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: 32
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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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1SG Todd Sullivan
Some units I have been in allowed you off post in uniform to eat lunch.. But that was 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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On Fort hood it absolutely is not. III Corps handbook with CG policy letters strictly prohibits it. I believe it should not be authorized army wide...except in extreme circumstances.
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SFC (Join to see)
You can access the III Corps handbook at the Ft Hood web page http://www.hood.army.mil
It has all of the policy letters and it is frequently updates.
It has all of the policy letters and it is frequently updates.
Fort Hood's Home Page with news stories and photos of things happening on Fort Hood and with it's deployed units.
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SSG (ret) William Martin
I used to have the FH standards on PDF on my smart phone. I had it on me 24/7.
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I'm not well-versed on this part of 670-1, and something tells me it probably isn't spelled out. However, I do believe that technically just wearing a t-shirt and ACU pants does not constitute a "uniform" and could technically be called civilian attire. That being said, it is not professional AT ALL and makes their branch of service look terrible.
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I mean where does it stop? Its hot so I'm gonna take my top off...my feet hurt so I'm gonna take my boots off....I don't like these pants so I'm gonna just were gym shorts to work from now on....
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DA PAM 670-1 Ch 4-2 states that composition of the Combat uniform:
a. Coat (see para 4–8).
b. Trousers (see para 4–9).
c. Undershirt, sand or tan 499 (see para 20–28e).
d. Undergarments (see para 20–28).
e. Belt, rigger, sand or tan 499 (see para 20–2a).
f. Socks, tan, green, or black; cushion sole (see para 20–24a).
g. Boots, combat, tan or coyote leather (see para 20–3a).
h. Headgear (see para 4–10).
Show me where it says you CAN wear only the tan T-Shirt. If your argument is that it does not say, I ask this: does it say pants must be worn when wearing the top? Implied tasks apply.
a. Coat (see para 4–8).
b. Trousers (see para 4–9).
c. Undershirt, sand or tan 499 (see para 20–28e).
d. Undergarments (see para 20–28).
e. Belt, rigger, sand or tan 499 (see para 20–2a).
f. Socks, tan, green, or black; cushion sole (see para 20–24a).
g. Boots, combat, tan or coyote leather (see para 20–3a).
h. Headgear (see para 4–10).
Show me where it says you CAN wear only the tan T-Shirt. If your argument is that it does not say, I ask this: does it say pants must be worn when wearing the top? Implied tasks apply.
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In the immediate duty section, sure. If it is in the public eye, you should really wear the uniform completely and properly.
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First I would take a picture, and I might even record the situation incase one of them reports me and make a false statement. I would look oddly at this lot of commissioned officers. I would simply ask, "Why do you all have you tops off". Knowing that any answer would not make it okay I would simply state, "You all need to put on your tops per Army regulation AR 670-1". Then I would carry on and enjoy my personal time.
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I can't quote a reg, I've tried searching for an answer. Anecdotally, aside from command/supervisor discretion, I'm only finding examples in the context of a work detail, and most of those are from my time in and before, so pre-2005.
Sorry
Sorry
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So can anyone pull out the reg? Because in US MC eating with your top off is ok, and MC is the most professional branch in terms of uniformity. So explain how is it "unprofessional" to take the top off while dining in?
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That just boils down to poor judgement and unfortunately poor leadership, one could also add a blatant disregard for regulations.
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If it is part of your issued uniform and you are on duty then you need to be wearing a complete uniform. If you happen to be outside then the headgear needs to be on as well. If the complete uniform is not being worn then you are out of uniform.
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