Wearing Special Forces clothing in public?

[goalie]

By being part of an elite group it lets them stand apart from an otherwise normal or run of the mill life.

While I'm proud of what I've done in the past, I don't care about who wears what. That part of my life is gone by and I'm to busy livin to give a crap.

+1

 

[progunner1957]

Chelsea was a nymphomaniac?

Why not? her Dad is

 

[Old Dog]

Of course, I am always amused whenever I happen to see photos or video of Michael Jackson, wearing a colorful red or blue tunic with huge gold epaulets -- and actual medals on his left breast -- looking as though he fancies himself a Royal Navy admiral, circa 18th century ...

And everyone in the Navy knows the only way you can detect a authentic SEAL is that he's usually the worst-dressed guy in the bar, typically wearing flip-flops or sandals, no socks, baggy shorts, sweatshirt or an old t-shirt (with the name of beer brewer printed on it) and sporting a big black plastic watch.

I don't care who wears what in public ... in the military, nothing wrong with wearing unit/command logo t-shirts or sweats and displaying pride in your unit, no problem with giving the stuff away or selling it for family or civilians to wear, either. I don't think civilians wearing this stuff is disrespect.

Anyway, I've never seen ex-military folks (whom I knew) who've been there, done that, that ever wore anything in public proclaiming their status as a specwar or combat veteran. Well, except maybe a deployment t-shirt ("OIF 2004" or "Med Cruise 1996") to the base gym ...

 

[rcellis]

Never found an appropriate way to 'show my support'

Some years ago I got fed up with pro football and as my favorite local university (Kansas) didn't actually play football, though they pretended to (that's changed recently, thank God) I started following the AFA..

A year or so later I and my family were passing through Colorado Springs, and decided to visit the place. I've got two bright aggressive daughters who just might go there.

Anyway, at the gift shop I saw a ball cap with the academy crest and couldn't resist...

...and then never felt comfortable wearing it. I'm not an Air Force guy.

Pity, but unless you attend an academy, it's effectively impossible to wear any of the 'fan' stuff. You always end up saying too much.

Clint

 

[bg]

Boy I sure wish I'd see more people wearing NRA caps....

 

[KriegHund]

The army gives out shirts.

I once thought about offending someone by wearing BDU's (im wearing marine digi pants right now) and i decided that thats too bad. I have a lot of respect for them, and if a service member ever says anything, i will shrug and say that "They are comfortable and tough clothes. Im not wearing them to insult you, or to seem cool. i just like the clothes"

You know, one of my BDU shirts has "US ARMY" on it.

On the shoulder there is a patch with a long triangle, circle in it, and star under that. Anyone know what its for?

 

[.40-.45]

after all this banter about a t-shirt

I'm not sure if I should wear my Cubs Hat anymore I mean Ron Santo my get upset that I haven't done the time in spring training

come on people

My brother-in-law is in the corps (recon) and has given my sons and Myself many items over the years, not a big deal we are very proud of him and all the guys in the corps and we will continue to promote the USMC. DO we go around Screaming Semper FI all the time of course not!!!

Thank you very much to all who have, are, or will serve our great country!!!!!!


.40-.45
.02

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

*looks at my username*

It's from Halo.


On topic: I'm also tired of fakers. There is this kid at school that always claims his parents are:

A. CIA operatives
B. Special Forces
C. Prison Guards
D. Retired

He also talks about his father's 40mm handgun.

 

[Ares45]

Wearing spec ops clothing in public?

What could be the reason for them disliking people wearing these clothes

Simple. You don't earn it, you don't wear it.

My mother tried to dress me up in my father's US Army Drill Instructor cover for halloween one time when I was a kid. Almost 20 years out of the service and the old man went ballistic. It's not just a ball cap or a t-shirt.

 

[tellner]

Chelsea was a nymphomaniac?

Why not? her Dad is

I love it. Beating up on innocent girls to score cheap political shots. Tells me everything I ever needed to know about True Believing Republicans. It might be different if she had been convicted of drug crimes like others I could mention.

 

[DRZinn]

I think some of us are arguing at cross purposes here.

There's a big difference between wearing a uniform and wearing various assorted pieces of military clothing, gear, or insignia that may or may not be part of a uniform.

To me there's an obvious line: If you (who haven't served) want to wear a Marine dress blue blouse, it will annoy me. If you put an EGA on a leather jacket, it will annoy me. If you put an EGA on a dress blue jacket and have the audacity to wear that, we'll have some problems.

 

[Jeff White]

I served in the US Army from 6 Dec 74 till 1 Nov 03. I haven't put on my uniform since I retired in November of 2003. I have worn BDU pants on the range and on some work assignments. (I'm currently a police officer).

Army regulation 670-1 covers wear of the uniform. Civilians can legally wear BDUs or other uniforms as long as they remove any distinctive items. Distinctive items include buttons on the dress uniform, the US ARMY patch over the left pocket, shoulder sleeve insignia (unit patches), distinctive unit insignia (unit crests), rank insignia, decorations, skill badges and headgear.

Now I doubt you'll ever get a US Attorney to prosecute anyone for this, unless they are pulling a scam and defrauding someone or wearing the MOH, but it is a violation of federal law.

I see no problem with someone wearing a t-shirt or sweatshirt with a unit insignia or motto on it, heck, my wife and kids have a pretty large collection of those.

I do have a problem with people (military or civilian) wearing enough parts of the uniform that they look like they are trying to impersonate soldiers. I have been know to approach those people and ask them for their military ID. If they produce one, I contact their 1SG, if they can't I remind them of the federal law about unauthorized wear of the uniform. There is just something wrong about someone with hair halfway to their shoulders, a three day growth of beard, and their hands in their pockets, walking around in full BDUs with patches on them and muddy boots and an open jacket.

I doesn't take any time at all to remove the patches from a BDU jacket if you want to wear one.

Jeff

 

[solareclipse]

I don't wear insignia clothing because i see no need for it and am aware of some of the implications that result from such acts, but many people just done on a piece of clothing oblivious as to what anything on it may mean.

Swat or nike is the same for many. It's just something you wear. Or so they say the few times the matter has been raised while i've been around.

 

[c_yeager]

I think there is a pretty clear line between people who wear casual military related clothing to show support for an organization and people who actively pretend to be a member of that organization.

I've met a handfull of genuine member of elite military units, and not a one of them seemed to give two shakes about some soccer mom wearing a NAVY hat. On the other hand I have met a handfull of complete and totaly FAKE members of elite units who would have a fit about such a thing as it "disgraced their honor".

I guess there are just bigger things to worry about.

 

[River Wraith]

I don't know how to show my appreciation for those badasses. I pretty much don't wear their clothing because I haven't earned it. I never aspired to be a SEAL or Spec Ops guy until it was way to late. By the time I got my head out of my ass and stopped chasing a good time I was over 30. I have immense respect for these people, but I wouldn't wear their clothing because I don't deserve to wear it. I haven't earned the right.

 

[MrTwigg]

If you didn't earn it

Don't wear it. Active duty, retired, or civilian. I won't even wear military camo patterns. If I wear camo it's a hunting pattern. I did wear my utility greens until I wore them out after I got out of the Seabees.

 

[WvaBill]

I didn't think the entire army should have been alllowed to wear the black berets.

 

[Don Gwinn]

On the shoulder there is a patch with a long triangle, circle in it, and star under that. Anyone know what its for?

That's either "Silent Killing Instructor" or "Latrine Sanitation Diver, 2nd Class."
What color is the star?

 

[carebear]

There's a big difference between wearing a uniform and wearing various assorted pieces of military clothing, gear, or insignia that may or may not be part of a uniform.

To me there's an obvious line: If you (who haven't served) want to wear a Marine dress blue blouse, it will annoy me. If you put an EGA on a leather jacket, it will annoy me. If you put an EGA on a dress blue jacket and have the audacity to wear that, we'll have some problems.

Doc,

You forgot to mention the "hot stripper exception".

 

[TOADMAN]

At home late on a Saturday night - once in a blue or no moon - I'll wear nothing but an old H-harness equipped with several 30 round M-16 magazine pouches full of chem lights and a canteen full of cheap red wine - then when the timing is just right - I'll attack the old lady.

 

[Kodiaz]

Hey leave Chelsea alone she was on the news the other day, she's hot


My brother in law sends me navy stuff every chance he gets.


One of the last ones was a SWCC shirt with a rat running a ma deuce on a little boat. He sent it because I dragged him over every patch of shallow water I could find in my old boat I had him terrified. Nothing like blasting through everglades sawgrass channels in a little boat to scare the pants off of a big boat sailor. I also made another big boat Navy guy puke on my boat. I'll leave that one for another time. I will say he was never in the ocean in a 16 ft. Aluminum vee hull before.

 

[NAMDOC]

re wearing military uniforms as a civilian...

...While during Annual Training at Camp Roberts, there was a large crowd of us milling around a convenience store, buying pogey bait, etc.

Amongst us was a tall guy in BDU's, wearing a boonie hat of all things, he was missing patches and rank, holding an M16. I asked him about his rank and his story was garbled; I asked him about his uniform and his story was garbled; I asked him for an ID and his story was garbled...

...so I brought him to the attention of some MP's who happened to be in the vic and while watching from a distance, I saw them take him away, in cuffs.

It was probably an AR....not an M16...

You wonder what drives these guys...

Paul
CA ARNG (Med PSG)
RVN/25th & 101st
Eagle Dustoff

 

[goalie]

On the other hand I have met a handfull of complete and totaly FAKE members of elite units who would have a fit about such a thing as it "disgraced their honor".

I guess there are just bigger things to worry about.

Another +1

 

[NAMDOC]

...this sort of thing is one step closer to those who claim they are vets...

...the guy who told me he used to haul around "...sixty cal..." or the medic who told me he was assigned to "...hew...".. it took me weeks to figure out he had seen 'Hue' ("Way") on a map and decided that's what he was going to tell people...

...here in sew kal it is not unusual to see kids/street wierdos with army clothing on, still having patches, etc. but since most of them don't have a clue and it is just a fad to them, I don't waste my breath...

Paul
RVN 70/71

 

[DRZinn]

the "hot stripper exception"

To the first two, but not the third. Unless it's a private show.

Then again, I always wanted a WM. Almost had two. A corporal and a captain.