Dress Uniforms After Graduation

Sixes

Sixes

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After you graduate from the Academies, do you get to keep your dress uniforms (fancy uniforms) or do you have to return them? Also, how much of the gear/apparel is allowed to take as personal?

SF68
 
You get to keep them, all of them, you own them — you will have paid for every thread and button of them. Our son said that a lot of Firsties actually shoved the dress uniforms in the trash after graduation as they will never be worn again. We told him to bring all of his uniforms home. We’re keeping them for sentimental value.

(I’m speaking for USMA, but I assume it’s the same for the other academies as uniform costs are deducted from each cadet’s/mid’s pay.)
 
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Thanks for the info! Geez, that's sad actually. You would think the uniforms would meant a lot to that person of all the memories they've made. But hey, it's their decision.
 
As far as i know you can keep them. I know you can for Navy but NROTC Marines have to buy their's out of their own pocket. Not certain about the Academy, but don't see why it would be different.
 
We can keep them. For Navy most of the dress uniforms transfer over. Full Dress Blues (parade uniform doesn’t). I went Marines so none of them did. I kept a few uniform shirts and my Mid covers from my Mid days. Hauling all that stuff around gets old. You keep sentimental items and get rid of the rest.
 
NavyHoops said:
We can keep them. For Navy most of the dress uniforms transfer over. Full Dress Blues (parade uniform doesn’t). I went Marines so none of them did. I kept a few uniform shirts and my Mid covers from my Mid days. Hauling all that stuff around gets old. You keep sentimental items and get rid of the rest.
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So did you have to buy your dress blues and service alpha, or are they issued at the Academy.
 
No, you pay for your USMC uniforms just like everyone else. Only difference is we are close enough Quantico we get the full issue before graduation instead of at TBS. The funny part is due to Op Tempo and deployments I only wore cammies for two straight years.

Even at USNA we pay for the 297383993 uniforms the Navy and USNA has. It is taken out of your pay over the time while there.
 
SuperFalcon68 said:
You would think the uniforms would meant a lot to that person of all the memories they've made.
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Got a chuckle out of this. Memories certainly are made in those uniforms but very few good ones associated with being dressed in a ton of heavy starched wool where every fiber of your being is concentrated on not fainting in the heat. Our son was very happy to take that costume off for the last time and trade it for butter bars pinned to his new (much lighter) ASU. Those cadet uniforms look good, but the novelty wears off in about the time it takes to cup your hands for the first time.
 
The USMA gray overcoat can be returned for money, but I think that's it. However, they are serial-numbered so it's not unusual after four years for roommates to have switched up coats so you don't get your money back anyway.
I think the OCP (camo uniform) and the PT uniform are the only ones at USMA that are used out in the force. Though the PT shirt is slightly different in the force.

I think you find Cadets or their parents will keep parts of the uniform. The tar bucket hat for example. My DW has already called dibs on DDs black wool hooded jacket.

Also, West Point and USNA graduates are expected to report to their first unit wearing their sabers.
 
UHBlackhawk said:
Also, West Point and USNA graduates are expected to report to their first unit wearing their sabers.
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Naval Officers have SWORDS, Naval Enlisted (can) have CUTLASSes

A Naval Officer is required to own a sword once they become a Lieutenant Commander.

My father excitedly bought me a sword when I was a Midshipman 2nd Class while he was on deployment but sadly, he did not know that swords came in sizes. His choice in swords was for a 6'6" wearer while his choice in sons was approx a foot below that height. The giant sword was replaced with an appropriate sized weapon but it has now been passed down to the next generation of Naval Officer in the family while the original giant sword is still in our collection-o-stuff.
 
NavyHoops said:
No, you pay for your USMC uniforms just like everyone else. Only difference is we are close enough Quantico we get the full issue before graduation instead of at TBS. The funny part is due to Op Tempo and deployments I only wore cammies for two straight years.

Even at USNA we pay for the 297383993 uniforms the Navy and USNA has. It is taken out of your pay over the time while there.
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Yeah, DS and his classmates were in Quantico for the commissioning of a classmate who graduated
early (and couldn't attend OCS at the proper time due to injury). They all got their entire uniform shooting match. Up to that point, it was the first time DS ever spent that much money at one time. He was in shock! Thank goodness for the starter loan. Mom and Dad purchased the sword.
 
Almost all of your USNA uniforms are actual USN uniforms. If they still fit, and are still presentable, they can and will be worn in the fleet.
 
VelveteenR said:
Got a chuckle out of this. Memories certainly are made in those uniforms but very few good ones associated with being dressed in a ton of heavy starched wool where every fiber of your being is concentrated on not fainting in the heat. Our son was very happy to take that costume off for the last time and trade it for butter bars pinned to his new (much lighter) ASU. Those cadet uniforms look good, but the novelty wears off in about the time it takes to cup your hands for the first time.
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I also got a chuckle...I donated my parade uniform to a museum, returned my heavy service coat (the only thing you can actually return and get money back on) but kept my mess dress since it's actually sort of useful for special events. I'll be buying pants for that soon since we (women) are now allowed to wear tailored pants! The skirt is a disaster for me, so poorly designed. I can't say I have many happy memories associated with formal uniforms...as the saying goes - USAFA is a great place to have graduated from and put in your rear view mirror - not to be at (even though on the whole I did enjoy my time there).
 
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I asked my son to bring home every bit of clothing he wore at West Point and I asked him to also bring home any uniform that his mates were going to toss. I'm upcycling them into useful items like tote bags, zippered pouches, decorative pillows, etc. He is happy to be wearing butter bars now, but one day in the future I expect a bit of nostalgia to hit and he may actually want something made from his old uniforms. Or his wife (future) may enjoy having a purse made from his uniform to wear at a WP reunion. :)
 
OldRetSWO said:
Naval Officers have SWORDS, Naval Enlisted (can) have CUTLASSes

A Naval Officer is required to own a sword once they become a Lieutenant Commander.

My father excitedly bought me a sword when I was a Midshipman 2nd Class while he was on deployment but sadly, he did not know that swords came in sizes. His choice in swords was for a 6'6" wearer while his choice in sons was approx a foot below that height. The giant sword was replaced with an appropriate sized weapon but it has now been passed down to the next generation of Naval Officer in the family while the original giant sword is still in our collection-o-stuff.
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This one made me laugh out loud, envisioning @OldRetSWO wielding a Conan-style broadsword.

Every year, we deal with anxious parents of graduating sponsor mids about the do-we-have-to-buy-a-sword for their Navy grads.

As mentioned, it’s not a required part of uniform gear until the rank of O-4. The occasions where it is worn are few and far between, and they are a royal pain to travel with. Even at formal changes of command, only the very senior folks are likely to be wearing them, while the other officers are in formal uniform without swords. If an officer needs one for a wedding arch, there’s always a way to borrow one. DH’s sword, which became my sword, has been deployed to the Navy Chapel or other area churches on numerous occasions. I wore mine, in 26 years, 7 times I can remember, max 10.

Note to all budding sword/sabre owners: if used to cut a cake, clean frosting off before replacing in scabbard.
 
Capt MJ said:
This one made me laugh out loud, envisioning @OldRetSWO wielding a Conan-style broadsword.

Every year, we deal with anxious parents of graduating sponsor mids about the do-we-have-to-buy-a-sword for their Navy grads.

As mentioned, it’s not a required part of uniform gear until the rank of O-4. The occasions where it is worn are few and far between, and they are a royal pain to travel with. Even at formal changes of command, only the very senior folks are likely to be wearing them, while the other officers are in formal uniform without swords. If an officer needs one for a wedding arch, there’s always a way to borrow one. DH’s sword, which became my sword, has been deployed to the Navy Chapel or other area churches on numerous occasions. I wore mine, in 26 years, 7 times I can remember, max 10.

Note to all budding sword/sabre owners: if used to cut a cake, clean frosting off before replacing in scabbard.
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Yes, and personally owned swords are highly prized for cutting wedding cakes as opposed to ROTC or USNA owned swords that do not have a "clean chain of custody". My (former) sword cut a number of cakes for that reason.
 
Wow, there is a lot of creativity in the uses of the uniforms and swords. I'll probably keep all of my stuff for sentimental purposes (and because my parents would want me to) if I get to the academies. All this definitely brings the, " little kid at the adults' table listening to their cool and interesting stories" feeling.
 
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