Posted on Apr 22, 2015
What are your thoughts on civilians wearing part of a military uniform or military uniform-esque clothing?
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I was rocking it out at the Halestorm and the Pretty Reckless concert in Nashville when I realized the guitarist from The Pretty Reckless was wearing an old Vietnam era OD green uniform jacket complete with sergeant stripes. Recently I've seem a trend in Urban Culture with people wearing military uniform style clothing. Is this wrong, disgraceful, or disrespectful to service members or is it just am acceptable fashion tend? Thoughts? To me personally it depends, but I still don't really like it.
Uniforms
Civilians
Music
Culture
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 144
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Hey can you blame them for wanting to look as cool as us? I mean REALLY? LOL. I have no problem with casual wear of uniform items, some of them are really quite functional for many things. The ones I have the problems with are those who are posing and mucking-up the uniform thinking they are impressing someone. Posers need their collective butts kicked.
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CPT Jeff Robinette
PO2 Hauke Powers oh I'm sure they do! Is have to drive about 100 miles to find a surplus store in my area. But what I want, 8 Round En-bloc clips for my M1, are hard to find.
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CWO2 (Join to see)
Not so hard to find, Larry. I picked up a few bandoliers of surplus ammo years ago at a gun show. I just re-fill them with my re-loads. Or you can use factory or surplus ammo for re-fills. You just have to keep an eye on where they fly after the last round and pick them up and maybe clean them up a bit. Now, I've 'heard' that there can be a problem with the primers on factory ammo backing out on recoil, but I've never had an issue with my re-loads. YMMV.
Disclaimer: Sorry to the forum, but Cee-Wo Larry led this off topic...
As to the OP, I don't have problem with civvies wearing some things. I gave my pops a cover I wore in Iraq. He's former Navy, and old, so whatevs. My nephews got my boonies and some of my cammies. As long as they (anyone) isn't/aren't trying to represent themselves as somethin they aren't, I'm ok with a boonie cover or some Cammie pants, or whatever. No dress anything, no bling at all. And, I did remove my last name and USMC name tapes from the cammies, of course. I would, however, like to find the jerk that snuck into my Ooh-Rah closet and sprayed everything down with some sort of shrinking solution...
Disclaimer: Sorry to the forum, but Cee-Wo Larry led this off topic...
As to the OP, I don't have problem with civvies wearing some things. I gave my pops a cover I wore in Iraq. He's former Navy, and old, so whatevs. My nephews got my boonies and some of my cammies. As long as they (anyone) isn't/aren't trying to represent themselves as somethin they aren't, I'm ok with a boonie cover or some Cammie pants, or whatever. No dress anything, no bling at all. And, I did remove my last name and USMC name tapes from the cammies, of course. I would, however, like to find the jerk that snuck into my Ooh-Rah closet and sprayed everything down with some sort of shrinking solution...
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CWO2 (Join to see)
CWO2 (Join to see) - Oops, apologies to CWO Curtis. It was CPT Jeff that led me down the M1 Garand rabbit hole. The M1 is a fantastic rifle for it's time, and I'm easily led astray on all things weapons related... Now back to our program!
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I'm not bothered by mix em' up ensembles, when someone attempts to recreate an entire uniform and pose as a Service Member...THAT gets under my skin.
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SGT Joshua Bressel
I think Stolen Valor crosses a big line, from wearing a couple of uniform items, to trying to claim a false identity. That's a big, fat, distinctive, hard to miss, line to cross. I agree 100%
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I don't mind it. I think it is a flattering fashion statement when worn in pieces and worn respectfully.
As a teenager, I used to wear OD-green epaulet-style shirts, black pants, actual combat boots with a biker jacket. It looks very cool! (And likely a foreshadowing of my career. :))
As long as it doesn't bleed into full uniform wear, a la Stolen Valor.
As a teenager, I used to wear OD-green epaulet-style shirts, black pants, actual combat boots with a biker jacket. It looks very cool! (And likely a foreshadowing of my career. :))
As long as it doesn't bleed into full uniform wear, a la Stolen Valor.
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SGT Joshua Bressel
I was, likewise, guilty of wearing fatigue pants, and my stepdad's old field jacket, and camo shirts. Then again, I also wanted to be a soldier, more than anything, and I achieved that. Also, CMSGT McGuire, I doubt any of us looked as cute as you did, doing it, lol.
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SGT Joshua Bressel
CMSgt (Join to see) I'd love to see the pic too, lol. Maybe something good can come from the 80's!!!! Lol
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CMSgt (Join to see)
SGT Joshua Bressel -
Well something good came from the 70s--ME!! Lol!!
Thank you for the kind words. :)
I will have to look for the pic. It was not as popular to have a camera at the ready back then. ((cough**thank goodness*cough)) :):)
Well something good came from the 70s--ME!! Lol!!
Thank you for the kind words. :)
I will have to look for the pic. It was not as popular to have a camera at the ready back then. ((cough**thank goodness*cough)) :):)
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COL Robert Davies
Anyone been to Berlin lately? You can get your pictures taken with a "real" GI Jane, for a price. The old B's.
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I have no issue with someone wearing utilities (top or bottom) or boots, perhaps a cover. When they move into wearing a piece of a dress uniform that is when I object. Wearing of a Marine Corps dress uniform item (blues or greens) makes my blood boil. I don't care if it has rank insignia/ribbons/badges etc or not. It should not be worn as a fashion statement or just because they think it is cool.
Too many people have died and been buried in them to have them sullied up by some counter culture loser with self esteem issues.
Too many people have died and been buried in them to have them sullied up by some counter culture loser with self esteem issues.
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SP5 Ronald R Glaeseman
There are those who believe a uniform is a "costume" which can be worn to parties and on Halloween.
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I don't personally like when someone wears part of the uniform. But I wear athletic jerseys, and it's kind of the same thing. I have no problem with military style clothing, if it's not an actual part of the uniform, the I don't care at all.
Stolen Valor is completely separate, those people need a boot shoved up their 4th point of contact.
Stolen Valor is completely separate, those people need a boot shoved up their 4th point of contact.
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I don't particularly care if they're wearing a uniform item casually. If they're falsely claiming to be a vet, that's another story, but most of what you see out there? No big deal for me, really. It's just clothing, after all.
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As the proud Dad of a 10th MOUNTAIN active duty soldier, when my son returned from the big sandbox, "his words" he was getting rid of his ACU jackets, I asked him if I could keep them to wear and he gave them to me. As I wear them in and around my home town I'm frequently approached by active duty and inactive personal asking when I served, I always explain that I wear this jackets out of respect and admiration for what my son has done for his country. And when a civilian thanks me for my service.....I tell him or her, I will pass that along to my son still serving. It is a good excuse to remind people that you men and women are still out there defending liberty. Thank You All for what you have done for our country.
Proud Army Dad! HOOAH!!
Proud Army Dad! HOOAH!!
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SP5 Ronald R Glaeseman
Nothing wrong with wearing a fatigue jacket as everyday wear. I wore a '43 jacket for years when I was a graduate student. Many of the "hipsters did". Woody Allen was one. You're not trying to pass as a member of the Armed Forces. You're trying to keep warm. Pea-coats were excellent for that.
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1. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
2. They look like idiots doing it.
3. If they try to actually impersonate they're usually easy to pick out.
4. Even with those bland, calm, zen statements, seeing the pictures of Jay Z and Shia make me heat up a little. Maybe all they need is a conversation with a real Marine asking them why they are wearing what they are and what they think it means to them, and to Marines who see them do it.
2. They look like idiots doing it.
3. If they try to actually impersonate they're usually easy to pick out.
4. Even with those bland, calm, zen statements, seeing the pictures of Jay Z and Shia make me heat up a little. Maybe all they need is a conversation with a real Marine asking them why they are wearing what they are and what they think it means to them, and to Marines who see them do it.
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It doesn't bother me, but as long as it is tasteful. I also don't want to see it being disrespected.
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I think it's been a thing for a while among sub and counterculture groups. I see it as a harmless wear of old uniforms and it certainly doesn't fall under Stolen Valor, because no one doing it seems to be claiming service. There are old pictures of John Lennon doing it, and I've never heard anyone complain about it.
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