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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One needs to remember that the higher humidity means sweating which is the bodys method of cooling itself just can't happen.
If you are out at Bliss or White Sands you are around 4,000-4,500 feet ASL unless you are up range at WSMR playing in the mountains.
As crazy as it may sound keeping your sleeves down will keep the body cooler when you are in the desert. If you want to stay cool shave the head and body hair. A cold washcloth on a bald head is instant AC for the body in desert heat. All you need are a few washcloths and a small cooler thats half ice and half water. Works wonders.
If you are out at Bliss or White Sands you are around 4,000-4,500 feet ASL unless you are up range at WSMR playing in the mountains.
As crazy as it may sound keeping your sleeves down will keep the body cooler when you are in the desert. If you want to stay cool shave the head and body hair. A cold washcloth on a bald head is instant AC for the body in desert heat. All you need are a few washcloths and a small cooler thats half ice and half water. Works wonders.
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As an old dinosaur the term blouse refers to the field uniform shirt but aside from that the reason for the blousing your trousers is to keep ticks and other insects from getting into your boots or up your trousers legs In addition on the IF/EF DCU's had a very wide collar (to protect your neck)this was shortened because it bunch of morons didn't like the way it looked I thanked those uniform designers every day for that collar and my boonie hat for keeping me from getting sun poisoning and aging 10 years in 4 months. BY the way too many idiots complained about the collar and they shortened it because they didn't like the way it looked..The other suggestion is DO NOT DRINK SPORTS/ENERGY DRINKS THEY ARE POISON (especially in the heat)DRINK WARM WATER (more easily absorbed)and keep your boonie hat and blouse w/collar UP
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I was an infantry squad leader at Ft. Hood 75-79, our CO made his decision on the heat index, dry bulb or wet bulb? I don't remember which, but when it hit a certain level he required for shirts to be removed. Don't know if it was in the army regs, but it was in his regs.
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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).
And?
And?
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I think folks are reading to much into this question. Wanting to take off your top while working is for comfort, as a old Signal Soldier when we recovered our equipment in the Motor pool we took our tops off to keep the cammo netting from catching on clothing. Some times it's easier to do inventory of equipment in just t-shirt, who said they were outside. Come on guys make a decision that's your job.
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SGT Christopher Sigafoos
The original poster stated his wife works on an "airstrip hours a day." Add to that it's an UAS platoon, and they're not doing only a single day or two in the sun, it's nearly every day.
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Heat Cat is issued by J/G3 in training guidance and adjusted as required. Safety regs cover heat category, but ultimately it is up to the Commander to make the call. Typically at BN level, the 3 will advise. Any CSM worth his salt will have his input into the risk assessment. Any CDR can make a modification call based on an ongoing risk assessment. Risk assessments are specific to the work/ training being done. Work on a flight line, o0n blacktop, should have a different set of risks and mitigations than troops in field uniform training CTT in a shaded area.
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I hope in their rooms, but sometimes when we had soldiers doing trash detail, cutting the grass it was allowed by our First Sgt, or whom ever was in charge of that detail
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The best option of you're going to take your top off is to use sunscreen regularly. The instructions are usually on the back of the bottle. When I was at fort hood we usually kept our top on during normal operations. When we were doing intensive manual labor we would "drop top". Honestly i would say use the wet bulb and check the work/ rest cycle chart. I'd you're in heat category 4 or 5 it's probably a good idea to adjust uniform based off of that. Also, you don't have to drop top always unbuttoning your sleeves and untucking pants are an alternative.
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As a 17 year old private in 1965 there were numerious times and, not just during PT that we were ordered to remove our 'fatigue' shirts; caps and unblouse our trousers. The Army of the 1960's, through the 1980's was in a constant state of flux but, the one constant was troop welfare!
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