A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
Read the background on this from CJ if you haven’t already.
I guess I’ve been a little institutionalized by the Marine Corps. I know some of you out there are screaming, “Finally he admits it!” You can stop screaming now. Really. No, I’m serious. Anyway.
Something that has been pounded into my mind since boot camp is the fact Marines do not wear their combat utility uniform off base except in official functions when it is designated the uniform of the day. Parades could be an example. The rules on off base wear of cammies got even more strict for the Lejeune based Marines while I was in Iraq. My Marine Corps mind cannot wrap itself around the fact it is okay for other services to wear their combat uniform out in town. I can’t stop myself from cringing everytime I see a service member in town wearing cammies. It just baffles me.
I know most of you are thinking, “Big deal. So other branches are okay with it. Get over it.” I can’t! Why in the world would you wear a uniform meant for battle in a nonmilitary setting? It is easier to run errands after work before going home, but that uniform just doesn’t belong anywhere except on base.
What do the rest of you think? I’m especially insterested in hearing from CJ and our other service members/vets on this.
(13) Readers Comments
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Karen
I think you guys should be able to wear them too. The more uniforms I see, the safer I feel. Always nice to be able to spot a military member and go up and say thank you.
Paul Couturier - OIF Vet
Marcus, as a Soldier, I’ve seen the Army relax it’s rules on wearing our utility uniforms (BDU’s before the current ACU’s); it doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. If the Army dedcided tomorrow to clamp down on the wearing of ACU’s off-post, I’d live with it!
In my opinion, I think the Army knows it has more important things to worry about than Soldiers wearing ACU’s off-post in non-military settings!
Just this Soldier’s opinion; take it for what it’s worth!
Isaac
Well, I think they should not be a hard rule for preventing troops from wearing the uniform in public. All of my brothers were soldiers, and I agree with Paul. The troops should be free to choose if they want to wear the uniform. After all, troops who don’t want to wear it can just choose not to.
I also agree with Karen on this one.
JD
Speaking as a Marine SNCO, I agree with the Commandant on this issue. The utility uniform generally has no place out in town.
chrisntx
I don’t assocaite the uniform when I see it as Combat. I know you guys wear it in Combat, but that is not the first thing I think of when I see you wearing this paticular uniform.
To me it is no different then a Dr or Nurse wearing scrubs out in public. Should scrubs only be worn in a Drs. office or Hospital? Should we make Drs & Nurses go home and change before going to do there shopping? or eating out?
If a soldier/marine does not live on base, should he be required to drive 5, 10 or more miles home, to change just to double back to the area where he started?
As long as the person is not doing anything to disrespect his branch, I see nothing wrong with wearing them “out on the town”. imho
mominator
I live in a town with an Airforce base and I am used to seeing military folks in uniform so it probably isn’t as big of deal to me as we are used to it. I hadn’t realized that I hadn’t seen a Marine uniform out in public. You are providing a great service to our country and should not have to hide your uniform. I do know that my son when he is in uniform is very careful of his behavior as he represents the Army when he is in his ACU’s.
stlview
Back in the Old Corps…you weren’t even allowed to wear utilities (sateens) or cammies if you drove in from town – you had to bring your uniform in and change. That changed in the late 70s (at least at Pendleton) to where you could at least wear them in the car, but you couldn’t stop -anywhere – unless it was an emergency (and stopping for gas wasn’t considered an emergency – you better be carrying a gas can because you ran out!)
I know before I got out that they were allowing those “quick stop” type things in cammies – fill up the car, run into the Piggly Wiggly for a gallon of milk, pick up laundry, etc, in cammies, but you just didn’t see too many people taking advantage of that.
CJ
Marcus,
Sorry it’s taken so long for me to weigh in on this. Busy preparing for the change of command and all (which went off today without a hitch – I’m such a good 1SG!).
Anyway, when I first came into the Army we weren’t allowed to wear off post either except to drive to or from work. We were allowed to get gas or pick up a quick item, but no major shopping. In and out! Gradually the Army realized that the bond between the community and the military should be a tight one. If it looked like Soldiers didn’t exist, they wouldn’t be as inclined to get to know them.
I also have to agree with Karen. How many stores are robbed or crimes committed with a Soldier or Marine in uniform standing nearby or shopping in the next aisle? It really does comfort some people to notice not only the Soldier, but these days it reminds the general public that we are a nation at war and there are people willing to sacrifice their lives so they can continue to shop peacefully.
On the other hand, I think the term Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is kind of misnomer since I wear the ACU 99% of the time in Garrison. I think the same goes for the Marine camouflage uniform. Back in the day, Soldiers wore their Class B’s or other “Garrison uniforms” and the BDUs truly were combat uniforms. That just isn’t the case anymore. I mean, we wear this piece of junk beret that will NEVER be used in combat!!
Personally, I’ve gotten used to wearing my uniform in public. I’m proud of my service and the ACUs allow me to show that without having to shove my ribbon rack (eye candy) in people’s faces and get asked a million questions about it.
Just my $.02.
Laura, A Military Mom
Since I’m just a Mom, I really don’t know all the “rules” when it comes to when, where, how of the uniform. But what I do know is that when #3 son was active in the AF I loved seeing him in his uniform and being with him when he wore it. When visiting #2 Son over in Belgium(with NATO), I loved meeting him for lunch and looking around the room at all the different uniforms, again very proud to be seen with him. But I think some of the most ‘fun’ ones were when we were greeting & shipping off #1 Son back from Afghanistan & Iraq and it’s then that those around would stop him and say “Thank You”….but then again I do soooo love my son’s when they are in their dress uniforms
Any time any place That’s what this Mom thinks!
Motivated
Okay,
I finally found a page where I can leae my opinion. I have been a Marine for the past five years. I have an older brother and a younger sister both in the Army. I have read a lot of mixed views from the comments above. For the utilities in public places such as airports and on the airplane that should be strictly forbidden, it is simply a safety issue for that servicemember. If something were to happen who do you think would be the first target a civilian or a servicemember in cammies? I have been deployed twice so far and these are the types of things they tell us in our terrorism awareness briefs. I guess not everyone gets them I dont know, to me it makes sense. I understand that when you deploy you have a limited amount of room in your packs. I cant accept the excuse of there isnt room to pack clothes. We were all ordered to bring one set of civies, no shoes because we can just wear our boots. So I brought with me jeans, and a t-shirt, and I am in the operating forces. When we traveled back from combat both times we travled in cammies but we were all together, and we went to one place of the airport and stayed there, we didnt walk around smelling like deployment stink, and trying to show off. Next thing if you are going to wear your cammies be sure and square yourselves away. I have seen it all to no boot blouses, one boot bloused, servicemembers walking around half mast. I even saw on servicemember walking around with dirty, and nast cammies with holes in them. Take a little pride in the uniform that you wear. I have wanted to correct so many of you but it is not my responsibility. I will conclude by saying that I am not trying to offend anyone by any means, but I just had to get what every Marine wonders on a day to day basis. Semper Fi!!!
Marcus
Marine, it is your responsibility to make on the spot corrections no matter the rank. If the offender is senior then use tact and I’m certain he will appreciate you looking out.
harold
Marcus, I personally like to see the military member in whatever uniform they are more comfortable in, but the uniform should be in top condition and worn according to regulations. I wore Khakis or Class A’s the whole time I was in the Army, except when I was at boot camp. The Khakis were comfortable, but I never did like wearing the Class A’s (something about tying a tie around my neck really bothers me). At all times, my uniform was worn with pride, my gig-line straight, and shoes were spit-shined to a mirror finish. I wanted the world and my superiors to know I had high esprit de corps.
The best uniformed soldier I have seen recently is a picture in some war location, I think it was in Iraq, where the soldier was standing tall walking alone looking down the street with a scared boy following close behind. There was a series of those pictures of the soldier walking calmly looking for insurgents, the boy bent down nearly crawling staying close to the soldier and a crowd of locals running for their lives, with the caption of the series that the boy knew where he was safe. The soldier was dressed for war and probably wasn’t comfortable.
Now tell me there is a difference which uniform the soldier should be wearing in public in the USA. Besides, how am I going to be able to tell the difference between a civilian or a soldier.
Oh, one more thing, I think the soldier who is issued a uniform should be able to turn it in for a replacement when it becomes torn, tattered, or stained. I never did like the Army’s policy that once you are issued a uniform, you are responsible for it’s replacement. I wasn’t paid very much, and I doubt that the pay scale has gotten any better since I left the service.
I’ll give CJ change for that .02
Kayla
I’ve seen Soldiers go out in their ACUs everywhere. When I say everywhere, I’m referring to the numerous occasions when I’ve seen Soldiers shopping at TJ Maxx with their ACUs on. They’re in the mall, all over various restaurants, etc. I’m not in the Military, but I think it’s a disgrace to the rest who wear their uniform where it’s supposed to be worn.