Conference repair::reserve_forces

    If one were to wear his/her uniform at work, I
    certainly hope he/she wears the dress uniform.
    
    One thing that has bothered me over the years is the
    number of Reservists and Guardsmen who will wear
    BDU's after a drill and go shopping, beer drinking, etc.
    Quite often they present a very rumpled and untidy
    appearance and give the general public a poor impression
    of the rest of us.
    
    I am not referring to the people that make a quick stop on
    the way home - I am talking about the people who will spend
    hours after a drill running their errands or socializing in
    the local tavern while still attired in a well lived in 
    uniform.
    
    Bill 

    USAR FOLKS ONLY!
    
    AR670-1 PROHIBITS the wear the military uniform by reservists except
    when drilling in any status, while on active duty, or at the commander's
    discretion.
    
    RE:31.1
    I agree 100%. I see lots of soldiers doing this. In being the good
    senior NCO that I try to be, sometimes I say something. 
    
    I went to a parade one Patriots day and saw some soldiers from one of
    the 26th INF DIV line units. There were 4 of them with a HMMV-T (?)
    (a Hummer with a TOW on it). They were all in BDUs and they all needed
    haircuts and did not have headgear on. Well there was nothing I could
    do about the haircuts but I talked to the NCOIC about having his people
    keep thier headgear on. 10 minutes later I walked back by where they
    were and they were all standing by the truck  no headgear on and one of
    them drinking a beer. I wrote all the SOBs up.
    
    Boy did I go off the subject or what.

I'm glad somebody brought this up.  I have three thoughts, my daily limit :7)  

1.  I think being a terrorist target varies greatly by what part of the world
you're in.  Here in Burlington, MA it's probably pretty safe (famous last 
words).  People may ask what airline you work for, though, and that gets old.

2.  Wearing a uniform as part of a 'costume' is, IMHO, inappropriate, unless
you are no longer serving and have no affiliation (I would never tell a 
civilian what to wear).  What I am saying is that there are certain prescribed 
times/events during which Reservists are AUTHORIZED to wear their uniform,
dress or otherwise.  A "dress down" day at work is not, in my memory, one of
those events, however proud you may be of the uniform and your service.

3.  I couldn't agree more with the previous caller about wearing BDU's into
town.  When I go out around here and see people from Hanscom AFB (which, by
the way, has NO aircraft --- strictly pencil/keyboard-pushers) in the
Burlington Mall or at restaurants in BDU's, I question the whole chain-of-
command that lets this happen.  Officers and enlisted personnel in the Navy
have very strict ENFORCED regulations about on-base/off-base wear.  I still
can't get used to seeing other service personnel in their least presentable 
uniform out in public in peacetime.  Maybe I'm just old-"fashioned".
BTW, these are ACTIVE folks, not just Reserves I'm talking about.

\Gary

    Re .3:
    
    I'll back up Mr. Reiter (Gary) on the US Navy's uniform regs - they
    are strict. The duty uniform of my last USNR unit was Seabee Greens.
    For you non-Navy types, that's the old pre-BDU uniform except they
    were permanent press so starching was a no-no.
    
    We had to be very careful during lunch or after drill where we went
    because even in Manchester, New Hampshire, which is not exactly
    a "Navy" town, you could get yourself in a bind. We could wear the
    greens at our mob. site in Virginia but God help you if you tried
    to wear them on NOB Norfolk! We even had to be careful at the mob.
    site about where we had lunch in greens because the SP occasionally
    cruised through Portsmouth, Virginia which wasn't far away.
    
    Mark
    RMC USNR

    That was correct about the AR on uniform wear for the Army. The USAR
    definitely has to conform to the same standards as Active units. I am
    not aware if there is a NG equivalent regulation or if the AR covers
    all Active, Reserve and National Guard units. I have a suspicion it is
    the latter, but I know that it isn't strictly enforced by all guard
    units. I'm stationed on active post, in a building that is by an 
    Infantry unit that is a General Officer command. Even if I was inclined
    to be lenient (I'm not, but not a hard-a**), I would have to watch out
    because that Bde CSM will 'lock the heels' of anyone in his building
    that is out of uniform. All the way up to Major, then he might ask
    his boss to speak to the offender.
    
    There was a time where the directive came down that you couldn't
    wear BDUs off duty other than to drive home or a 5min stop at a
    convenience store. If you went to MacDonald's for lunch or supper,
    better hit the drive thru. Now they have moderated the policy to
    allow you to have a sit-down meal.
    
    Back about 10yrs, I remember that either SPO or WFO (maybe both) used
    to have a Reserve/National Guard Day. Those folks that were members
    would come to work that day in Class A uniform. Events like this fell
    by the wayside, due to the anti-war sentiments of the '70s. I,
    personally, would like to see a revival of it. Anyone got any ideas?
    
    Bob Mc

    I must confess that I do not wear my combats, or lightweights etc
    when I'm travelling to/from RAF Brize Norton.  I usually get changed
    in our flight house or the carpark if time is short. My reason is
    that if there is a problem with the car, it's a 48 mile journey
    each way, my uniform will not get dirty and/or I will not be noticed.
    However, I saw no reason to be so wary amongst my colleagues.  
    I've discussed this with my wife and a few friends at the Squadron
    HG and they've also discouraged it. 
    
    I'll think of something else.
    
    Thanks for all your comments though,
    Dave