Wearing Combat Uniforms Off Duty, On Leave, Etc?

[Jean-Francois]

For a slightly different slant on wearing of uniforms off base, I, a U.K. citizen, did not do any military service, being too young to catch the mandatory 2 year service, and never feeling the need to volunteer myself for it.
However, both of my sons did, the elder one because he couldn't find a job that suited him, and the younger one because anything his big brother could do, so could he, he thought.
The elder one did a 3 month tour in Northern Ireland, where only someone with a death wish would wear a British army uniform outside the base, or on furlough.
He was then transferred to Germany, around 1983-4, where the younger one went around 1987.
I don't think that they went off base in uniform much, because they spent all their spare time chasing girls, and felt that they stood more chance in a good pair of Levis, or Lee jeans, and a smart shirt.
They never came home in uniform, because the IRA targeted kids in uniform, and eventually the Army forbade going on furlough in uniform because of that.
The elder one came home in the mid 80s once, and showed me some photos.
In one of the photos he was dressed completely in a U.S. uniform, complete with a corporals chevrons, his rank in our army was a Trooper, in a transport outfit.
WTF! I said.
Don't worry dad, I haven't enlisted in the U.S. army, we were on manoeuvres with a Yank outfit from Garstedt, and I was in a bar with this kid from Nebraska who said he that hadn't scored in weeks, and wondered if it was his uniform that turned the frauleins off.
We switched uniforms for one evening, and we both drew a blank, the kid claimed it was because he never had a Limey accent!

[CPPU12345]

Originally Posted by Ralph_Kirk

I'm not actually sure what you meant to say.

But when I was active duty, I was proud to be in uniform off base. I work for a company that asks veterans (including retirees like me) to wear our uniforms on Veterans Day, and I keep myself in shape well enough to do so.

I have terrible impressions associating with the conscription.

But in the all volunteer armed forces, such as, yours: the natures of your uniforms might be different.

[Lancet71]

I was an NCO. E-5, Air Force SSgt. The guideline is for short periods of time. 15 minutes in a Walmart or McDonalds are okay. You are not supposed to be in BDU's for extended periods of time in any establishment.

[MedvedActual]

Places where one is authorized to wear ACUs/BDUs/cammies vary greatly by Service. Branches other than the Marine Corps have much more relaxed if you will standards (e.g., Army - can wear your ACUs to the mall). Marine Corps combat utilities wear is strictly limited to bases/training areas with only a handful of exceptions, i.e., getting gas, picking up your child from daycare. FYI, just because say you are getting gas at the pump while wearing MC utilities, you are not authorized to go inside to pick up snacks, etc. These are just the rules.