Every time I have taken a flight (pcs and leave) I was told to be in uniform by my COC.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2014 12:07 PM

2014-03-02T12:07:04-05:00

I travel extensively for my job and yes, I am in uniform.  If you are on leave, no, you shouldn't be in uniform but if you are CONUS and executing your job then you should be "flying the flag" BUT you need to do so correctly.  I've seen and corrected plenty of Soldiers in the airport who are not within regs.   The American culture has a very short memory and we need to remind them, AT EVERY TURN, that there are those that serve.  We are less than 1%. 

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2014 11:39 PM

2014-03-02T23:39:34-05:00

I think traveling in a fatigue/Class C uniform looks like crap. It's even worse in ACUs. ACU not only sucks as camouflage, it's a pretty shabby cut of uniform as well. I'd rather not see soldiers traveling in uniform. It's bad form for FP. But so is hanging out in the terminal with a black sateen jacket with "Death from Above" embroidered on the back. If you must be in uniform while traveling, it should be Class-B. Unfortunately, now those makes us look more like a bus driver than a soldier.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2014 12:42 AM

2014-03-03T00:42:17-05:00

I know I never travel in uniform on my leisure travel, but when I left Basic / AIT they enforced wearing the uniform in airports. There has been a couple times when I went TDY with my company (island hopping) in Hawaii and we were forced to wear then too.

Response by SGM Thomas Raymann made Mar 3 at 2014 8:05 AM

2014-03-03T08:05:53-05:00

My GO and I would only travel in uniform if we had meetings directly after arriving at the TDY location. I know many senior leaders that travelled in ACU just for the reason stated by the original post. I would always let them know what I thought about that. Especially the ones who had no combat deployments!

Response by SPC David Solotky made Mar 3 at 2014 9:17 PM

2014-03-03T21:17:57-05:00

I fully agree with you about there could be an opsec issue. That being said I work for an airline and they do have a special treatment for those who are in uniform. Board first for example. Or as a veteran giving up my standby seniority because someone else is on a buddy pass that has less seniority. (which had happened crazy navy uniforms.) Now back to opsec being an issue. If it is domestic travel only I wouldn't be all that concerned. Even myself with SIDA clearance traveling to multiple airports I still get the "we want to touch your crotch" from the TSA. So security risk state side I don't see. Internationally I could see that being a problem. That is just my opinion.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Apr 27 at 2014 9:41 PM

2014-04-27T21:41:27-04:00

Im sorry. Im so over the OPSEC crying. I don't care what you dress me in, EVERYONE knows I'm a dag on Soldier because of this stupid hair cut! There's no escaping it. I was buying tile in Lowes the other day and the cashier says "oh you get 10% off for military discount." I hadn't even said a word yet.
So should we start wearing wigs and beard wigs (is that a thing) now for OPSEC sake?
No terrorist is tracking me down. If he was, I don't think it's not wearing my uniform that would save me.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Apr 27 at 2014 10:27 PM

2014-04-27T22:27:40-04:00

I agree with the acu's class a or b is fine.
But I have to address the elephant int the room.
What about the SM at events(ex. NASCAR,football games) in acu's.
If you can't travel in them then you can't wear them to sporting events either.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2014 5:35 AM

2014-04-28T05:35:23-04:00

BLUF- if I have to wear ACUs for whatever I'm traveling to, why should I not wear them while traveling? It's a simple packing issue.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2014 3:59 AM

2014-04-29T03:59:02-04:00

I personally don't like wearing my uniform in public, If I get the chance to change I will. I serve the people and do not want any extra recognition or special favors for my service.

Response by SSG Genaro Negrete made Apr 29 at 2014 10:18 AM

2014-04-29T10:18:16-04:00

I agree that the ASU is a more professional uniform (by comparison to the ACU) and much more fitting for official travel (not leave, or even PCS in my opinion). As another soldier posted on here, if they have a meeting to get to directly after arrival, then traveling in the authorized uniform is sensible.

Otherwise, I would not jump at the chance to travel in uniform. If it requires some extra space in my bags, so be it. I'm sure I can go without some other article of clothing if space is an issue. Traveling light is a good way to stream line your movement through the airport itself.

The ASU's are simply uncomfortable. I believe they were made to look good when standing absolutely still. It it's a long flight, or a series of connections, that uniform may just end up wrinkled in all that moving around.

As for PERSEC, I agree wholeheartedly that we stand out. Be it the hair cut, or our mannerisms, or even our choice in civilian attire. I think it comes down to trying to mitigate all that as much as possible. I don't think there is a high threat for domestic flights, but consider them practice runs if you travel to a more high profile area.

I had to escort a soldier back to the rear on my last deployment. We flew in Multicam with our 3day bags, but when I returned to theater, it was all civilian flights across the country (we had flown to Alaska) and an international flight out of JFK airport. From there it was off to Istanbul then Kyrgistan where I landed at Mannas Air Base.

That return flight saw me in a nondescript basball cap, and what I thought was touristy type clothing. I even had someone mail back my Multicam medium ruck sack. I got back in uniform after checking in with the Army liaison at Mannas.

Situations where you find yourself traveling abroad are where good practices developed in domestic travel pay off.

Response by PO1 G. Leslie /Stiltner made May 17 at 2014 12:33 PM

2014-05-17T12:33:27-04:00

Being Navy it always made me mad that we were not allowed to wear our dungarees off base, except to travel to an from work, but stopping anywhere was a no no, unless it was on base like PX or Commissary. Now the Navy wears a different uniform for working and not dungarees anymore and I think they should be following the same rules as we had to with Dungarees. So like ACU's they are a working uniform and should only be worn to work in not the Airport. If you want to travel in uniform wear the appropriate dress uniform.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2014 7:21 PM

2014-08-29T19:21:41-04:00

I say it shouldn't be allowed. Just to and from work, picking up things enroute is fine too.

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Sep 11 at 2014 1:55 AM

2014-09-11T01:55:01-04:00

I may be biased speaking as a Marine...but it always bothers me to see members of other services in uniform out in town. If you aren't required to be in uniform, you shouldn't be. It's a showy "look at me, I'm in the military" kind of attitude.

Also, if you do wear your uniform out in town, the expectation should be that you carry yourself as if you are on duty. If you are required to be wearing it then you are obviously on official business and if you chose to wear it for whatever personal reason, then pull yourself together and carry yourself appropriately.

Response by SSG John Vines made Feb 7 at 2015 8:44 AM

2015-02-07T08:44:52-05:00

Today I saw a col, full bird in ACU flying domestic, how do you handle that? Hey sir didn't you get the memo?

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 17 at 2015 12:16 AM

2015-03-17T00:16:22-04:00

Combat uniforms should only be worn in flights, when a deployed Soldiers is going on R&R etc. Never for domestic travel, TDY etc.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made May 25 at 2020 1:28 AM

2020-05-25T01:28:39-04:00

I have no problem with it if the flight is in the US, they are traveling on orders, on their first day of leave or returning from leave. The only post where soldiers currently wear their ASUs as duty uniform is the Pentagon. Everyplace else the duty uniform for Soldiers is ACUs.
As to the issue of force protection let me say this - assaults on US service members, be it by professional terrorists or common criminals, are VERY rare in the US. Airports are some of the safest places a person can be due to their high security. I also think its good to let members the general public who don't live and work near military bases, see service members in uniform.

As to OPSEC - if a Soldier is going to a place or doing something that is "sensitive" they should be given a cover story. Otherwise, what can somebody tell from seeing someone passing through an airport? I'm sure "Ivan" already knows what major activities are at most bases.

Another thing - do you REALLY think any semi-intelligent person, let alone an operative of a foreign intelligence agency, can't spot a military service member in civilian clothes? Look at your troops when they are in civies - how many of them look like civilians out of uniform? My guess is not many. Unless the military is willing to tolerate long hair, obesity and poor posture, service members will NEVER blend in with the general population.

US service members within the US should be proud and not afraid to wear their uniforms.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2021 9:42 PM

2021-09-23T21:42:49-04:00

Agreed. Travel in civilian clothes your life is not worth getting to board first