I have a question about when you leave off base to go home on Christmas or any other holidays. Do you wear your uniform when you go home?
I have a question about when you leave off base to go home on Christmas or any other holidays. Do you wear your uniform when you go home?
Traveling in uniform may have advantages. You may be able to go to the head of the line at security if in uniform. If in Cadet casual you cannot. You also may be recognized and be able to deplane first if the aircrew acknowledges military personnel traveling. It may also help your parents get gate passes to accompany you when you leave if you are in uniform. It may not be comfortable to travel in cadet uniforms but it may have advantages.
A very few of these may be "policies" for combat deployments, like going to the head of a security line; many more, we have been told on the parents' forum, are informal professional courtesies extended by airline personnel who are frequently former military, and who certainly would be aware that a USMA cadet uniform is not worn by someone travelling on combat deployment.
There were a number of stories of cadets stuck in holiday traffic and late for flights-- in one case, the jetway had been pulled away from the gate, and was brought back for a cadet in uniform because the flight crew had a USAFA grad and the ground crew knew it.
There is certainly something wrong with taking perks not meant for you, and pretending to be what you're not. There's also something wrong with requesting perks because you're "special." The uniform, however, generates some respect, even if only the thought that the wearer might be a bit more responsible, mature, and pressed for time than the average 19 or 20 year old. Nothing wrong with that, with someone offering assistance based on it,or with accepting such help when offered.
Speaking of going home, when does everybody get to go on leave overnight, other than a club event? Just Christmas? How does all that work?
As far as the whole uniform thing, I couldn't imagine it being too much more beneficial. Every time Spirit Band has traveled we weren't even recognized (we travel in uniform). We've been asked if we're pilots, if we're bus drivers, if we're mailmen, and if we're from "that one Naval academy in Maryland".
My son was in Manhattan in dress gray and was mistaken for the doorman!