Don't tell Jessica.
I don't get it.
I was in the Marine Corps from 1988-92, and we weren’t allowed to wear cammies off base. When did the rule change to allow it ???
Marine ping.
I disagree with this order and it really does make me angry.
I disagree with this order and it really does make me angry.
I get it. There used to be such a thing as a "Walking Out" uniform. The messiness began a long time ago when folks started going off base in BDUs.
It's like that other abomination "Office Casual." Or what Americans now wear to shop at Wal-Mart. Pierced and tattooed 250-lb teenagers with bare midriffs (both sexes) are OK at Disneyland perhaps (where no sane person of my generatiion would be caught dead anyway), but not in the military.
Back in ‘52, when the old salts got tired of us boots bitching about not being allowed to wear Levis, shirts w/o collars (no t-shirts) etc. they would tell us how—in the OLLLD Corps—at Quantico, for instance, Marines had to wear a coat and tie just to go to the base flik.
Usually, off base uniform was winter greens/summer khaki w/field scarf (no short-sleeve shirts in those days), w/barracks cap—sewed-up c-caps were out—had to show liberty cards to MPs going ashore at maingate and/or on the liberty bus. Dungarees off the base was unthinkable.
I as attached to the Marines 1990-1994. No cammies allowed off base. Also no flat-tops, shaved heads (unless you were bald), tattoes not covered by the uniform ect.
Both the Marine Corps and the Army seem to go through this cycle every few years.
While I think it’s alittle much to keep Marines from getting out of thier car with BDU’s..however here we are near an Air Force base but far enough away that the guys feel there is no need for covers or military bearing..in the case of “These” types perhaps they shouldn’t be seen representing the “Military”..(asbestos suit being put on becuase of the anti wing nut comments!)
When I was in we could do QUICK trips but no shopping at Walmart or sit down resaurants. Seemed to work for me..
Unfortunately, the State of California does not appreciate the military. Camis give the distinction of being a warfighter. The American public and those who have not served however can wear any thing that looks military.
What happens is fatigues are allowed of post/base, many use the policy, then some start to abuse it, no hats, no jackets, boots unbloused, etc.
The Marines have cracked down for now. The troops will survive.
McDonald’s drive throughs are a result of a similar rule. The franchisee in Sierra Vista, Az, set up a drive up window after soldiers at Fort Huachuca faced a similar restriction. (mid 1970s)
Some of you “older” jarheads may get a kick out of this one...
http://tinyurl.com/277acg
http://tinyurl.com/277acg
Dick Gaines
~~~~~~~~~~
Two things, if I may.
First: When I was active “way back when” we were not allowed to wear “Statesides” or “Jungles” off base, period. Civies or Dress Uniform only.
Second: 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.
I don’t remember this restaurant from my days at Pendelton, but the attitude of the day was that the locals would rather throw rocks or spit at us.
Jim USMC ‘73
My dad was career military (Airborne) and his fatigues were always starched and ironed. You could cut butter with the creases. See your reflection in his spit shined jump boots.
Damn right he wore them off base.
Airborne All The Way!!
/s/ Heldog, USMC Vet
Was that way when I was in,,probably still in the regs.
That is how it always was when I first enlisted in 1964. I still can’t get used to BDUs in the air terminal. If they are coming back from or deploying to OCONUS, fine, but otherwise, Class B minimum or civies.
What is the big deal? We were not allowed off-base in utilities (what we called them then) under any circumstance when not on duty in the 60’s.