What happen to no drinking in uniform off base?

2019-03-04T18:25:21-05:00

I live in summerville South Carloina next to Joint Base Charlestion.
I can not recall how nany times I see these Air Force people drinking in town at restraunts and going into bars in Uniform.
When I was in the ARMY if you did that most of the time some one would call you out on it. Then call your command. We where only allowed to drink on base in uniform.
I see some of the S.C. Guard people do that but what to you expect from some of them.
Most of us that have been in the Guard know it is going to happen.
I know the Quality of some poeple in the military have dropped, But come on A Air Force E-5 Should know better. Just want to know what has happed to doing the right thing and taking Pride in your self and what you are a part of.

Response by PO1 Rick Serviss made Mar 4 at 2019 6:34 PM

2019-03-04T18:34:27-05:00

As long as you follow the law, don't drive drunk and don't get into bar fights, there are no rules against drinking off base, even in uniform.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 4 at 2019 8:33 PM

2019-03-04T20:33:15-05:00

SGT Charles Bartell yeah, I see it in Colorado Springs with Airforce Personnel all the time. They do right arm night down town. Never any other branch...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2019 8:59 PM

2019-03-04T20:59:29-05:00

Im confused though...it's okay for the NG to do it, but not AF?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2019 9:11 PM

2019-03-04T21:11:18-05:00

Every installation or Brigade has a written policy and/or guidelines for drinking in uniform on or off post, so there isn’t one blanket policy, it really depends on where you are stationed. Hopefully the personnel are using sound judgement and not driving and drinking.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2019 6:51 AM

2019-03-05T06:51:31-05:00

So the other question I have on this is what Uniform? Is it dress uniform like Class A's? If it is there Utility uniform/Combat uniform then it is not allowed. But then again "the Air force being the civilians of the military" unless they were acting drunk and stupid I wouldn't even bother with them. Now if it was a soldier then we are talking a different story.

Response by SrA James Cannon made Mar 5 at 2019 11:24 AM

2019-03-05T11:24:36-05:00

The Air Force has different rules than the Army. Don’t be mad at airmen for doing something that their rules allow. If the Army’s rules allowed it, their people would do it too. This is akin to Marines getting bent out of shape when they see Army and Air Force wearing BDU’s off base. Just because the Marine’s rules don’t allow it, doesn’t mean their rules should be forced on everyone else.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2019 2:36 PM

2019-03-05T14:36:55-05:00

That's one of those military factoids; repeated often enough to believe it's a fact, but not actually at all. Other common factoids are things like battalion commanders have to approve more than 30 days of leave, or that tricare authorizes one elective surgery.

As someone pointed out, alcohol consumption is a local commander policy. It comes down to location, environment, and culture. I've worked several places where we had a bar and were allowed to drink in uniform. Other places where we went out on the town after a ball in uniform and drank.
Just because the Army does it differently than the Air Force doesn't make it better. If you ask a Marine they'll tell you we are equally unprofessional for being seen off post in uniform at any time. Just different cultures.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2019 3:36 PM

2019-03-05T15:36:01-05:00

You are allowed to go out in town to restaurants in uniform in the Army now.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Mar 5 at 2019 3:36 PM

2019-03-05T15:36:18-05:00

Great question but you answered it your self. It's the Air Force.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2019 7:34 PM

2019-03-05T19:34:40-05:00

Different service, different rules. Stop crying.

Response by SCPO William Akin made Mar 5 at 2019 10:07 PM

2019-03-05T22:07:53-05:00

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change,
The courage to change the things I can, and
The wisdom to know the difference"

Believe in God or not, a body can't go too wrong heeding those three lines...
I heard/learned the above LONG before I ever heard of AA

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2019 1:01 AM

2019-03-06T01:01:02-05:00

Tracking this is about the Air Force, primarily, but I figure this excerpt from Army Regulation 670-1 may help someone... somewhere... someday...

Chapter 4-3, par c. Restrictions on wear. (1) Personnel may not wear the combat uniform in off-post establishments that primarily sell alcohol for consumption on the premises. If the off-post establishment sells alcohol and food for consumption on the premises, Soldiers may not wear the combat uniform if their activities in the establishment center on the drinking of alcohol.

Call this interpretation, but it sounds like if I’m in uniform and trying to party at a bar then I’m wrong. However, if I want to grab some libations on my way home, or if I’m out to eat while I’m unform, withstanding a local policy, I’m fine.

Conversely, if I go to, let’s say a chili’s so I can get toasted, I’d better do so out of uniform because my activities now center on drinking rather than having a drink while I eat.