Originally posted by popsiq: Gone are the day when soldiers had to hump parade dress in their packs. Marine Blues are a classy walking out uniform, greens aren't shabby either.
Are shirt, tie, pants and forage cap still uniform code, or has that gone by the board?
While the tie is not a requirement with the short sleeved shirt (image on the far left)
pants are strongly encouraged ... it is contrary to Marine Corps policy to frighten civilians.
Truth to tell, this isn't so much a "new policy" as a clarification to a policy that has been in place since before I was in ... and it is a good policy, in my opinion.
From what I can remember about being on base when I was small, Marines were never allowed to wear their "fatigues" off base. In fact, when my husband came home on leave back in April, my mom gave him an earful because he was in his ACU's (he's Army btw) in her house... apparently from her time as a Marine Corps wife, that was like walking around in their skivvies
Originally posted by dann1980: Can anyone imagine the Army doing this?
Yes I can imagine the Army doing this. In fact the Army used to do this. We could go directly home in Fatigues but not stop and go in a store etc. They stopped enforcing that regulation sometime in the early 70's while Vietnam was still going on. But they did try to encourage the Military to wear civilian clothes to keep the hippies and peaceniks from starting fights with them. Of course the Military's short hair cuts gave them away.
This was the policy in the 60s and 70s...so I don't see much difference. Actually, I was shocked when I saw Army and Marines in stores wearing fatigues (utilities) and cammies. The Marine Corps wants to show their people in Class A(picture #1 above....well I think that was class A....too many years) at the least...to show pride in their uniforms and service.
But it's kind of a convenience/what else are you doing to kind of issue. I know some soldiers specifically wear their ACUs (in the past, BDUs/DCUs) for attention or what not, but for the most part, it's because it's what they happen to have on. I'll admit, the simple solution to that policy is to have a set of civvies in your POV and change at the company before you go home, but around a military post, people know if you're military or not simply due to haircut/speech/mannerisms anyway. The Army does not have a good simplified Class B like the USMC, and no soldier wants to wear that over the comfortable "utility uniform."
This is a little too much micro-management. All branches of the military could use some positive visual PR, especially now with the drop in recruitment. I can understand if military personnel were walking around town in uniforms that look like they just came through hell, or if they are getting a beer with the guys (or girls); that is not appropriate and does not reflect positively on the services. Picking up the kids from school or stopping to get gas provides the military with visual presence in the community and is great "advertising" for that branch of service. I realize BDUs/Camo's aren't as glamorous as the dress uniform but the military isn't supposed to be glamorous.
When I was in service during the 90s, flight suits and fatigues were allowed at the 7-11, but were a no-no when it came to the mall. Maybe I am getting old and crusty, but it does ruffle me a bit to see soldiers in ACUs at the airport. I realize that they are coming from a combat zone, but it just seems too casual. We used to have to wear class b uniforms for air travel. I know it was a pain, but it did give a better public image for the military. Oh, well, at least they aren't in a pt uniform.
There used to be something called "military image" - the idea that how we presented ourselves to the public influenced their perception of how effective we were at doing our jobs. It's one of the reasons why USAF utility uniforms were a no-no for extended forays off the installation.
Military image was also one of the reasons why our weight and fitness standards used to be such a big deal. We used to be concerned about the sight of fat GIs in public. Doesn't seem that way anymore, though - and that's unfortunate. And I would never be caught in a bar wearing any type of uniform.
We need to be held to a high standard, and present one to the public.
Guess I'm too old-school when it comes to that stuff...!
Originally posted by mcgreer: I remember that, Aggie.
There used to be something called "military image" - the idea that how we presented ourselves to the public influenced their perception of how effective we were at doing our jobs. It's one of the reasons why USAF utility uniforms were a no-no for extended forays off the installation.
Military image was also one of the reasons why our weight and fitness standards used to be such a big deal. We used to be concerned about the sight of fat GIs in public. Doesn't seem that way anymore, though - and that's unfortunate. And I would never be caught in a bar wearing any type of uniform.
We need to be held to a high standard, and present one to the public.
Guess I'm too old-school when it comes to that stuff...!
nah, we're just a couple of old farts who actually remember wearing member's only jackets in the 80s.
When I retired you could only go thru drivethrus get gas pay and leave. Now it looks like they ended that and at the time it was a new reg. Well it ended...good.
whats the big deal. The Army and AF got to go to bars, restaraunts, bahmitzmahs, weddings, walmart, funerals and walking the dogs all in bdu's (utilities). And all the services have an opinion on Marine Regs and a policy in the past that was stricter than theirs is now stricter.
We aint you, and you aint us. Dont worry about it.
quote:
Truth to tell, this isn't so much a "new policy" as a clarification to a policy that has been in place since before I was in ... and it is a good policy, in my opinion.
I’ll bet the Flyboys keep wearing there Flt Suits were ever they want even though Navy Uniform Regulations forbid the wearing of ORGANIZATIONAL clothing off base period. While all the time enforcing these regulations on young Marines. So much for leadership by example.
I see the Air Force here all the time in places like Wal-Mart wearing their BDU’s.
You think the DoD would just come out with a blanket policy on this stuff for all branches.
