Wear Uniform to High School Honor Awards Ceremony?

Kyguardmom

Kyguardmom

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So, my son, who is enlisted in the National Guard, is a graduating high school senior. At the High School's Honor Award Ceremony (which is held the day before graduation) he will be given recognition as a recipient of the Minuteman ROTC Scholarship. One of the local Guard recruiters will be presenting the award.

Would it be expected and/or appropriate for him to wear his uniform at the ceremony? We just found out this week that he received the nominations for the Minuteman, so have had little time to prepare. The ceremony is tomorrow!

Thanks for any help!
 
In the military, your son will learn the term UOD- Uniform of the Day. The "uniform" for a high school graduation is cap and gown, and all students should abide. Like your son, I'm sure many of the graduates are excited about the directions in which they are going and the honors they have been awarded. However, they'll all be in cap and gown as well I'm sure. He's getting recognized for the scholarship and shouldn't need to differentiate himself in attire. He should dress the same as his peers.
 
I do not see any reason he cannot wear his uniform unless there is a high school dress code that prohibits it. If the dress code prohibits it, then wear a suit.
 
NavyNOLA said:
In the military, your son will learn the term UOD- Uniform of the Day. The "uniform" for a high school graduation is cap and gown, and all students should abide. Like your son, I'm sure many of the graduates are excited about the directions in which they are going and the honors they have been awarded. However, they'll all be in cap and gown as well I'm sure. He's getting recognized for the scholarship and shouldn't need to differentiate himself in attire. He should dress the same as his peers.
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The OP is talking about awards ceremony, not graduation.
 
I agree with @NavyNOLA and he should not differentiate himself from his peers even for the awards ceremony.
 
Just the mere fact that he is receiving that award differentiates himself from his peers. IMHO, if the school allows it, he should wear it proudly. It might inspire his peers to serve their country as well.
 
I am on the fence but leaning to civvies. If he were at his NG unit and ROTC scholarship was being presented there, uniform, of course. This is a civilian awards ceremony at a civilian institution which he attends in civilian status, with other civilians being presented awards at the same time. If it were a stand-alone just for him, I would go uniform.

But my Navy .02 is worth about .01 when it comes to Guard things.

Congratulations on the scholarship!
 
I'd go with civvies. Besides, I certainly wouldn't wear the uniform without first clearing it with the school. If they deem he is inappropriately attired they may not let him participate.
 
Just to be clear - the award ceremony is held the day before graduation. It is an entirely separate event.

I did ask the guidance counselor about dress code. She thought wearing his uniform would be "very cool!" Then again, I think she's all of 22 years old - lol! The surprise is when she told me the Guard recruiter will be presenting the award to my son. Last we heard, the nomination was going to battalion for final approval. So this will make it official.

My son does not know about this, as of yet. So, I'm the one questioning about the uniform, not him. I definitely don't want him to viewed as "one of those guys"!
 
My 2 cents worth...

If the awards ceremony is during school hours I would stick with civilian clothes.

If the awards ceremony is of an evening then I would think his dress uniform would be appropriate. He is a member of the national guard being presented something by a member of the national guard that will be in uniform also.

Of course the prudent thing would be to have him call his unit commander and find out or get permission.
 
AR670-1 indicates he should not wear a military uniform as this is a civilian event/ceremony. It is not a ceremony of 'military character'.

However, talk to the NG Recruiter for his guidance. There may be recruiting guidance that allows wearing the uniform. If he does wear a uniform it should be the ASU (Class A) not a combat uniform.

AR670-1 Pages 14 and 45
 
We have a NJROTC unit at our school. All Wore their dress blues, as directed by the instructors regardless which branch they received an award from. (They were all officers in our NJROTC Unit)(Senior awards night) In the past non NJROTC who were awarded a military scholarship or appointed to a service academy wore civvies. Civil Air patrol wore their CAP uniform unless they were in NJROTC then they would wear the NJROTC dress blues. Graduation they all wear civvies under their cap and gown. We had a couple who were also enlisted in the national guard but I don't know what they wore. All were in our NJROTC unit so I am going to bet they wore what represented the school.
 
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AROTC Parent said:
AR670-1 indicates he should not wear a military uniform as this is a civilian event/ceremony. It is not a ceremony of 'military character'.

However, talk to the NG Recruiter for his guidance. There may be recruiting guidance that allows wearing the uniform. If he does wear a uniform it should be the ASU (Class A) not a combat uniform.

AR670-1 Pages 14 and 45
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I agree with @AROTC Parent - Take your cue from the NG Recruiter.
 
Kyguardmom said:
Okay, problem solved. I contacted the recruiter. He said to wear the dress uniform. This is an evening ceremony, not during school hours.

Thank you all for your input.
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Good choice, the uniform helps tell the story.
 
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