What's your opinion on personalized military Mess Dress uniform shirts?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 22:14:08 -0400

I just saw some for the first time at an Army Ball this weekend. The Mess Uniform jackets came off during the dancing and the shirts underneath were quite stylish! They looked unique but were the in the regulations? What is your opinion on these? Do you own and wear one? Are there regulations for these personalized uniform shirts ?

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Apr 26 at 2015 10:21 PM

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 22:21:46 -0400

Are these authorized?

Response by LTC J. Lee Mudd made Apr 26 at 2015 10:23 PM

LTC J. Lee Mudd — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 22:23:15 -0400

The Air Force has been wearing these for years; some of the women's versions I've seen are sleeveless and backless. I've admired them, but can't decide what I'd get. Something in branch color?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Apr 26 at 2015 10:27 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 22:27:28 -0400

CPT William Beaver, I love it! By the time those shirts come out, the brass should be gone and the Joes s/b swilling any wine left over in the carafes on their? table(s)!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2015 10:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 22:38:32 -0400

Officers will be officers...

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Apr 26 at 2015 11:00 PM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 23:00:36 -0400

I don't like it. I think official military uniforms should be worn for military functions. Unless these shirts are authorized optional items for the Mess Dress Uniform, they should be prohibited.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Apr 26 at 2015 11:02 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 23:02:13 -0400

LTC J. Lee Mudd, No graduate from Medary Elementary or North High School would wear one of those shirts?

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2015 11:10 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 23:10:44 -0400

Some of them are quite creative and are obviously not within the letter of the standards, let alone the spirit. That said, by the time they are seen, most people still in attendance really don't care. Usually after the smoking lamp is lit and the band or other entertainment has started.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2015 11:25 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 23:25:25 -0400

There are so many events in the military that inherently take away from fun and esprit de corp these days. I am all in favor of anything that will bring back some fun into the ranks, even if only for a moment. The last military ball I attended, my company commander had a "party shirt" on, an everyone, to include myself liked it. I had never seen one before, but the whole vibe changed in the room once he went out on the dance floor and set the tone. As far as regulations go, I am not so sure it fits the criteria... However, it seems like an issue that could be addressed at higher echelons with relative ease. Maybe, at commander discretion?

Response by SGT Curtis Earl made Apr 27 at 2015 6:39 AM

SGT Curtis Earl — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 06:39:15 -0400

I play a lot of Military Balls and I've seen my share of coolness. The senior NCOs of the Coasties in Mobile Alabama wore kilts. KILTS!!! I want to wear a kilt with my Dress coat!

Response by CW3 Brian Bartee made Apr 27 at 2015 7:13 AM

CW3 Brian Bartee — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 07:13:58 -0400

I see no issue with "party shirts" and in fact think it adds to the morale at a military ball, especially if it is mandatory to attend.

Response by SFC Jason Porter made Apr 27 at 2015 7:54 AM

SFC Jason Porter — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 07:54:02 -0400

In my 20 plus yrs I never saw them! We went by proper dress code AR-670-1. But now by the looks of the picture in this post it is not so anymore. Times are a changing and the military with it. But if it helps morale then why not...

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Apr 27 at 2015 8:33 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 08:33:11 -0400

Really common in the flying/Ops communities.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 27 at 2015 9:24 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:24:25 -0400

Honestly, it's kind of cool.

It's unseen except "deep into the night." It adds a little bit of fun, without detracting from the uniform in a Public setting (the ball is Private).

Formality is generally "loosened" to a degree at these events, and this seems like an extension of that.

Response by CSM David Heidke made Apr 27 at 2015 9:51 AM

CSM David Heidke — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:51:13 -0400

At a Dining In, maybe... never at a public function or a Dining Out.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 9:51 AM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 09:51:12 -0400

Okay... I have to say, "I LOVE it!" and I wish I had one....

Response by SMSgt Bryan Raines made Apr 27 at 2015 2:32 PM

SMSgt Bryan Raines — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 14:32:11 -0400

I only saw them worn at Dining outs/ins. They were worn for morale purposes and of course the "offenders" had to go to the grog bowl. When worn with the jacket on, the ones I saw could not be distinguished from the regulation shirt unless the wearer wanted the shirt to be noticed. The junior enlisted especially liked them as it showed that the Senior NCO's and Officers were not "uncool". I have been out for about 6 years now so things may have changes some.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 16 at 2015 1:40 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 13:40:41 -0400

When I was active the pilots wore their own variations on the uniform based on their fighter squadron. While I'm al for being an individual and having fun, the uniform should be off limits. Hence the name "uniform"

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Aug 16 at 2015 1:46 PM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 13:46:45 -0400

I just attended a wedding that had about 15 Air Force pilots attending (bride & groom both pilots in the AF). All of them wore the party shirts with their college logos all over them. I thought it was awesome! Anyone know where to have these made?

Response by SGT Sean Graham made Jan 21 at 2017 10:45 PM

SGT Sean Graham — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 22:45:03 -0500

Check out savagesleeves.com

Response by SGT Sean Graham made Jan 21 at 2017 10:45 PM

SGT Sean Graham — Sat, 21 Jan 2017 22:45:37 -0500

Check out savagesleeves.com

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2018 4:47 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 16:47:00 -0500

Party shirts are for the culture
No one should have a problem with them.

Response by Cpl Bill Johnson made Jan 21 at 2018 10:42 PM

Cpl Bill Johnson — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 22:42:45 -0500

What does the regulation regarding uniforms say? Does it describe that particular uniform shirt As "personalizable" if not... it is inappropriate.

Response by SGT Jack Stevens made Jan 22 at 2018 12:31 AM

SGT Jack Stevens — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 00:31:59 -0500

My last military function was a dining in for my BRT Troop. In the CAV, things are done quite differently. From Red & White Suspenders, to our Stetsons and Spurs. And once the festivities started out came our kerchiefs. And yes back then I had purchessed my own set of Dress Blues as a Specialist. Then once I was a NCO I upgraded to The Dinner Blues.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2018 8:51 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 May 2018 08:51:39 -0400

Shameful, READ AR670-1 This party shirt is made up crap! The Soldiers wearing this should be corrected, by allowing this you lower the standards across the board.The NCO's AND Officers at these events should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this made up crap! One Standard, One Army! This has NOTHING to do with morale either! #shameful #unprofessiona!

Response by PO1 Dave Bowles made May 31 at 2018 4:07 AM

PO1 Dave Bowles — Thu, 31 May 2018 04:07:51 -0400

Hell yes!