Military Dress Code and BDU's?

Question

How do you feel about the lack of policy regarding what troops wear in public.
It used to be a regulation that one could not wear BDU's off base and in public unless it was to and from off base quarters.
While traveling, only dress uniforms or civilian clothing were to be worn.
Does the military even issue various dress uniforms anymore?
All I see now is people wearing BDU's and it seems a lot of civilians are now wearing them around town also.

Answer 1

I've been in the Army for more than 18 years and the Army has never prohibited Soldiers from wearing BDUs (now ACUs) off-post. The ONLY restriction about wearing BDU/ACU off-post is that one cannot wear it into establishments in which the primary activity is alcohol consumption (i.e. bars), or to restaurants which serve alcohol if the Soldier is primarily there to drink (i.e. the bar in Chili's, or TGIFridays).

Otherwise Soldiers are free to wear BDU/ACU off-post at their own discretion. There are times and locations where the local Commander may restrict the wear of utility uniforms off-post for a particular reason (i.e. Force Protection in overseas locations). Also, it is almost universally prohibited by Army Commanders to wear heavily soiled utility uniforms off-post...so if you've just come out of the Field, you need to shower and change before going out off-post.

Civilians can wear anything the want to wear, there's no law against wearing BDU-style clothing, or even surplus BDUs! Camouflage is actually quite in-style nowadays! My daughter loves her Dickies brand camouflage pants!

You sound pretty hostile toward seeing Soldiers off-post in uniform, why is that? The Army uniform is something for a Soldier to be proud of! Why shouldn't he or she wear it while running errands after work?

Wayne C - Recruiters wear the uniform they are directed to wear, stop giving them "old school." They are doing the mission they are given in the uniform which draws the most potential recruits.

Also, ACUs are authorized for wear while travelling to and from Rest and Recuperation (R&R) leave while deployed, so many of the Soldiers you see in airports wearing ACUs are in transit to, or from, the Sandbox! Why not thank them for their service instead of giving them a ration of Stuff, when they are in compliance with the Army Reg?

Answer 2

There doesn't need to be a policy on what troops can wear in public. You just have to have a commander worth a crap to tell his NCO's and troops that they better not get caught wearing their BDU's (in my day) off post and if you had to wear your uniform, it was your dress uniform and only if you were on military business. I was an Army Captain for 13 years and I yelled at my share of NCO's who thought they could parade around in public in their BDU's. It is a uniform that is worn to do a job and it represents something. It is not a party dress that you wear to show off or to go to the 7-11 store and get a soda. If you want to attract women, wear a civilian suit. Have some respect for the military uniform you wear and what it and you are suppose to represent when you put it on! Dismissed!

Answer 3

Army Dress Code Regulation

Answer 4

When I was in the Navy, we were not allowed to wear cammies off base. This was the same for the Marine Corp. They consider it a working uniform. This is what I was told when I got yelled at for wearing my cammies at a 7-11 to pick something up.

I have seen people in the Army where their BDU's off base. I didn't know if it was regulation to not wear them off base. I assumed that they could.

Answer 5

All branches of the military still issue dress uniforms. The lax rules concerning uniforms off base is an issue I had to deal with while I was in the Army. Too often soldiers would make stupid decisions while wearing their uniform, a blemish to the U.S. military.
As far as civilians who wear BDU's, I think that unless they are hunters, then they are idiots. Men and women wear them everyday for survival, not for fashion. BDU's stand for Battle Dress Uniform not Bimbos Dressed Dumbly!

Answer 6

All find and well, but what about other branches of service. I believe the Air Force is more strict. I am 100% and I am being told I cannot buy a Air Force uniform at clothing sales. Can some Air Force Veteran provide better information?

Answer 7

Army Recruiters are wearing ACU's (BDU's are history). I see guy's in the airports and give em a little old school.

The recruiter I spoke with said when he wears the new Dress Blues people think he is a Marine.

I keep telling them thy would get a lot more attention from the girls dressed up. They are all way to young to know any ZZ Top or understand the concept!

SSG US Army 73-82

Answer 8

Life has become much more casual and the military has adapted. I too miss some - not all - of the old regs. Loved the dress uniforms......BDUs are too available in surplus stores for wannabees.

Answer 9

Regulations vary from service to service and base to base. Spangdahlem... back and forth to work and the fast food restaurant outside the gate. No where else. At one point after 9/11, not even to and from work!
UK... VERY relaxed. Just can't drink alcohol wearing them. (Personally, don't like it... makes me very nervous. I carry dh's BDU's in a large shopping bag when I walk to the cleaners... don't want to be obvious!)
Minot... base cc a few years back, back and forth to work, not even the mall. CC when we left... quick errands, or out to eat, but not at restaurants where there were actual servers (buffets, fast food, etc. were ok).

My dad used to have to go to work in a suit and tie and then change clothes once he got to work. That was Spain in the 60's!

Answer 10

The problem is that it's never been a regulation. I personally don't have anything so important to do after work that I can't change first.

Another issue is that the ACUs are new, so units have been sending new troops out of basic wearing them. This practice sets the precedent that it's acceptable, even encouraged, to wear ACUs off duty or while traveling. When I went through, I wore As.