- Joined
- Jul 26, 2008
- Messages
- 6,194
Well, I'll tell you why you would/should change for that. I'm assuming you are a cadet in AFROTC and that your questions are sincere.I have no class around noon so I can go out with my friends and eat so.......why would I go change just for that...Why even wear the uniform off campus? Just make your life easier and only wear it when you have to avoid trouble.
That being the case, I'll tell you that I am a "not so recently retired" senior military officer; I've been a commander, etc...etc. And here's the bottom line: if the regulation states "X" then I expect, no, I DEMAND that you adhere to it. Period, end of statement. It's not yours to question, it's not yours to disobey (except at your peril), but it is yours to salute smartly, say "yes sir" or "yes m'am" and then carry out your assigned duty.
It's a part of that thing we call discipline and leadership. How well you serve as a follower will determine how well you will ultimately develop as a leader and that is the purpose of the ROTC programs (and the service academies): to create leaders for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen. If you can't follow a simple regulation, whether or not you agree/like it, then I question whether or not I could trust you with the lives of others. And in the end, that's what you're asking the air force to do: to entrust the lives of others to you. It's the most awesome responsibility one can have, IMHO, and one that is also very frightening. To know that a decision you make, may end the life of another person...and that the mission is such that you MUST make that call...it's not a fun situation but one that you must be prepared to make. And your ROTC training, and your follow-on training, will help prepare you for that moment, should it ever arise.
36-2903 tells you what you need to know about uniform wear and in it there's a phrase about the commander making the determination of when/where you may or may not wear the ABU. It's simple; follow the rules.
There's plenty of places on college campuses to eat with friends on the day you wear your uniform.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
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