Posted on 10/19/2007 2:09:06 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
OCEANSIDE, Calif. (AP) - 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.
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.
Navy Senior Chief David Matthews, 39, said the scene is the same in Jacksonville, N.C., outside Camp Lejeune. Matthews said some Marines and Navy personnel have come up with creative ways to run errands during duty hours.
"They get a buddy who has civilian clothes on to go with them. They drive and wait while their buddy gets out of the car and runs the errand," 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."
"It wasn't that Marines were blatantly breaking the rules. It was more of a tradition, and we just needed to get it back in the box, put it in writing and say here's the policy, here's the rules," said Staff Sgt. Jesse Lora, a spokesman at Camp Pendleton.
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.
"You see them bending around their steering wheel or moving back and forth in the driver's seat and you know what they are doing," she said.
During a quick trip recently to drop off dry cleaning in Oceanside, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Doucakis, 20, had to change clothes on base. He said the regulation didn't bother him.
"If you are a Marine, they want you to look a certain way," he said. "I guess in a way they don't want you to look like a disgrace to society."
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.
Under the updated Marine regulations, women are prohibited from baring their midriffs, wearing any lingerie-type clothing on the outside or wearing low-slung pants or blouses that show excessive cleavage.
"On the topic of wearing lingerie as outerwear, is the commandant kidding?" said TV style guru Tim Gunn of Bravo's "Project Runway." "Has this really been an issue? Surely, the Marines aren't accepting Britney into their ranks."
When I was learning how to fly, my instructor had a yellowed, typed “form letter” under the plexiglas on his table. It was “apology letter” to the Wing Commander for a fighter pilot not 1. wearing a hat to the post office 2. disrespecting a shoe clerk 3. Yelling “Fxxx” in the O’Club 4. Not saluting the white topped car 5. Playing 4/5/6 in the O’club 6. Hip checking the Wing Commander playing crud.... etc. There were check mark locations for you to check for whatever you did that week. I laughed then, but over twenty years I’ve done probably everything on the list.
We may not look like Marines but I can damn well tell you we have standards for performance. Spit and polish is more for shoe clerks beyond a certain level. You sir strike me as a pounder, and you should read “Officers in Flight Suits” to understand our 90 years of kicking everyones ass we’ve come across.
Reason 1: We're talking about mostly young adults here. i remember what I was like in my early 20s. Folks in their off-hours like to get a little drunk, blow off some steam, maybe do some shoving or some shouting. No big deal, not deserving of more than a slap on the wrist. But it reflects badly on the Corps if they do it in uniform.
Reason 2: If Marines run their errands in uniform, it's too easy for a terrorist to spot sites where a lot of them are. When off-base, it makes sense for Marines -- or those in any branch of the service -- to avoid advertising their presence. Better to blend. Abu Nidal knew the disco in Berlin that was a favorite of American servicemen, and that did not end well.
The "stupid crap" is called discipline and is one of the major reason the Marine Corps has always been one of the most successful combat organizations in history.
If you consider this type of regulation too tough, you probably aren't suited to be a Marine - so you saved us and yourself the trouble...
Recommend that you try an easier service - that is, if joining any service wouldn't be too tough?
Are you a Marine?
Excellent quip.
Looks to me like he’s pushing Army
Thank you for the ping.
While I was on active duty in Yuma, AZ. It was that way. The Army got to do that, and still do from what I can see.
Wah. This is the way it was for years. Working uniforms should not be worn off base. If you need to make a stop, wear civvies or a service uniform.
Its the dress uniforms that should be banned. Everybody should have to wear BDU’s 24/7.
They never did, they just didn’t enforce it around Jacksonville, NC. LIved there for a few years, young guys in their cammies was always a common site.
“Now we won’t get a chance to pick up the tab for them in a restaurant?”
The “high & tight” haircut is always a giveaway. LOL
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Years ago the Fayetteville Police were taking advantage of GIs down on the 500 Block of Hay Street.
The XVIII Corps Commander asked the local government to be a little nicer. They didn’t. One night he and his aid went down for a look-see and got hassled by the cops. Monday morning he put all of the city and county businesses off limits to soldiers. They could only shop on post - even the ones that lived off post - and he put all the MPs into enforcement.
While hard to enforce the city got slapped and was crying within a few days. The policy was rescinded within a week and the cops were a lot nicer. On Friday & Saturday nights a Cop and an MP would walk together on the 500 Block.
Ah, the good ol’ days.
No fatigues were supposed to be worn off base. I had no problems with it.
They are just tightening up on some previous exceptions for wearing the Combat Utility Uniform, as previously pointed out. Personally, I love to see them - I sometimes drive in the gate at Quantico when I pass by, just to be around them.
As far as I know, the Marines are the only service that requires the wearing of a uniform when traveling on “space available” military flights, even though that is done during liberty.
Here’s the actual order about the “utes”:
Hey, Ma! They didn’t say anything about prohibiting people from rubbing their high and tight haircuts, so you’re in good shape.
Perhaps you did, but fatigues are Army, utilities are Marine Corps.
Not necessarily. Uniform of the Day in his district may very well have been cammies. I see plenty of recruiters wearing cammies these days especially at MEPS.
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