Why do we pick and choose standards to uphold?

2014-01-19T23:58:27-05:00

The biggest example I can come up with is all the Squared away leaders that still starch their ACUs when the ALARACT says in bold;

"SOLDIERS WILL NOT STARCH THE ARMY COMBAT UNIFORM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE USE OF STARCH, SIZING, AND ANY PROCESS THAT INVOLVES DRY-CLEANING OR A STEAM PRESS WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TREATMENTS AND DURABILITY OF THE UNIFORM AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED."

What other areas do you see where leaders pick and choose standards? Is the argument that "it looks more professional" really a good excuse?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 12:06 AM

2014-01-20T00:06:57-05:00

I hope Soldiers aren't doing this, but I know they are if you posted this.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 20 at 2014 12:08 AM

2014-01-20T00:08:50-05:00

Well, for the longest time, almost every NCO and Officer in the military was a big old hypocrite. Telling Soldiers to do the right thing during the day, but then going home at night and having illegal oral or anal (or both) sex, which was expressly forbidden in the UCMJ as sodomy.

And let's not forget swearing, which we've always accepted but which has also been a violation of the UCMJ for a very long time (Art 134, indecent language).

Response by SPC Gary Basom made Jan 20 at 2014 12:47 AM

2014-01-20T00:47:43-05:00

The same thing was said about the BDU uniform in the mid 1980s starching or dry cleaning would affect the clothing in it's breatheability and mess up some sort of infra-red reducing dye in the fabric, yet it was still done. If you saw some of the uniforms and when they were worn, many troops were called "ragbags" because of their uneven appearance(crinkled look).

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 1:34 AM

2014-01-20T01:34:40-05:00

I think the reason is because those leaders grew up in the Army where people took pride in their uniform and the current one looks like a bag of ass. BDUs said the same thing but senior leadership thought looking professional was more important in-between deployments. Where I did hate starching uniforms and polishing boots it was nice to take some pride and have a nice looking uniform. With the wars being over I think we will see the Army headed back this way.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2014 11:03 AM

2014-01-20T11:03:57-05:00

There's a long standing disconnect between the official gospel from the DA and the practices of the Army. Reflective belts are not law, I hardly see anyone PMCSing their pro-masks and ACOGs once a week, and don't even get me started on arbitrary personal grooming standards.
I don't know how to fix it.

On that note: Walking around in an uniform that is made up of sharp, angular lines and which shines like the sun under IR doesn't make you look professional in a way you want. It makes you look professionally detached from principles of combat and very dedicated to serving in garrison. I stand by my previous statement that wearing battle dress in garrison and treating it like a class B uniform is ridiculous. Just wear a class B uniform and keep the battle dress for battle/field.