Question Regarding Military Uniforms (U.S.A.)

[Master of Puppets]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone could help me out. I recently found my grandfather's Vietnam-era U.S. Army dress uniform. It fits me rather well, and I was wondering if it would be illegal or otherwise an issue for me to wear it. I've moved the medals and ribbons to the right side (It shows I'm honouring his service, and it distinguishes me from the original medal/ribbon receiver.)

I googled it, and there was no definite answer. Some said it was illegal, others based on intent...

[Frost Mage]

The question is: Who really cares, or knows what stance their department has on such a thing? Definitely not the police. I honestly don't think you should worry about this, but this is coming from someone who never knew that there would have to be a problem with wearing military uniforms outside of the military: proving my point once again.

[Master of Puppets]

The question is: Who really cares, or knows what stance their department has on such a thing? Definitely not the police. I honestly don't think you should worry about this, but this is coming from someone who never knew that there would have to be a problem with wearing military uniforms outside of the military: proving my point once again.

I'm thinking I should ring my other grandfather who served in the AF, but I'll see him tomorrow anyway. It seems to be based on intent, but maybe someone here who served (Are there any? o_o) could provide a definite answer.

[Taters]

As far as I know, so long as you remove rank insignia, and whatnot(to prevent charges of impersonating a military officer), there's nothing wrong with wearing the uniform. I've seen people wear army jackets that belonged to a sibling who was in the service, and no one ever complained about it.

[Dark Lord Cam]

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorder ... rmwear.htm

[DorostheConqueror]

Nobody's going to care. There's a whole ton of laws and courtesy codes, but unless you're actually IN the military and wearing stuff you're not "authorized" to wear within eyesight of an officer, NCO, or snitch who knows you, you don't have to worry.

[Witchery]

Well, I wouldn't unless you actually served. There are people who anonymously pay for the meals of those in uniform when in a restaurant. I don't know about the legality, though. . .

[Jeff]

Yes, in the US, as Cam posted, there are Laws and Codes that prohibit the wearing of Military Uniforms by non-soldiers.

It is not the uniform, per se, as it is the Rank and Awards. There are many people wearing parts of Military Uniforms, nobody would say anything, as the majority of them do not have ranks and awards on them. There are also many items of clothing, that have Military looks, but are not official. I really doubt that any Law Officers would say anything (unless they served). However, you may come accros one of those Soldiers that would be offended, and say something. It is really hard to know who you will run into.

It really depends on you, your actions, and your intent. Where you are wearing it, and what you are doing, while wearing it. ...so, you would have to weigh the potential issue of a confrontation, and whether or not it would be seen as disrespectful by others. I can tell by the fact that you asked, that this is a concern for you... so my advice would be to not wear it.

If you are wearing your Grandfathers Vietnam Era Dress Uniform, then you techically could not be impersonating an Officer/NCO/Soldier, as that Uniform is no longer authorized for wear.

I am Retired, and I am only authorized to wear my dress uniform for appropriate functions. I cannot wear it as an everyday attire. I can go to a Military Clothing and Sales Store, but I cannot buy Authorized/Issue items. I can buy authorized items that can be worn with Dress Uniforms, that are authorized to be worn by Retiries. I cannot buy duty uniforms, or tactical issue equipment. I can go to a surplus store, or order on line though.

However, as seen from my pictures posted here, I would never wear my Dress Uniform, since my hair and beard are not in accordance with AR670-1, as it would be disrespectful to the Uniform, and I do not have any intent to cut or shave.

[cowleyj]

So to summarise, as long as rank insignia is removed it isn't illegal, but some people may take offence. Oh, and Metallica FTW.

[Jeff]

Even off-duty, Soldiers are not authorized to wear their Uniforms. They are to be worn to and from work. When I first Enlisted, we could not even stop by the store on the way home. We were supposed to go home, change, and then go to the store. Times changed, and we could stop at the fast food, gas station, convienince or grocery store in Uniform, but not allowed to spend the afternoon/weekend walking around the mall, bacially in and out quick pick-up of milk and eggs, ect...

You will see Soldiers in Airports in Uniform, but that is a requirement now, as they are in-transit, which is considered duty. It also allows them to be seen. Oddly enough, during the Cold War, we were required when in transit PCS (permanent change of station) to be in Dress Uniform, as you were to report in for your new duty station in Uniform. However, this did change, as it was seen as potentioally making Soldiers targets for (Soviet) terrorism. Now they have gone back to requiring them to be visible.

[JockoBeans]

As far as I know you can do it as long as you are not trying to impersonate a soldier of the United States Military or you are or trying to claim that you were in the service and earned the medals yourself when you did not.

Also, a Medal of Honor is the only medal that you cannot even possess, let alone wear, unless you were awarded it or you are next of kin to recieve it after death of the recipient. It is our Nation's highest honor and stricty treated as such.

[Dark Lord Cam]

I'm not entirely certain, but I don't think any judge in the country would rule against anyone that skinned you alive for wearing a medal of honor under false pretenses.

[DorostheConqueror]

But what if you earned, like, every trophy in CoD? That should be enough, I think.

Besides, who's going to call you on it? They might not actually believe you earned the MoH legit, but nobody's going to risk calling a real recipient a liar. Especially not the ones who lived.

[Dark Spark]

Take off all the old decorations and replace them with your own.

Hello Kitty pins, or Harley-Davidson paraphenalia.



On another note, Medal of Honor recipients are entitled to a pension and their children are virtually given a scholarship— if they choose to join a military academy. So, falsely claiming to be a MoH recipient is a big deal.

[DorostheConqueror]

Yes, pensions and scholarships. I'm not QUITE sure, but I think maybe keeping an unearned MoH on your wall won't cause federal Treasury officers to show up at your door offering you pensions. Nor can I picture wearing a MoH to a bar and getting barraged with Ivy League scholarship offers from the other patrons.

In order to get any of the GOOD crap, you need a lot more than a medal you found on Craigslist. That sort of stuff requires extensive documentation and cover stories; highspeed con artist [&@%!], not the small time game we're talking here.

I'm not saying it's legal, or ethical. I'm just saying... who's going to call you a liar?

[the Savage Hippie]

Didn't a certain Jimi run into some trouble doing something similar to this?

[JimDaniels]

Americans are incredabely [&@%!] about things like this then I take it I still wear my combat jacket (eventhough I left the army 19 months ago) when its raining, but it's britian and no one really cares about stuff like that. except me being a veteran, I hate!!!!! seeing civilians wearing combat/service clothing. The way I see it, if you don't want to do the service, then you havn't earned the right to wear the attire.

[Will Zurmacht]

Blundered across an article that is relevant to the Medal of Honor bit: Justices Take On Medal Lies.

Upshot: "A California man convicted of falsely claiming to be a Medal of Honor recipient was sentenced to three years of probation, 416 hours of community service and a $5,000 fine under the Stolen Valor Act, a 2006 statute Congress passed "to protect the reputation and meaning" of military honors."

Supreme Court to rule on constitutionality (with respect to First Amendment) of Stolen Valor Act next weekish.

[DorostheConqueror]

Yeah, that should probably be thrown out. The real question is: how exactly was he "claiming" to be a MoH recipient? If he was claiming to be a recipient in order to collect federal benefits that he wouldn't otherwise be entitled to, then yeah, he should be punished... in accordance with per-existing rules about false claims set by the entitlement program. If he was claiming to be a recipient so as to pick up chicks at a bar, eh. Social justice should take of that, not federal.

According to the article, he made one off-the-cuff comment at a local water board meeting. For fraks sake, people. You want to honor the vets, don't ruin the country by butchering our freedom of speech over something so trivial.

Also, I love how much Alito comes off sounding like a rotten little [&@%!]. Next Up: Justice Bush criminalizes LARPing, shrugs shoulders, asks "what's the big deal?"