This could be considered a violation of the Geneva accords......
Posted on 10/20/2007 5:56:41 AM PDT by cbkaty
OCEANSIDE, CALIF. — The Marine Corps is taking on the role of fashion police.
Earlier this year, the Marine Corps commandant updated the regulations on what Marines can and cannot wear, on duty and off, in the United States. Among the fashion don'ts: No shiny metal or gems on your teeth, no designs carved in your hair, no flashy jewelry and no bare midriffs or excessive cleavage (Damn).
But it is Gen. James T. Conway's ban on the wearing of camouflage uniforms, or "cammies," off base that is getting the most attention, changing not only the appearance of the Marines but also the look of their communities.
Under the new regulation, Marines in camouflage cannot get out of their vehicles to run an errand or grab a meal on their way to or from the base. No pumping gas, running into the post office or picking up a cup of joe, either.
Although Marines were always largely prohibited from wearing uniforms off base, they were allowed to make brief stops during their commutes. Now they can stop only for a medical emergency, a traffic accident or a breakdown.
Around Oceanside, a community about 35 miles north of San Diego where Marines from neighboring Camp Pendleton are a common sight, the most noticeable effect is at fast food drive-thrus. Long lines are forming because Marines in uniform are not allowed to get out of their cars and go inside.
John Alexander, who works at GI Joe's, a military surplus store, said customers don't drop in during the middle of the day anymore, though business picks up in the late afternoon.
"There's no such thing as a quick trip anymore," he said.
Marines caught in uniform off base can get a warning; for repeat offenses, they can be restricted to their barracks and their pay can be docked.
While the military has always had strict guidelines for what service members can wear, even out of uniform, Conway said the updated regulations are about maintaining Marine "uniformity and pride in appearance."
Earlier this year, the Marines banned extra-large tattoos below the elbow or the knee, saying such body art is harmful to the Corps' spit-and-polish image.
Some businesses are getting creative to cope with the no-cammies-off-base rule, which was issued in July.
In Oceanside, the Colimas Mexican Restaurant, popular for its takeout lunch, now runs a sort of carhop service for Marines, who call in their orders and then wait in their cars for delivery out front.
Andrea Cerda, who works at Dorothy's Military Shop, a tailor shop, said it is not uncommon to see Marines changing clothes in their car, wriggling out of their pants and boots and into civilian wear.
As for other branches of the military, Army soldiers can wear combat uniforms off base, and Navy personnel can wear some uniforms off base and off ship.
No such thing as excessive cleavage.
LTG lunacy (LTG = "Little Tin God"), which is what this general obviously suffers from.
“Under the new regulation, Marines in camouflage cannot get out of their vehicles to run an errand or grab a meal on their way to or from the base. No pumping gas, running into the post office or picking up a cup of joe, either.”
Same deal with our Navy dungarees when I was in. That was almost 20 years ago. Save the righteous indignation.
Requiring a marine, especially in uniform, to hide in their cars away from decent folk; or, prohibiting him from picking up the family supper on the way home is a pretty big insult IMHO.
As the policy is relaxed troops take advantage and start running around without covers (headgear), shirts off, boots unbloused, etc. Finally the headshed bangs down.
The troops will weather this just fine.
I guess the Army is smarter than the Marines (big smiley face here guys, just kidding). When they cracked down around Fayetteville troops started carrying a oversize set of overalls in the car. As they were getting in their cars to go off post they would simply take off their hat, slip on the overalls and zip them up.
Chicken Sh—!
I, personally, always hated the “cammies”—if they decided to burn ‘em all it would be ok w/me.
In RVN in ‘65, we were still wearing our dungarees (non-hbt) w/our sleeves rolled up and/or cut off. Again, in 1970-71, I was lucky enough to draw the olive drab kind and not the camouflage kind.
You think you hated them. As the wife of a Marine, I had to iron the stupid things.
IMHO, the policies had simply gotten a little lax over the years and needed to be reinforced. The newness of the regulation refers more to issues regarding more recent cultural styles, such as piercing, midriff exposure, etc.
In the past, these issues had been handled by Marines changing clothes before they left base or after they arrived when they lived off base.
Besides, just think of all the accidents that are avoided by people walking into ‘invisible’ camouflaged Marines.
Save your puffery. Nothing has changed since I was in, ‘70-’72. Except we didn’t have “cammies”. They were called “utilities” and don’t even call them “fatigues”.
Same here -- "Working" uniforms were not permitted to be worn off-base. In fact, to prevent any problems arising, you could not even wear them to and from the base.
Just like us, the Marines will adapt.
You mean your husband didn't drop them off at the cleaner/laundry like I used to do? What a cheap sonuvagun. After one go 'round of my wife trying to iron/starch mine, it was well worth the couple bucks to send the work out.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot - you don’t want to be calling them “pants” either. Marines don’t wear pants. (Well, I suppose the WMs do.) Marines wear trousers.
Hey, I was an officer’s wife. We had an image to keep too. The strong wife who took care of her Marine, and kept the home fires burning when he was gone. No, really, the truth was he only married me to do his laundry. He tells that story to this day.
“Same deal with our Navy dungarees when I was in. That was almost 20 years ago. Save the righteous indignation.”
...and 20+ years before that when I was a squid. The first sentence of the article told me this author is an idiot...and yet some here agree with her. (sigh)
It's because nobody could see them when they paid at the register.
In ‘66 - ‘68, you were never allowed off base in Utilities. Trops or Greens or civvies, of course; but leaving base in “work clothes” was not an option.
We could not wear them in the Marine Corp in the mid sixties. Wasn’t much of a problem. Just changed into civies before we left camp.
Sorry, bud, but it's a crappy policy, for multiple reasons. I personally LIKE to see folks in uniform occasionally as I go about my personal affairs. An improperly worn uniform is one thing, but forbidding the PROPER wearing of uniforms off-base is simply bullshit, and is a complete surrender to the anti-military types.
About that author...Chelsea Clinton? The same spawn of the Evil Ones?
"General, I swear--I was going to have a breakdown if I couldn't stop at that strip club after work for a beer!"
Cleavage could be used to distract the enemy, but then the Islamic fundamentalists are “stuned” merely by seeing her face.
One young lad was late for the morning PT formation.
He was waiting in the office when we finished. He swore he had a flat tire on the way in and had to change it. I said “That’s nice, lets go.” “Go where?” “To check your spare tire.” Ah, then the truth came out. Got a lot of extra work out of him the next two weeks.
See? I bet that young man was going to have a breakdown!
This could be considered a violation of the Geneva accords......
Good evening and the very best to you and yours.
Semper Fi
Tommie
Marine Ping!
I ironed my husband’s too.
He wasn’t an officer though. We just didn’t spend money on something I could do myself.
I stopped ironing them for a while though :) I was pregnant with our first son and had to get an IV every night (my husband gave them to me) There I was sitting there with an IV strung up on a pole, ironing his cammies—and he said something that I didn’t find too amusing....I didn’t iron his cammies ONCE after that! And to this day I don’t remember what made me so mad :) Not long after that they changed over to the no-iron cammies so he didn’t suffer too long :)
I live in Jacksonville, home of Camp Lejeune. There are 40,000 or so Marines here. Marines don’t wear their cammies out in town. I always thought it was a respect for the uniform thing. I never wanted to see a Marine in his uniform buying toliet paper at Walmart. I guess it makes wearing the uniform stand out if you only see it on a Marine in the context of doing their job. Just my opinion though....
My husband jokingly told me once he married me because he had to move out of the barracks and for one of my physical attributes. Come to think of it, that maybe was why he had to iron his own cammies :)
Hey, that's the 'new' man...White males are 'out.'
I see your teenage daughters walking around the mall with these guys.
Good luck.
Are you happy in Jacksonville? I couldn’t wait to get away from that place. Went up to Quantico and thought I had died and gone to heaven!
My girls are grown and frankly have CCRs.... Bling is just one reason....
“An improperly worn uniform is one thing, but forbidding the PROPER wearing of uniforms off-base is simply bullshit, and is a complete surrender to the anti-military types.”
Thank you for properly demonstrating that you have no idea what you are talking about.
Good for you and them.
The Marines didn’t issue me a wife, so I had to do my own.
Recon had them in the late 50’s early 60’s.
LTG..? No Way,,,It’s called the Military,,
You need to serve.
You have a beautiful family and I’m so sorry for your loss.
My husband was sent to 29 Palms from Jacksonville. When he died and I had to move, I just moved back to the last place we were together.
I have been to Quantico but it didn’t seem all that great to me. Maybe I just saw part of it though. One of my best friend’s husband is going to be stationed there next year.....I’m sure I’ll see more of it!!
Thank you very much. I appreciate that.
I am very blessed to have my amazing children!
My USMC experience was confined to the east coast. Hated Lejeune. Loved Quantico. Totally different atmosphere. Much more relaxed. And much closer to home (very important). Parris Island might be a good place as long as you’re not in boot camp!
Thanks for your husband’s service and sacrifice and I grieve for your loss. I hope you have found a way to be happy.
I have been to Kaneohe, Lejeune, Twentynine Palms, and then back to Lejeune. Of all three, Hawaii was my favorite :) Everything else is a little BLAH compared to Hawaii :)
Thank you for your kind words.
OK. That's why they have "walking out" uniforms.. or had, when this was a properly run country, instead of an MTV gangsta fashion show full of mall rats, some of whom with ntheir tattoos, peircings, bare midriffs, and sideways ball caps inevitably find their way into the lower ranks of the military.
Camouflage, utility, and BDU are simply not meant for off base. Uniform shirt, tie, trousers, shined shoes*, and cover, all appropriately cleaned and pressed are.
*Even see officers wearing those gd patent lezather shoes. No place for tango instructor gear on a military man.
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When I went off base, I did so in no less than my class C uniform.
I agree with the general. 
When Corporal Namsman Jr., USMC visits on leave, he will sometimes bring his dress uniform with him to wear to church. To say he looks good is an understatement. I’ve also seen him on base in his utilities and while he still looks good, the effect is completely different.
When I travel I’ve seen numerous soldiers traveling in their utilities. No matter the rank or unit, they just don’t give an impression of being sharp. I’d just as soon have the Army adopt the same regulation. Considering the guady bling that even Army PFCs sport on their dress uniforms, I’d think they’d make a better recruiting impression.
NAMSMAN
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