Posted on Jun 16, 2021
When is it "ok" for soldiers to deblouse while in garrison?
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Having been at Ft Bliss (dry heat) and now being at Ft Riley (Very humid heat) when is it acceptable for soldiers to modify the uniform? We are hitting heat cat 3 & 4 every day now and there's many solders (including my wife's unit) who work outside all day every day right under the sun which is tough. Up until recently there has been no issue with them (this specific unit is a UAS platoon so they're on an air strip for hours) taking off their tops due to the extreme heat. Recently they were told "Army policy says you're allowed to roll sleeves not take off tops so no more taking them off." Knowing a bit about how regs work there is no "Army policy" but rather a regulation that leaves it up to the local commander to decide (which is usually overruled by crusty grumpy 1SG's for no reason at all).
So my question is, because I can't find supporting regs to try and help out, when is it acceptable for soldiers to remove tops? Is it just never? Is it a local call from someone willing to take the heat round because at the end of the day as NCOs we are responsible for the welfare of our soldiers?
I am somewhat hoping a medical person will chime in with the heat index recommendations or something along those lines but overall I'm curious on your thoughts.
So my question is, because I can't find supporting regs to try and help out, when is it acceptable for soldiers to remove tops? Is it just never? Is it a local call from someone willing to take the heat round because at the end of the day as NCOs we are responsible for the welfare of our soldiers?
I am somewhat hoping a medical person will chime in with the heat index recommendations or something along those lines but overall I'm curious on your thoughts.
Fort Riley
Uniforms
NCOs
Army Regulations
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 199
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Speaking as a CRUSTY,GRUMPY (RETIRED) 1SG, detail uniforms are usually left up to Commanders and enforced by the NCO's. I just happen to have some recent knowledge about Bliss and the current toxic leadership epidemic there and at many other bases. Troop welfare is not high on the list of importance there. But I will interject that removing your blouse while standing outside in direct sunlight is much worse than sweating in your uniform. The trade off is relative conforms for a short period or Sunburn for a few days. As much as I love having my shirt off doing details I did not like teh sunburn and my COC sure didn't want to explain to higher about all the sunburns that would have happened if we didn't use common sense. My youngest did a ruck march recently at Bliss on his own time and burned the crap out of his shoulder and neck area that is still peeling today.
The problem today is we have very few leaders willing to take the chance or take an ass chewing for exercising good leadership. Its almost like higher wants to crush best leadership practices down to the lowest level.
The problem today is we have very few leaders willing to take the chance or take an ass chewing for exercising good leadership. Its almost like higher wants to crush best leadership practices down to the lowest level.
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SPC Martin Meyer
SFC Richard Baerlocher - I am fair skinned and burn in a heart beat everyone is different. I never went to Vietnam served from 71-74 just the luck of the draw I guess.
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1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR)
Not the smartest thing I did in Vietnam... All my Montagnards wore shirts and hats to keep the heat off their bodies. The pre-cancerous skin issues I have may be from my lack of intelligence as a young man!
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MAJ Jay Callaham
1SG Dean Mcbride (MPER) (CPHR) - I can tell you that my Dermatologist a while back told me of how many Melanomas and Carcinomas he'd seen among WW2 vets that served in the Pacific Theater, where a lot of them went shirtless during down-times, as well as among Vietnam Vets who did the same. There's a reason why the Hajis are always in long robes with long sleeves in the deserts of the Middle East.
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First off, those Crusty Grumpy First Sergeants probably remember that unblousing means untucking your trousers from your boots. Once upon a time, the women's service uniform may have included a blouse, butthe current version of AR 670-1 doesn't list blouses as a component of any uniform.
Second, as 1SG Dennis Hicks pointed out, taking jackets off is the desert sun is not a great idea. It's slightly counterintuitive, but keeping that torso-sized shade billowing around your upper body (A) protects the skin on your arms from dirt and UV damage (sunburn), and (B) puts some helpful fractions of an inch of air between your body and all that solar heating.
Before you sneer too loudly at the notion of jacket on and sleeves down, stop and ask yourself: why is traditional Arab clothing, worn far from the disapproving gaze of any sergeant or officer, long-sleeved and billowy?
Second, as 1SG Dennis Hicks pointed out, taking jackets off is the desert sun is not a great idea. It's slightly counterintuitive, but keeping that torso-sized shade billowing around your upper body (A) protects the skin on your arms from dirt and UV damage (sunburn), and (B) puts some helpful fractions of an inch of air between your body and all that solar heating.
Before you sneer too loudly at the notion of jacket on and sleeves down, stop and ask yourself: why is traditional Arab clothing, worn far from the disapproving gaze of any sergeant or officer, long-sleeved and billowy?
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SFC Eddy Weezar
SFC (Join to see) it’s cute how a 1LT starts his commentary with “First of…”
Yes SFC, I agree with you!
Yes SFC, I agree with you!
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SGT Gary Stemen
Unblousing also includes releasing a shirt from a belted position. That allows air circulation between the shirt and skin. Removal is never a good idea, sunburn may be an offense which may result in Article 15's or worse, depending on required duties that one may not be able to perform...
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SFC Jerry McLellen
What I would like explained is why today's troops are so sensitive to the sun. Just because some dermatology doctor in a hospital setting starts pushing his own beliefs about sun exposure doesn't mean that a soldier should have to be unduly uncomfortable if they have to work outdoors, or indoors for that matter. If your commander just falls in line with higher headquarters recommendations without questioning the rationale behind them, then he is not a commander, but instead a follower.
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Our medical platoon officer told our maintenance platoon that anytime it was overly hot when they were tearing a tank or PC down to work on it , to get down to their tee shirt and unblouse their pants because they were normally working in the middle of a Sandy area, which multiplied the heat brother SFC (Join to see)
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SPC Daniel Brown
Not my unit at Ft. Hood we were told to wear our uniform coveralls with the leggings unbloused, but this was back in 1976.
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