Attire

BeatNavy

BeatNavy

USMA Cadet
10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2009
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450
This is really just out of curiosity, but what is the protocol on wear of civilian clothes at non military formal events as an AD officer? For example LTC John Doe goes to the symphony or a dinner party or a wedding with his wife, are civilian clothes, or a dress uniform considered proper etiquette? Thanks.
 
It is a personal decision. Bullet never wore his service blues or mess dress, except if he was going to a black tie family affair (and only his family side...for his mom). Otherwise, he wore his civvies. Some will wear their military attire, others feel that it is awkward and trying to brag...as in look at me, which is how Bullet felt.

I can only count on my hand 3 times he wore his mess dress for a public function over 20 yrs.
1. Our wedding
2. His cousins wedding (black tie)
3. His parents 50th wedding anniversary (it was a big shindig)

During that time we probably went to about 15 weddings, even on a cruise. He never wore his blues for anything.
 
As Pima noted it is rare to wear the uniform to a civilian function. I've worn it to weddings of fellow military members, to my wedding, on a cruise for formal night (didn't have a tux and didn't want to pay), and that's about it.

I'm also required to wear it to medical conferences as "every physician is a recruiter"; however, I have only been to military medical conferences so far.

Although Pima and I have similar stories the regulations say you can wear the uniform to pretty much any event you want, with some notable exceptions being political events, rallies, etc.
 
Kp is right, you can wear it, I think when you are young, you are so proud and want to wear it, but as time goes by, you feel differently, more confident and choose to allow that part of your life to be the unsung part.

Plus, if you are anything like Bullet you will feel that it is more of a PIMA (Pain in My A$$...and now you know why Bullet calls me that). You will spend your time, picking it up from the dry cleaner, pulling out the ruler for the ribbons and wings, lint brushing, finding that missing stud, checking for garters and buying new ribbons, that you will say it is more of a pain than it is worth.

A few weeks ago we were at the AF V Navy game, and our retiree crew were joking about should we pitch the blues and the mess dress. As retirees you can still wear them, if not for the fact that Bullet will be involved in the commissioning of 2 new AF officers, I would have pitched them. So for now his blues will stay in the closet for a while....Now we just have to dust off the wheel cap :eek:
 
General ditto on comments above.
When on active duty, I think I wore civilian clothes to civilian formal events, for the most part. Spouse and I did wear Navy mess dress (formal uniform) for black tie night on cruise ships, which resulted in private invitations to the bridge and a welcome by the ships' officers to their wardroom. In particular, Norwegian and Greek officers welcomed us warmly, with one of the Norwegian captains inviting us to his home in Bergen and the Norwegian ship's doctor taking us to his favorite sweater store where the tourists didn't go!
When I was a junior officer, to make my parents happy, I wore service dress uniform to church. It made all the WWII and Korean War vets happy and my parents bustin' out proud. I didn't do that after I made LT (O-3).
As a retiree, I have not worn my uniform to civilian events, but to military events where I was an active participant, say, when I have been asked to commission or promote somone and give the oath of office.
All the when's and how's of uniforms for all services are laid out in specific regulations.
 
As retirees you can still wear them, if not for the fact that Bullet will be involved in the commissioning of 2 new AF officers, I would have pitched them. So for now his blues will stay in the closet for a while....Now we just have to dust off the wheel cap
Click to expand...

And I hope these two individuals appreciate the fact that I'll have to shave off the "retiree" beard I grew, and start working out again a few months prior to remove the "retiree 15" that somehow appeared around my middle. And I hate PT!

But I guess some guy with a beard and a VERY tight set of blues would just look silly in uniform at their commissioning!
 
tpg,

The beard (actually a goatee as well) and the sudden total loss of willingness to hit the gym religiously were all part of my early retirement plan to "stick it to the man, after 26 years I ain't following your rules anymore". My hair is very curly when it gets long, or else the ponytail would have been added as well.

But, guess it wouldn't hurt to look "civilized" once in a while, especially for something this important for people this close to Pima and I. Besides, Pima and I had our first "scare" yesterday in the mail when I received an official letter from the DoD reminding me to fill out my Reserve Status yearly information statement. :eek::eek:

I hope they'll accept an old fat guy with a goatee!
 
I think they put something in the water. When I had my beard in the Navy (another tradition down the drain) it was full brown, when I got to grow it again not a brown hair in sight and I don't have the build to play Santa. It must have been something in the water.:shake:
 
We had the scare of our life yesterday, he received paperwork from the reserves, and as Bullet was reading through it, I kept saying are they pulling you back in?

Godfather scene: Just when you thought you were out!

Bullet has a workout regime every weekend, he gets on the tractor plows the North field, then the west or east field, on Saturday, repeats with the South and the other field on Sunday (we have 10 acres). Sometimes I swear I am married to Eddie Albert (to the young folk...Green Acres is the Place to be...Fine living is the life for ME!)

Come January 1, life will stink in this house, since Green Acres will be under snow, which means, I will be forced to get on a bike and ride as he runs the 2 mile loop up the block and back down, so he can fit in his blues!

It will freak out me when he shaves that goatee in May after having it for almost 2 yrs. I am sure he will also cut his hair back to AF regs, I am giggling now thinking about how he will look like a stranger to me! How quickly you forget!

I wonder can you dry clean a Wheel Cap, or should I just box it in now so it is presentable.
 
Just when I thought I was getting the hang of all of the military jargon, this is a new one to me. What is a Wheel Cap? :confused:
 
Have to admit, of all the Services, the Marines have the best looking Dress Uniform. Very nice! :thumb:
 
In regards to that uniform, as a former vice president candidate once stated "A pit bull in lipstick is still a pit bull":thumb:
 
Seems like too much trouble, I think I might just lint roll it and put it away until May in a boc so sunlight doesn't hit it. Right now it is is Bullet's I Love me room, with his AF helmet (for all you AF guys, don't believe your helmet will look like Top Gun!), and his chachka. Worse case scenario, I would think it would be cheaper to buy a new one than going through that. I say that because he has never had to wear it, so there are no special memories attached to it, the flight cap, now that is a different story! Bullet just informed me I don't have to worry, he's wearing his flight cap...yippee!
 
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Gunner:
Good old Admiral Zumwalt and his Z-grams. saw a guy in whites in San Francisco with the brightest red beard I have ever seen. He looked good, not so many of the others.:biggrin:
 
Bullet said:
Pima and I had our first "scare" yesterday in the mail when I received an official letter from the DoD reminding me to fill out my Reserve Status yearly information statement. :eek::eek:
Click to expand...

:rofl:

Oh now, that's not too bad...you should have gotten the letter I received...it begins with:

"I am seeking your interest in voluntarily returning to active service in the United States Air Force. The Air Force is projecting an increased need for aviators within the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) communities; to include Unmanned Aircraft Systems pilots, other manned ISR platform pilots, and a variety of rated staff positions.


Hmm...let's see...

I have 26 1/2 years commissioned service...
I have time in several different aircraft (big and small)...
I can't hit an "active duty retirement" with a 3-year AD tour...

CAN YOU SPELL PREDATOR AT CREECH AFB???!!! :eek::eek::eek:

CinC House made it quite clear: "If you want to return to AD and go schwack bad guys, GO FOR IT. I'll see you when you get back...maybe."


Memo to: DCS/MPS
From: LT COL ME
SUBJ: NO THANK YOU!!!

There ended the letter.

Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
 
AF6872:
There were quite a few scruffy looking beards out there, mine was just growing in when the shave order came out. The beard was the reason I joined the Navy. To hear the wailing and cursing from the old Navy you would think the world just ended. I can guarantee that more than a few old steamers decided it was time for retirement when the no beards order came down. :thumbdown:
 
Pima said:
Sometimes I swear I am married to Eddie Albert (to the young folk...Green Acres is the Place to be...Fine living is the life for ME!)
Click to expand...

....Farm Living is the life for me"... Please PIMA, I grew up watching that show lol
 
Flieger, Bullet got that letter, plus an email, plus a phone call. We didn't think UAV, we thought REMOTE!

People in his office asked if he was going to do it. His response:
Let me see, take a 40% pay loss and probably sit in Korea for a yr, or stay here what do you think?

Believe it or not we know someone that take them up on the offer, he left 9 yrs ago to fly United, he got furloughed again for the 3rd time, and decided that at least he could go in for 6 yrs and get 50% retirement pay, something he doesn't have, but all of his peers who hung with AF have now. Amazing how you can change your mind with hindsight.
 
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