Asked to wear other branches (been in two) uniform to Funeral. Advice?

2015-10-18T10:34:06-04:00

I was invited to a funeral but asked to wear Navy Dress Blues to Retired Navy Veterans Funeral.
I am currently Air National Guard, but before that I was Active Duty Navy. I still have my Navy Blues, but I was not sure a regulations. They ended up changing the plans and I was unable to attend, but the potential exists that it could happen to me again.

Can I wear my Navy Blues or do I need to state that I am required to wear my AF dress uniform?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2015 10:36 AM

2015-10-18T10:36:12-04:00

Air Force..

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Oct 18 at 2015 10:55 AM

2015-10-18T10:55:47-04:00

In your situation, I would have worn the Navy Dress Blues. I also am not sure of the regulations, but it was important to the deceased and/or his family, I would take the hit if I was wrong by the regs.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Oct 18 at 2015 11:15 AM

2015-10-18T11:15:14-04:00

Ask your Chief or Shirt.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2015 11:17 AM

2015-10-18T11:17:10-04:00

No, you have to wear the uniform of the service you are actively a member of. Its like one of those things if you have to question if it's right or wrong, it's probably wrong lol.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2015 1:13 PM

2015-10-18T13:13:37-04:00

Personally I think it strange since you ae currently serving in the Air Force to be requested to wear the Navy uniform. I think it would be disrespectful to both services. When a person retires they are authorized the wear of the uniform of the branch they retired. Now with that said I dont think anyone would question you because most wouldn't know any better. I was a Marine and retired Air Force but would not try to wear the Marine uniform. But that's just me and my thinking. Here is the only thing I found on the net. http://www.lawinfo.com/illegal-wearing-of-uniforms.html

Illegal Wearing of Uniforms - Illegal Wearing of Uniforms Law Resources - LawInfo

Illegal Wearing of Uniforms - LawInfo provides free legal Illegal Wearing of Uniforms information that can help answer your legal questions.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2015 1:37 PM

2015-10-18T13:37:56-04:00

Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE NUMBER 1334.1
May 17, 2004

USD(P&R)

SUBJECT: Wearing of the Uniform

References:
(a) DoD Directive 1334.1, "Wearing of the Uniform," August 11, 1969 (hereby canceled)
(b) Executive Order 10450, April 27, 1953, as amended
(c) Section 772 of title 10, United States Code

1. REISSUANCE AND PURPOSE
This Directive reissues reference (a) and continues to prescribe limitations on wearing of the uniform by members of the Armed Forces and continues to establish policy with respect to wearing of the uniform by former members of the Armed Forces.

2. APPLICABILITY
This Directive applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the "DoD Components").

3. POLICY
3.1. The wearing of the uniform by members of the Armed Forces (including retired members and members of Reserve components) is prohibited under any of the following circumstances:
3.1.1. At any meeting or demonstration that is a function of, or sponsored by an organization, association, movement, group, or combination of persons that the Attorney General of the United States has designated, under E.O. 10450 as amended (reference (b)), as totalitarian, fascist, communist, or subversive, or as having adopted a policy of advocating or approving the commission of acts of force or violence to deny others their rights under The Constitution of the United States, or as seeking to alter the form of Government of the United States by unconstitutional means.
3.1.2. During or in connection with the furtherance of political activities, private employment or commercial interests, when an inference of official sponsorship for the activity or interest may be drawn.
3.1.3. Except when authorized by competent Service authority, when participating in activities such as public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, rallies or any public demonstration (including those pertaining to civil rights), which may imply Service sanction of the cause for which the demonstration or activity is conducted.
3.1.4. When wearing of the uniform would tend to bring discredit upon the Armed Forces.
3.1.5. When specifically prohibited by regulations of the Department concerned.

3.2. Former members of the Armed Forces, unless under another provision of this Directive or under the terms of 10 U.S.C. 772 (reference (c)), who served honorably during a declared or undeclared war and whose most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions may wear the uniform in the highest grade held during such war service only upon the following occasions and in the course of travel incident thereto:
3.2.1. Military funerals, memorial services, weddings, and inaugurals.
3.2.2. Parades on National or State holidays; or other parades or ceremonies of a patriotic character in which any Active or Reserve United States military unit is taking part.
3.2.3. Wearing of the uniform or any part thereof at any other time or for any other purposes is prohibited.

3.3. Medal of Honor holders may wear the uniform at their pleasure except under the circumstances set forth in paragraph 3.1., above.

4. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Directive is effective immediately.

10 U.S.C.
United States Code, 2011 Edition
Title 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART II - PERSONNEL
CHAPTER 45 - THE UNIFORM
Sec. 772 - When wearing by persons not on active duty authorized
From the U.S. Government Printing Office, http://www.gpo.gov

§772. When wearing by persons not on active duty authorized
(a) A member of the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard may wear the uniform prescribed for the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, as the case may be.
(b) A member of the Naval Militia may wear the uniform prescribed for the Naval Militia.
(c) A retired officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may bear the title and wear the uniform of his retired grade.
(d) A person who is discharged honorably or under honorable conditions from the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may wear his uniform while going from the place of discharge to his home, within three months after his discharge.
(e) A person not on active duty who served honorably in time of war in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps may bear the title, and, when authorized by regulations prescribed by the President, wear the uniform, of the highest grade held by him during that war.
(f) While portraying a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, an actor in a theatrical or motion-picture production may wear the uniform of that armed force if the portrayal does not tend to discredit that armed force.
(g) An officer or resident of a veterans’ home administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs may wear such uniform as the Secretary of the military department concerned may prescribe.
(h) While attending a course of military instruction conducted by the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, a civilian may wear the uniform prescribed by that armed force if the wear of such uniform is specifically authorized under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the military department concerned.
(i) Under such regulations as the Secretary of the Air Force may prescribe, a citizen of a foreign country who graduates from an Air Force school may wear the appropriate aviation badges of the Air Force.
(j) A person in any of the following categories may wear the uniform prescribed for that category:
(1) Members of the Boy Scouts of America.
(2) Members of any other organization designated by the Secretary of a military department.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 35; Pub. L. 99–145, title XIII, §1301(a)(1), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 735; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title XVI, §1621(a)(1), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1602; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, §551(b), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2525.)

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2015 7:54 PM

2015-10-18T19:54:12-04:00

Regs cannot cover every situation. If its a specific request of the family, I don't think either service would complain. I have interesting situation; I am in the Civil Air Patrol, Naval Sea Cadets and Coast Gaurd Aux. I have 4 different service branch uniforms in my closet! Ive only been officially in the Army branch; the other groups authorized and require you to wear that AF, Navy or CG uniforms modified with their insignia (as authorized in their parent services regs.) With exception of CG Aux, you can wear civilian style polo or blazer outfit (and must if you don't meet weight or grooming standard--CG doesn't seem to worry about that) A a few occasions some Sea Cadet personnel complained when I wore my Army uniform to a couple of their functions. I usually wear a polo outfit, but still wear my Army blues to evening dinner functions.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Oct 18 at 2015 8:42 PM

2015-10-18T20:42:47-04:00

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member You would wear the AF uniform my friend. No longer in the Navy.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 18 at 2015 8:49 PM

2015-10-18T20:49:11-04:00

You can not be wrong if you wear your current authorized uniform for the service of which you are a member to an acceptable social event. You don't have an AFI that covers this? The Army uniform regulation (AR 670-1 and DA PAM 670-1 ) reflects and specifies the federal statute, listing wear occasions, veteran status, and other key variables.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2015 9:16 PM

2015-10-18T21:16:11-04:00

CMSgt James Nolan My preference is and always will be to wear the uniform of the AF at this stage given I am no longer in the Navy. Frankly it would make me uncomfortable. I get freaked out still putting on my AF Blues thinking I missed something.

LTC Private RallyPoint Member I do appreciate those thoughts. I was going to ask if anyone was in that position. I thank you for that knowledge!

LTC Jason Mackay There are direct regulations regarding the wear of ones uniform. Unfortunately, they don't normally consider prior service. So you have to go off the letter/intent of rule.

I thank you all for input into this! One of the reasons I really enjoy RP you get a great many positive responses.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 19 at 2015 3:27 AM

2015-10-19T03:27:08-04:00

I assume you were honorably discharged from the Navy, so there is nothing that says you CAN'T wear a Navy uniform, especially if you were specifically requested to do so. No one is going to chew you out for it and if they do let me know and I'll give them the Retiree Knife Hand.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2015 8:23 AM

2015-10-19T08:23:03-04:00

Your question seems to indicate that you were, at one point, Active Duty Navy...I've known lots of friends who were active in one service, then went Guard in another. I believe regs are clear and the "intent" even clearer. You have honorably separated from the Navy, and therefore, have every right to wear the Navy uniform of your prescribed grade/rank/rate at time of separation under circumstances as approved by the instruction. As a Guardsman, you have current status, and the right to that uniform under approved conditions. The only time I would think there "might" be an issue, is if you were commissioned in the active component, and resigned said commission to accept an enlisted billet in the Guard (I believe that is the procedure)...anyone have any specific references for that scenario?

At the end of the day, I think meeting the request of the family covers a lot of ground.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2015 10:43 AM

2015-10-19T10:43:53-04:00

A funeral, it is about the deceased ... that should be the answer right there. Unless you are the Funeral Guard ... that mean you are on duty, so you will need to go with regulation.

Response by SFC Brian Ewing made Oct 20 at 2015 12:36 PM

2015-10-20T12:36:20-04:00

I once encountered a somewhat similar situation when I had a former Marine who wanted to wear his uniform to a Military Ball for the Marine Corps but he was now in the Army.
I told him "no" and that he should be proud of the service he was already in and that he could attend the ball and still recount his days as a Marine.

Personally I understood why he wanted to wear it but professionally I did not feel it was appropriate to portray another branch while serving in another. I have been to Marine Corp events in my Army Blues and received nothing but praise from Marines on how the uniform looked. Pride is a matter from within, not from without.

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made May 16 at 2019 8:00 PM

2019-05-16T20:00:15-04:00

My buddy is a USMC vet of Fahluga and now in the Air National Guard. Believe Me, if the event is anything Marine, he’s wearing his Marine uniform.