Posted on Jun 7, 2015
When is it authorized to remove your ACU top when in uniform?
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If three Soldiers are eating at a local establishment (we will say all three are Lieutenants for this scenario), and they have removed their tops, is it authorized? What are your thoughts?
Posted in these groups: 
Uniforms
Army Regulations
Uniforms Army Regulations
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 33
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I cannot speak to Army reg, but there is no way to candy coat my thoughts. Not "no"... Not "h*ll no"... F*ck no.....
That is all. :)
That is all. :)
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SFC Joseph Lumpkins
I agree, but I was also raised that it was inappropriate to sit in a local restaurant and drink a beer in uniform, but for some reason that has been thrown out the window.
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IAW AR 670-1, it is not authorized, if I am not mistaken, and almost every unit I was assigned to had it's own book of standards that forbade it as well. Should never happen off-post for any reason especially when in the public eye; to me shows a lack of self-discipline and makes us as a branch of the armed forces look like crap.
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Are the regs not the same as the were in the eighties and nineties? We were always told that the only time you wear your uniform off base is to and from work or on mission. You could stop and get gas or stop at the grocery store but going out to eat was always an absolute no! So I would say just being in a sit down restaurant in uniform is a no go. Sitting in your t-shirt eating would be a definite no. Not professional at all. If your excuse is "I'm afraid I may spill food on my uniform" then you need to learn how to eat and proper etiquette while in public eating. It's called a napkin, use it!
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SGT Timothy Rocheleau
I understand that. Sometimes time restraints call for a little latitude, but to be sitting there in your t-shirt? Is it not air conditioned in the facility they were eating? I realize regs change and the military "accepted behavior" may have changed since I was in, but we would never have even thought of taking off our shirts in a civilian place of business. Regardless of what we were doing.
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Lt Col Stephen Petzold
Regs probably vary from Service to Service and there may be local regs too, but for us it was that you could go to a restaurant in BDUs if civilians in equivalent work attire also at there. So like construction workers, police, fire, etc. No taking your top off like the original post. The original thought was that local business sees military patronizing the businesses then they will better support the posts/bases.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
Where I'm at we do a lot of farewell lunches off base. People go during lunch and in uniform (even officers, SNCOs). I think the where you can wear it off post is by post at the discretion of the commander.
But taking off your coat while eating out anywhere? No way. Would they do that at the DFAC? I doubt it so why do that in an off post restaurant looking like idiots? I have never, ever taken my coat off the few times we went to eat for someone leaving and never would. That just looks unprofessional and sloppy.
If it's not some official function and it's just after duty hours screwing around they shouldn't even be in uniform at all. Let alone with their tops off.
But taking off your coat while eating out anywhere? No way. Would they do that at the DFAC? I doubt it so why do that in an off post restaurant looking like idiots? I have never, ever taken my coat off the few times we went to eat for someone leaving and never would. That just looks unprofessional and sloppy.
If it's not some official function and it's just after duty hours screwing around they shouldn't even be in uniform at all. Let alone with their tops off.
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