Disclamer, I have never been in the military but was in the A&M Corps.

I work at downtown Houston. I see military staff almost daily at lunch time. 90% of the time they are in BDU's. This just looks terrible. I'm not saying to wear some formal dress uniform but at least wear what we used to call Class B's in the Corps. When I do see someone wearing something besides BDU's it looks so much more sharp and professional.

The people they are around all wear slacks and button up shirts for the most part. They just look out of place.

Thoughs? Am I out of line?

You are probably seeing the recruiters from MEPS down there. ACU's (Army) are the normal duty dress uniform. Other services can chime in.

Yea most likely the folk that work at MEPs

I work in a building with mainly AF personnel. Other than Monday's (Blues Monday), they are in their cammo.

This started after 9-11, and at least originally, was unique to the Army. Prior to that, Army personnel who worked primarily in an office setting (Pentagon, other admin environments, etc.) wore the Class B uniform. They changed the policy and made the BDU (now the ACU) the everyday uniform for pretty much everyone in every setting, to include the Pentagon. I personally think that was a bad decision, and agree there are many places, especially those where there is interaction with the civilian population, where the Class B should be worn. I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Army changed the policy back to what it was - maybe it was just for Pentagon personnel. Not sure.

The army has gone progressively downhill in terms of uniform decisions. They used to have khaki shirts/green pants, then switched to those god-awful green/green unis of the late 70's thru 00's (where the shirts looked like they came from some cheap civilian store at the mall). Then they stole the black berets from Rangers, then they inexplicably went to blue & white. WTF?

1. The duty uniform is ACU. Recruiters have been in ACUs since 2006. The ACU "pattern" has been the Army brand ever since the Army Strong campaign began. The only time you'll see Soldiers in the blue service uniform is for a board or for payday activities (Fort Bragg)

2. Recruiters don't work at MEPS. I can't stress this enough. Recruiters do not work at MEPS. Those are guidance counselors. BIG difference.

Also, the black beret is all but gone since GEN Dempsey reversed the Shineski/Tilley screwup. It's now only worn with the ASU and not with ACUs.

Just seems silly IMHO to wear camo in a professional/office environment.

Every time I see one of these new ACU's they are wearing they look like what my pissheads used to call one of my pair's of my non starched BDU's "Pajama BDU's". Found the below on WIKI and guess I understand why.


FROM WIKI:
Although common practice (though not required by regulation) with the BDUs, ACUs are not to be starched. As per the ALARACT message in effect until a new revision of AR 670-1 is released, "Soldiers will not starch the Army Combat Uniform under any circumstances. The use of starch, sizing, and any process that involves dry-cleaning or steam press will adversely affect the treatments and durability of the uniform and is not authorized."[14]

Starching the uniform has been shown to cause discoloration. It enhances the IR signature, making the uniform inappropriately bright under night vision viewing.

OP, you're absolutely right. BDU/ACUs are easy but sloppy. Why are they worn so much? Degradation of discipline. And, fat looks better in a b**** BDU than in Service C or B. High op tempo degrades discipline.

Cheap polyester uniforms look like what they are -- cheap. My old Navy crackerjack blues looked sharp, but the whites were merely OK. The old Army green and Air Force blue uniforms looked terrible. The cost is a factor, but I think it would be better for the services and their personnel if they would provide quality uniforms that look professional. Until then, ACUs are going to be the standard.

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Cheap polyester uniforms look like what they are -- cheap

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I agree with this completely and feel that a good looking set of ACU's looks better than the standard issue B's. Blue polyester with a white shirt isn't a good look. Fat and sloppy is fat and sloppy regardless of what you are wearing. That's a command issue maintaining proper appearance.

CGSC - counselors and recruiters are there as far as I know, but I guess you could consider that just to be the same building that houses MEPS. The recruiters are on other floors but in the same building. I just always referred to it as MEPS, though there are PO boxes and some other government offices in there.

I remember doing this "downtown scavenger hunt" thing for extra credit in my high school AP US History class. And we had to document all the historic sites we visited on so we took pictures. When we were going to take a picture of the MEPS building in Houston, and someone in uniform, I think a Marine corporal or sergaent came out and started yelling at us for taking pictures of federal buildings, and saying how he was going to confiscate our cameras if he saw us doing it. This was in 2003, I think. Did he have the authority to confiscate our cameras if we were standing on the sidewalk in front of the Houston MEPS building?

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Did he have the authority to confiscate our cameras if we were standing on the sidewalk in front of the Houston MEPS building?

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No. He can report it to his superiors. However, had he attempted to confiscate the camera, he could have faced criminal charges.

MEPS in and of itself is not a "federal building". If there's no controlled access (i.e. gate guard or access control point), there is no basis for his claim.

[This message has been edited by CGSC Lobotomy (edited 4/26/2012 11:55a).]

The MEPS offices in Houston are in the Federal building and there is controlled entry. I believe it's the offices of the Post Master as well as US Marshall offices for Houston.

The theory 10 years ago is that we are a wartime army and should dress the part. The idea was to do away with the I work in an office mindset of some.

Personally, I think it was a mistake. The ACUs are comfortable, but they just don't make you look like a professional when out and about. I get a sense of pride when putting on my ASU that I don't get from ACUs.

FTAC of 2000
Formerly AgDDS2B.

I don't like the ASU...then again, I'm always wearing blouses pants and combat boots with them.

I was one of the ones *****ing and moaning when they took our tan B's away in the Army. I wore mine right up until the last day they were legal!

However I was glad to see the BDU replace the old olive fatigues. Never did like wearing starched fatigues. I sweat like crazy during the summer and I would have salt stains all over my blouse before 1000 hrs.

i remember when this became common practice and at the time i was torn and as time has passed i just feel that if the uniform is good enough to die in, than it is good enough to be worn in an office.

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i remember when this became common practice and at the time i was torn and as time has passed i just feel that if the uniform is good enough to die in, than it is good enough to be worn in an office.

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True, but there are reasons that most businesses don't allow employees to wear jeans and T-shirts to the office, and the same reasons can apply for wanting better military uniforms in similar environments. Like it or not, uniforms project an image of the individual and the service as well as perform a function. ACUs are particularly good at being functional. They are bad for representing the services in a positive, professional light. As much of a hassle as pins, badges and ribbons can be, they look impressive and provide service members with a sense of accomplishment.

The ACU's are sloppy, they make fit soldiers look fat, and fat soldiers look fatter. They are worn everywhere. It's like the army version of lazy college kids wearing scrubs to class.

Getting past the fact that ACUs are, in general, one of the worst uniforms in the history of man, a lot of the earlier posts were correct. It was meant to signify an Army at war. I recall a couple of years back, however, that they intended to change back for recruiters and put them back in Bs. Not sure whatever happened to that idea. Of course, then they went and screwed up the blues, making the Bs option look like a damn mall cop. Unfortunately, regardless of which uniform, it's not always the uniform that's making those recruiters look fat...

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Unfortunately, regardless of which uniform, it's not always the uniform that's making those recruiters look fat

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When I was a Recruiting Commander, my company of 60 recruiters had an APFT average of 265. My station with the best mission % also had a 290 APFT average. If you care enough, you can make it work.

[This message has been edited by CGSC Lobotomy (edited 4/29/2012 10:30a).]

Oh, not saying it can't happen. The problem is, Rctg Commanders like you are hard to find. The excuse of long hours and a hard mission should be framed in every recruiting station. I loathed ATCs...the lack of personal appearance and military bearing was hard to look at. If I had to guess, my Rctg Company had an average around 220 with easily half getting taped.

I had 3 NCOs taped while I was in command. They lost a combined 210 pounds to make weight.

A great First Sergeant is key for a successful stint in USAREC. I wouldn't have been able to do anything right as a commander if it weren't for Titan 7.

[This message has been edited by CGSC Lobotomy (edited 4/29/2012 12:38p).]

Not sure why the OP cares if he's never been in the military. I don't care what the employees of the OP's company wear. Want it to change? Join the military, or become a Senator or service secretary

I have a different take. "In my day", I remember places where we (Air Force perspective) were not allowed in certain places in "utility" uniforms whether flight suit, fatigues, BDUs, etc. At one time there was a rule that you could go to a self serve restaurant where you walk to the counter to place your order in those uniforms but not if you sat down and a waiter came to your table. I even remember being TDY to Eglin AFB and banned from the main Officers Club dining room because we were in flight suits. We also couldn't stop at a grocery store in flight suits or BDUs.
Of course now that everyone wears utility uniforms, you can't tell the shoe clerks and REMFs from the warriors. But that's okay. The public needs to see us all as warriors.

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Of course now that everyone wears utility uniforms, you can't tell the shoe clerks and REMFs from the warriors.

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Laughing/crying emoticon. What?

I walked through the MSC Friday evening after the baseball game and was very upset to see cadets in their ACUs.

Again, back in the old days of the Air Force (60's-70's), you could stop for gasoline if you were wearing fatigues aka BDU's but that was about it.

And you better have a "greasy" AFSC if you did not wear your 505's/1505's on a day shift.

IMHO the Army and the Army reserve/National Guard are the worse offenders. They look sloppy in BDU's all the time.

Seldom do I see a Marine, Sailor or Airman wearing BDU's.

I work closely with the Dallas MEPS. Recruiters do work there but there is an actual line that they cannot cross....it's kinda funny. BTW you best not take any pics around there. Signs are posted and while the military may not confiscate your camera the Federal Uniformed police can and will confiscate and detain you.

you wont see a Marine in cammies off base because it isnt authorized

You will absolutely see Sailors and Airmen wearing ABUs/water camp every day. And in the presence of Marines I've never seen them at work in anything other than MARPAT. Some of you have fuzzy memories or bad eyesight. And what would be the point of wearing my flight attendant suit to work when 70% of the work is in the field or in the motor pool? I'd spend half my day changing between uniforms. Talk about pomp and fluff with no purpose