Posted on 10/19/2007 2:09:06 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
You are correct about the US Marines making this decision. But I would almost bet that a big part of the decision was based upon the attitude of California lawmakers and peaceniks within the state. It wasn’t too long ago that returning troops were spit upon and called baby killers. Being a former career military person, I personally do not see anything wrong with making a quick stop for gas while in fatigues, BDUs, etc.
This will no doubt mark me as an unreconstructed dinosaur, but somehow seeing the words “cleavage,” “bare mid-riff,” and “Marine” in the same sentence just doesn’t sit right...unless the sentence reads, “The chiseled features of the normally stoic Marine broke into an unwonted smile when he saw the comely lass sashaying down the beach clad in a cleavage- and mid-riff-revealing, yet modest, swimsuit.”
I think i’ll write a letter to the base commander and tell him to take his rule and shove it up his backside!
Oceanside is and always will be a marine town and I object to him telling me that I can’t see him men in their cammies?!
A- True. However, for an A+ it should read... 
“Bender's normally stoic chiseled features broke into an unwonted smile when he saw Kristin Wiig sashaying down the beach clad in a cleavage- and mid-riff-revealing, yet modest, swimsuit.”
BTW What did she say... 
when you told her about my fire heroics?
Guess I am just getting old and crusty.
The only thing I remember about being in the military was meeting General Lee and General Grant when I was stationed at Appomattox Court House.....LOL.
The Corps wants its Marines to appear in uniform, but in the appropriate uniform. Off base, the appropriate uniform is the informal Service "C" or "Charlies" (dress shoes, green trousers, khaki shirt and garrison cap) or the more formal Service "A" or "Alphas" (with belted green coat and khaki shirt and tie). Those are the minimums, and the Dress "C" (with blue trousers) and Dress Blue uniforms can also be worn when appropriate. Civvies are not the only option for off-base attire.
As far as I know, that has always been Marine Corps policy.
So if you see a fatigue/cammie/BDU/ACU uniform in public, it's a soldier not a Marine.
“But I would almost bet that a big part of the decision was based upon the attitude of California lawmakers and peaceniks within the state.”
In Oceanside, we hold parades for them!
Am I confused, or is the person who wrote this article? I understand no cammies off base, but then she starts talking about uniforms. They’re still allowed to wear their uniforms off base, just not their cammies. I grew up in Jacksonville, NC and that’s the way it always was, except now they can’t even pump gas or run an errand now, it seems. Are uniforms now banned off base, or is this journalist as ignorant as the ones that refer to Navy corpsmen as “medics”?
Marine recruiter was at my home two days ago in cammies. My daughter signed up. California, Bay Area. Maybe he didn’t get the memo. He lives in San Francisco, poor guy.
Same here. I never even remember it being an issue. You didn't go bee-bopping around in your cammies. It was okay with me. (1979 - 1985)
Years ago there were no cammies off base but now that privilege has been seriously abused. I’ve seen senior officers wearing them into nice restaurants.
As long as work uniforms....Cammies, flight suits, etc, are neat and clean, I’ve never understood why the USMC and Navy can’t wear them off base. The Army and Air Force manage to look professional in theirs. Spit and polish is one thing, stupidity is another.
Wow. He definitely knew better than that. Recruiters usually go out ONLY in dress blues, and are totally squared away, shiny shoes, no IPs etc..
San Francisco is enemy-held territory, so the combat uniform is appropriate there.
I’ve tried to find a web page with side-by-sides of the MARPAT, greens, dress blues, etc to show people that the USMC has, in fact, three or four uniforms and what they look like. I can’t seem to find one page that shows everything at once.
Whenever I’ve bumped into Marines here off-base in Nevada, they’re always wearing at least what you describe as the “C”’s at non-formal functions (eg, hearings where there is a civilian/military interaction, such as opening or changing military operational areas on NAS Fallon, or applying for new MOA’s). Events like weddings, funerals, etc — dress blues. On the road while transporting equipment, etc — cammies.
My initial reaction upon reading the press report was that I didn’t know when they allowed Marines to wear cammies off base. So even I, a civilian, see this just the way you Marines do — this is just SOP.
I’m in and out of DFW, LAX and was wondering where all the Marines had gone.
So how does this rant in any way equate to wearing "cammies" off-base?
I respect the USMC, but stupid crap like this is why I would never join and why I always recommend against friends/acquaintances joining them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.