Why do navy option midshipmen get all of their uniforms when Marine Options do not?

hughjas99

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Looking at the NROTC gear issue, the "Graduation issue" is Service Dress White Choker Coat, White Dress Gloves, and Service Dress White Trousers. So all Navy Option uniforms. Therefore, Navy Options graduate with just about every required uniform item they need, including their khakis, NWUs, SDBs, and Summer Service Whites, and Summer White Dress uniforms.

Comparatively, Marine Options are issued MARPATs. The rest are Navy uniforms, such as khakis, SDBs, and Summer Service Whites. I understand that Marine Options are not allowed to wear Marine Uniforms (such as service uniforms) until graduating from OCS (a policy which I agree with), but the fact that even after OCS the NROTC program does nothing to help Marine Options foot the bill of buying Marine Service Uniforms (Deltas and Charlies while at school, and Alphas before TBS) or Marine Dress Blue Uniforms makes no sense to me.

It seems fundamentally unfair to me, but if someone could offer the reasoning behind it or answer the question in the title I'd love to hear it.
 
I think your definition of “fundamentally unfair” is fundamentally unfair.

Midshipmen get midshipmen uniforms. That’s the answer. They just happen to be very similar to Navy Officer uniforms and can be repurposed. It’s not that Marine Option midshipmen are being shorted, they are getting what everyone else gets
 
Factor in too that many of the midshipmen uniforms are too worn or no longer fit a more adult body after 4 years, so ensigns end up shelling out for new uniforms. Looking shabby reporting into the first duty station is not a good first impression, from shoes to cover.

And Marines - well, there is a price to be paid for that perfection and perennially perfect look.

If we want to have fun with unfairness, women have to buy many more uniform items than male peers, same amount of pay.

Good question, though.
 
USNA Marine selectees buy their Marine uniforms. We wear Midshipmen uniforms for our 4 years. I chose to go Marine Corps just as you chose to select a Marine Option scholarship. Life is about choices. Get used to not fair. And to ditto Capt MJ... not only more uniforms... they cost more.
 
My FIL still talks regretfully about not buying the sword as it was optional in his day. (He’s nearly 90 now)

I’ve seen in other threads where uniform items or the cash to buy them made great commissioning presents, too.
 
Not much different for the Army than it is for the Marine Option in regard to uniforms while in ROTC. The cadets are issued uniforms while they are cadets, when they commission they turn back in the uniforms. They are required to purchase their ASU’s and ACU’s. Some will purchase the ACU’s they were issued at a discount as back ups but they still purchase new ones as well. The ASU’s are almost always purchased new.
 
I would argue that once you commission, it isnt fair that officers have to spend so much money on uniforms. Between ABU, Dress and Mess Uniforms, my son wound up spending like 2000. Luckily as he was in pilot training, they gave him 3 flight suits and a pair of boots. Now that the AF is changing boot colors, he has no idea if they are going to give him a new pair or he has to buy one on his own
 
I would argue that once you commission, it isnt fair that officers have to spend so much money on uniforms. Between ABU, Dress and Mess Uniforms, my son wound up spending like 2000. Luckily as he was in pilot training, they gave him 3 flight suits and a pair of boots. Now that the AF is changing boot colors, he has no idea if they are going to give him a new pair or he has to buy one on his own

Humey, please put your CPA hat on for a moment.
Can a military officer still deduct those uniform costs? Or is it unlikely because few 2LT's and Ensigns can reach the elevated standard deduction now?
 
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I would argue that once you commission, it isnt fair that officers have to spend so much money on uniforms. Between ABU, Dress and Mess Uniforms, my son wound up spending like 2000. Luckily as he was in pilot training, they gave him 3 flight suits and a pair of boots. Now that the AF is changing boot colors, he has no idea if they are going to give him a new pair or he has to buy one on his own

Humey, please put your CPA hat on for a moment.
Can a military officer still deduct those uniform costs? Or is it unlikely because few 2LT's and Ensigns can reach the elevated standard deduction now?
In 2017 and before, the answer was yes assuming you itemized. The Trump 2018 law removed all misc business expenses so therefore that deduction has been taken away

I did find this article stating that for the most part it was never deductible

Military uniforms. You generally cannot deduct the cost of your uniforms if you are on full-time active duty in the armed forces. However, if you are an armed forces reservist, you can deduct the unreimbursed cost of your uniform if military regulations restrict you from wearing it except while on duty as a reservist. In figuring the deduction, you must reduce the cost by any nontaxable allowance you receive for these expenses.

If local military rules do not allow you to wear fatigue uniforms when you are off duty, you can deduct the amount by which the cost of buying and keeping up these uniforms is more than the uniform allowance you receive.

If you are a student at an armed forces academy, you cannot deduct the cost of your uniforms if they replace regular clothing. However, you can deduct the cost of insignia, shoulder boards, and related items
.

It looks like if you wear your uniform from morning to night, then it isnt deductible. If you wear your uniform, go home and put on jeans, then it was
 
In 2017 and before, the answer was yes assuming you itemized. The Trump 2018 law removed all misc business expenses so therefore that deduction has been taken away

I did find this article stating that for the most part it was never deductible

Military uniforms. You generally cannot deduct the cost of your uniforms if you are on full-time active duty in the armed forces. However, if you are an armed forces reservist, you can deduct the unreimbursed cost of your uniform if military regulations restrict you from wearing it except while on duty as a reservist. In figuring the deduction, you must reduce the cost by any nontaxable allowance you receive for these expenses.

If local military rules do not allow you to wear fatigue uniforms when you are off duty, you can deduct the amount by which the cost of buying and keeping up these uniforms is more than the uniform allowance you receive.

If you are a student at an armed forces academy, you cannot deduct the cost of your uniforms if they replace regular clothing. However, you can deduct the cost of insignia, shoulder boards, and related items
.

I just adore the IRS code.....they make everything so simple and concise. :confused:
 
I would argue that once you commission, it isnt fair that officers have to spend so much money on uniforms. Between ABU, Dress and Mess Uniforms, my son wound up spending like 2000. Luckily as he was in pilot training, they gave him 3 flight suits and a pair of boots. Now that the AF is changing boot colors, he has no idea if they are going to give him a new pair or he has to buy one on his own

This has been the case for as long as I can remember. Enlisted are issued uniforms and Officers have always paid for theirs. I do remember that my son did receive a small allowance when he reported to Ft Rucker for flight school, he was also issued a couple pairs of Flight ACU’s. For the most part both sons have purchased most of their uniform needs.

The difference in pay between officer and enlisted over two months will purchase most of the officers uniform needs.
 
I would argue that once you commission, it isnt fair that officers have to spend so much money on uniforms. Between ABU, Dress and Mess Uniforms, my son wound up spending like 2000. Luckily as he was in pilot training, they gave him 3 flight suits and a pair of boots. Now that the AF is changing boot colors, he has no idea if they are going to give him a new pair or he has to buy one on his own

This has been the case for as long as I can remember. Enlisted are issued uniforms and Officers have always paid for theirs. I do remember that my son did receive a small allowance when he reported to Ft Rucker for flight school, he was also issued a couple pairs of Flight ACU’s. For the most part both sons have purchased most of their uniform needs.

The difference in pay between officer and enlisted over two months will purchase most of the officers uniform needs.
Yes, they give you a one time $700 allowance. You are right that the pay difference between the two more than makes up for the cost. However, you could also argue on why theyshouldnt they receive an allowance for food and housing when they make a decent salary.
 
However, you could also argue on why theyshouldnt they receive an allowance for food and housing when they make a decent salary.

Officers already receive less BAS then enlisted, as far as BAH, they did try and tinker with that a while back with no luck.
 
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