Posted on Aug 1, 2015
What's the strangest uniform violation you have ever seen?
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There was a PFC wearing a BDU cap with LTC rank on his way to the motor pool. Quite a few people saluted with a confused look on their faces. The PFC was me. I had accidentally picked up my battalion commander's hat. Quite the panicked moment when I realized. Oops?
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MSgt Hal Weeden, MBA
PO2 K Davis - You'd think he might notice when he had to reach around back to zip or button up - whichever you guys do.
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MAJ Kenneth Brooks
Was at a gas station in Clarksville when I saw a doctor (Major) filling his tank. By his uniform, I figured he was in-processing the 101st: Spit shined jump boots with trousers bloused and the Screaming Eagle patch on his left shoulder. The only problem: He was wearing the bus driver hat instead of the overseas cap with glider patch. I didn't say a word ... just drove away and left him to his fate.
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When I was a tactical NCO in the mid-80's the regulations on boots were so vague that cowboy boots were authorized footwear. So, a couple of my peers and I would wear black, highly polished, round toed unadorned black cowboy boots during the section on Army Regulations for the wear and appearance of uniforms (AR 670-1). Our students worked very hard to correct us and we challenged them to find it in the regulations. Within a year, the regulations were changed and by then I was an officer assigned to the cavalry, wearing tanker boots.
I wore tanker boots for the next 25 years and they served as a sort of litmus test for unit leadership. Despite beliefs to the contrary, the regulations authorized every soldier to wear tanker boots, assigned to the cavalry or not, just as every soldier could wear jump boots. Throughout my career, as I visited potential units for assignment, wearing my tanker boots, I found that if a unit leader challenged me on the boots, it highlighted the leader's ignorance and desire to bully instead of lead. In units where the leadership asked about the boots, I would have a conversation about being a cavalry officer and the regulations, ultimately moving on to the challenges the unit faced and how my background might fit. In every case where leaders challenged the tanker boots I found the poorest leaders. Often, these leaders focused on appearance over substance, bullying instead of influencing and were immaculately dressed but tactically and technically inept. Tanker boots were my best tool in discovering where I would serve and units I would avoid.
I wore tanker boots for the next 25 years and they served as a sort of litmus test for unit leadership. Despite beliefs to the contrary, the regulations authorized every soldier to wear tanker boots, assigned to the cavalry or not, just as every soldier could wear jump boots. Throughout my career, as I visited potential units for assignment, wearing my tanker boots, I found that if a unit leader challenged me on the boots, it highlighted the leader's ignorance and desire to bully instead of lead. In units where the leadership asked about the boots, I would have a conversation about being a cavalry officer and the regulations, ultimately moving on to the challenges the unit faced and how my background might fit. In every case where leaders challenged the tanker boots I found the poorest leaders. Often, these leaders focused on appearance over substance, bullying instead of influencing and were immaculately dressed but tactically and technically inept. Tanker boots were my best tool in discovering where I would serve and units I would avoid.
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COL (Join to see)
MAJ Ronnie Reams Command of medical units require tactical not technical skills. Hospital unit Commanders manage personnel, logistics and training, regardless of branch. Pulling a doctor or nurse from patient care to command often results in reduced mission capability and a commander, who fails to grasp the tactical aspects. MSC officers used to command all medical units and their training was focused on tactical, leadership, operations and a wide range of skills required of all leaders. However, because the egos of nurses and doctors demand attention, too often, MSC officers are subordinated to technically skilled medical professionals who are tactically inept and poor leaders.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
A MC friend of mine commanded a hospital and he had a MSC officer as XO to handle all the mundane things and he still doctored. Now prior to Med School, he had been a Jarhead Arty officer in Lebanon in 57 and proudly wore his 1MARDIV patch on right shoulder. When asked about it he always said no one wants to be the guy that ran a doctor out of the Army LOL. I realize he was unique in this respect. I not sure how it is done today, but in RVN, even Surgical Hospitals were tucked away in a Division Main base, so there were not a lot of tactical decisions to be made.
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COL (Join to see)
MAJ Ronnie Reams - Much has changed in the medical unit staffing and use. Although they move with the support battalion or brigade, the mundane tasks are endless. Your MC was unique and we had several surgeons, who served in combat arms during Vietnam. But my argument was always the same, MSC is trained to perform all the mundane classes, serves in multiple leadership positions from Platoon and above while the doctor and nurse hone their skills in medicine. It makes no sense to have anyone other than the MSC in the leadership position and the MC in healthcare position. The MC may be able to perform MSC duties but the MSC can't perform MC duties. Command positions are limited and MC officers see them as paths away from patient care and towards greater rank. Again, this results in a reduced patient care capability and too often places individuals in leadership positions that they are iill-prepared for.
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Lt Col DuWayne Heupel
As an Air Force ICBM officer, the requirements for shoe wear on site was a black, high-topped, steal-towed boot. I wore the same Jump Boots I had from my time in the Army. But a few airmen managed to find black, round-toed, cowboy boots with steal toes.
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Not so much strange, but funny, one of my MSgts and I were walking from the parking lot towards a building when we saw SrA X with his BDU cap worn way high on his head. Like almost al the way on the back of his head. Now that wasn't too funny but when MSgt X dressed the Airman down, the Airman produced a hat waiver, meaning he didn't even have to wear headgear. MSgt X asked the Airman why the hell his cover was worn so improperly, Airman X pulled his hat off and showed us the large staples holding his scalp together. Seems he had some surgery to his brain and was recovering. I laughed as MSgt X stammered and tried to recover somewhat gracefully. Moral of the story, get the whole story BEFORE you chew someone out. LOL
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SP6 Aden Mikula
Soldier with female class A's shoes on,in his class A's ready for inspection and got away with it.
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CPL Michael Voeller
He was probably embarrassed, I had the same thing but I chose not to wear my head gear
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1SG (Join to see)
MSgt Diane Payton I'd had him carry around a guidon all day, so he could salute with his other hand (just kidding).
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