Posted on Jun 16, 2021
When is it "ok" for soldiers to deblouse while in garrison?
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Having been at Ft Bliss (dry heat) and now being at Ft Riley (Very humid heat) when is it acceptable for soldiers to modify the uniform? We are hitting heat cat 3 & 4 every day now and there's many solders (including my wife's unit) who work outside all day every day right under the sun which is tough. Up until recently there has been no issue with them (this specific unit is a UAS platoon so they're on an air strip for hours) taking off their tops due to the extreme heat. Recently they were told "Army policy says you're allowed to roll sleeves not take off tops so no more taking them off." Knowing a bit about how regs work there is no "Army policy" but rather a regulation that leaves it up to the local commander to decide (which is usually overruled by crusty grumpy 1SG's for no reason at all).
So my question is, because I can't find supporting regs to try and help out, when is it acceptable for soldiers to remove tops? Is it just never? Is it a local call from someone willing to take the heat round because at the end of the day as NCOs we are responsible for the welfare of our soldiers?
I am somewhat hoping a medical person will chime in with the heat index recommendations or something along those lines but overall I'm curious on your thoughts.
So my question is, because I can't find supporting regs to try and help out, when is it acceptable for soldiers to remove tops? Is it just never? Is it a local call from someone willing to take the heat round because at the end of the day as NCOs we are responsible for the welfare of our soldiers?
I am somewhat hoping a medical person will chime in with the heat index recommendations or something along those lines but overall I'm curious on your thoughts.
Fort Riley
Uniforms
NCOs
Army Regulations
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 198
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WOW...Thank goodness I was never in the ARMY. The AF never worried about such a small issue and allowed their troops. To dress as they saw fit
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It is at the discretion of the Commander. Though, it is definitely better under a blazing sun to keep covered. I am now suffering from skin cancer because overexposure.
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US Army Engineers, when I commanded I ordered my company to remove their bouses and unblouse their leggins while exercises were undertaken on Lake Milford during pontoon bridge building. Engineers are prohibited from having the legs bloused while working over water. It seems the head goes down and the feet up if the trooper cannot swim. I had the DC roll up in his jeep during such a practice and begin to dress me down because my company was out of uniform. After reading him the Engineer Field Manual, he left the area without further comment. A win for the troops because that was my job, to have their backs.
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Understand the frustration. As an engineer officer with 27 years in and around construction it leaves me with the same opinion. Heat indexes and weather conditions makes a lot of difference. When you need practical results the book needs to go out the window. I served in RVN, Europe and several other diverse weather situation. Camping & working in Snow works differently than working in the tropical conditions on construction.
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I have report that if you survive for 20 years or whatever it is now, you too can look back on such utter foolish nonsense as having to worry about what someone thinks about your clothing, and be relieved you haven't had to fuck with such (since 1996 in my case), and yet the checks come in every month like clockwork. It was worth it to me.
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Having spent time at Ft Bliss and a son born there its my opinion, there are no regs, that decision is up to the NCO in charge of the detail. I have however been in units where it was company policy that removing outerwear is not allowed, Ft Ord comes to mind. BUT of course that was back in the 50's when the Ist sgt was god and we all did his bidding.
RStandal
RStandal
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Lest anyone think this is a "new" problem ... There is a story of a destroyer captain the the southwest Pacific in WW2 who was reprimanded for letting his sailors work shirtless (done with time supervision the sunburn can be avoided, though not the long-term medical consequences of excessive sun exposure). Away from the squadron flagship he was tempted to allow it again. When the flag popped over the horizon unexpectedly, the semiphore signal he received was, "Why are your sailors working on weather decks half naked?" His response (which may well have briefly preceded his relief form command) was, "Because we make them wear trousers."
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I would like to know the need of Rally Point. If your in the service, a website is not the place to ask questions. That is what your chain of command is for. ???????
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In the Marines, it was up to the ranking person present. No one wanted to look like a dirtbag in front of the CO or XO, but in the morning formation we would fall out to walk the hanger and flight line looking for loose debris and we were expected to be ready to go get dirty right then, so standards were lower. Any other formation, you formed up in a complete uniform that was ready for inspection. It makes me proud to think our brothers in the Army are keeping an eye on regs and their traditions and someone care to see it go on. I hate to see some of the changes in the last 30 years that seem to not be in the interest of the Corps, or the Military in general.
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