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."
I don’t think we were ever supposed to wear utilities off base. This order doesn’t appear to change any rule so much as it eliminates some informal exceptions which appear to have crept in. Maybe the article isn’t clear, but Marine service and dress uniforms are deemed appropriate for off-base wear.
I can see urging them to wear a dress uniform off base but not requiring it for a quick stop at burger-doodle.
If a solider is active duty they should look like it IMHO and that would include any issued uniform suitable for the occasion.
BDU’s should be fine for Walmart and burger doodle.
No different than the 70's, I wasn't allowed to go shopping in my cammies or pump gas, just drive from base to home, that's it.
Not that we always obeyed that regulation...
Same here,I’m an old EM,,clevage,,,clevage,never read that TM/FM/TB or change,,were we kept in the dark or what.
Some do’nt realize ,,spitting on the sidewalk,,is covered under the UCMJ..
I work full time for the Air National Guard right now. We are not ‘spost to wear our BDU’s off base except for quick stops. I wear them to Burger King or to the bank during my lunch period, but I am shocked to see people going to grocery stores and Best Buy in BDUs. One Army girl was even wearing no BDU Blouse with her BDU pants. It is pretty disrespectful to the uniform.
Gives whole new meaning to: “Stand up and salute the flag”. :)
SoCal hood wear meets the USMC .... surprised he did not mention slacks hanging down Homer Simpson stylie .... LOL!
“If a solider is active duty they should look like it IMHO”
Again, right to the point. A Marine is a Marine and not a soldier. The U.S Army has soldiers, the Unites States Marine Corp have Marines. BIG difference.
I don’t understand the ban on uniforms, by any branch, off base. Is this a hold over from the poor treatment of military in past decades?
Are they afraid they will disgrace the uniform?
Anything can violate Article 134, though I doubt most would ever hold up in a courts-martial without also violating Article 92 (preferably in writing).
What a lot of people don’t seem to understand is that all uniforms are not banned off base, only “work clothes” which is how cammies, BDUs, fatigues, whatever you want to call them are viewed, like how many flight crew do you see wearing their flight suit off base? No regulation has been changed, they are simply beginning to enforce it again
How could anyone ever tell? Veterans wear camos, and so does half the population, hats, pants, and most of the younger guys have shaved heads etc.
What's the brass going to do, go up to every person off base and ask them if they are active military?
Bingo!
The USMC Utility Uniform is a WORK uniform. This Uniform SOP prohibits the wearing of the “Uts” off-base to establish a standard. Have you ever seen an Infantry Marine, Artillery Marine or Motor “T” Marine come out of the field on a Friday after a week of training? When I served, before you went on liberty you “cleaned your weapon, you cleaned your equipment, you cleaned your body!”
The USMC Utility Uniform is a WORK uniform. This Uniform SOP prohibits the wearing of the “Uts” off-base to establish a standard. Have you ever seen an Infantry Marine, Artillery Marine or Motor “T” Marine come out of the field on a Friday after a week of training? When I served, before you went on liberty you “cleaned your weapon, you cleaned your equipment, you cleaned your body!”
And what does this have to do with a Marine who wanted to get some gas and maybe pick up a pack of smokes before driving on base in the morning?
Yes, indeed. I was in the army from 74 to 78, and the troops were not allowed off base in fatigues.
Are you saying this is due to the State of California? I thought the decision was made by the Marines.
It has nothing to do with getting gas or ciggys in the moring before going to work.
It has to do with not wearing a “work uniform” off-base. And how about this tack... Why not get ahead of the game and get gas and ciggys at the base gas station before leaving the base to go home the evening before?
It has to do with not wearing a “work uniform” off-base. And how about this tack... Why not get ahead of the game and get gas and ciggys at the base gas station before leaving the base to go home the evening before?
When I was in the Navy I would do anything I could to avoid supporting the NEX. Every NEX employee I have ever met had a bad attitude and they consider customer service to be of no importance since they are serving military members. I would rarely give them a penny (even though the profits would come back as MWR funds).
As far as getting gas at some other location out of uniform, you miss the point. It doesn't affect military bearing so there is no reason for the rule to exist. Instead of applying a rule that makes sense, you instead have tried to figure out how to comply with a rule that makes no sense. There really isn't a reason to apply a rule that makes somebody's life a little more difficult just because someone on high is being stupid (and they are).
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