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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You are responsible for you're soldiers safety first I don't care who disagrees you are responsible. They trust you. They believe in you you lead them they're welfare.
Is in your hands you have This Rank you did not get where you are today by being a fool you have made The Good decisions.
It's OK if you make a bad one every now and Then but we're talking about human lives you have to protect them they believe in you They will follow you to the end of the Earth You know what To Do do? What's right? What your heart tells you To Do?
Is in your hands you have This Rank you did not get where you are today by being a fool you have made The Good decisions.
It's OK if you make a bad one every now and Then but we're talking about human lives you have to protect them they believe in you They will follow you to the end of the Earth You know what To Do do? What's right? What your heart tells you To Do?
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I was stationed in Missouri Fort Leonard wood I was the only Infantry soldier on the base at that time In the summer time the temperature would get 123°.
I worked on a live fire range.
We could not bring ammunition out.
Because the risk of a cook-off as far as D blousing at 11 o'clock AM We D blowhouse made every private take off the BDU top kept them in the shade and gave them plenty of water until 7 PM. Everything is at your discretion if you know it's wrong. Don't do it if you feel it's right? Then do it do what's right no matter what especially at the rank that you have?
You can make decisions make the right ones. Time has change everything since I've been out of military.
It's different now but?
You. Know? Right. From wrong? No matter what your rank is you have to Protect.
Your soldiers no matter what that is your obligation your job.
I worked on a live fire range.
We could not bring ammunition out.
Because the risk of a cook-off as far as D blousing at 11 o'clock AM We D blowhouse made every private take off the BDU top kept them in the shade and gave them plenty of water until 7 PM. Everything is at your discretion if you know it's wrong. Don't do it if you feel it's right? Then do it do what's right no matter what especially at the rank that you have?
You can make decisions make the right ones. Time has change everything since I've been out of military.
It's different now but?
You. Know? Right. From wrong? No matter what your rank is you have to Protect.
Your soldiers no matter what that is your obligation your job.
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I understand but I think the commander needs to use common sense. For the mechanics the soldiers working in maintenance bays / hangars not in direct sun when it’s 115 should be able to take off the blouse. It use to be as an aircraft mechanic/ crew chief we were authorized to take the blouse off while doing maintenance in the hangar at Ft . Hood I don’t know about other units but the 1/7 was able to . That was 1989 / 1991. We kept our shirts on while on the flight line mostly unless we were working weekends , nights , holidays or anytime we thought we could get away with it.
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Normally it's Commanders discretion. Of course the CSM is going to have input.
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As a retired crusty old First Sergeant I always maintained that one does not have to practice to be miserable. While this was normally directed at cold weather (NO Soldier will wear the pile cap for instance), the same applies to hot climates. More important is the NCO’s responsibility to coach, teach, mentor his Soldiers to one day take his position. If the NCO does not explain to the Soldier, as 1SG Hicks points out, the why it is not a good idea to take of your shirt (or blouse, of jacket, whatever moniker one uses) then we have not only failed that Soldier, but all the Soldiers he or she may lead in the future.
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Ever watch a battery of 105's in action? Usually circumstances win-out for safety, sunburns are destruction of GI property when i served, the other side is that group performance at it's best under pressure governs NCO supervision decision, usually the Sarge does what keeps the team safe performing it's task as well as that can be performed under all existing situations. It was certainly that way when I had the ugly duties for sure:) Unless in a parade their is no need to second guess a Sargents on the spot decision.
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I am not an old crusty former 1st Sgt who was in the Army ,but I did spend 22 years in the Air Force and did supervise more than one detail during that time and it was always up to whomever was in charge of that detail to make that decision and even then the weather always had an affect in that decision making. (However I am an Army brat whose dad spent 23 years on active duty. )
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There are exceptions. At Ft. Lee, VA during the summer (with heat index 5), we had soldiers unblouse. That was a command decision, not an NCO call.
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