Posted on Aug 3, 2015
TSgt Airman Leadership School Instructor
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There are many out there with different opinions on the matter. I honestly have never seen an E-1 - E-4 in Mess Dress in person, this picture being the first time ever honestly.

I have heard many different opinions, as I've said, like...

"Once you are confident you will be making the Air Force a career..."

"When you become a Senior NCO..."

"Never before you are an E-5 at least..."

When do you think is a good time to get the Mess Dress uniform? Also, is there a time that is too soon to invest?
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Responses: 36
CSM Brigade Operations (S3) Sergeant Major
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Never! If the branch of service you are in didn't issue it to you, then you don't need it.
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CMSgt Civil Engineer Chief Enlisted Manager
CMSgt (Join to see)
>1 y
now if you want a sustained career in the Air Force. It's inevitable you'll be attending formal events.
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CSM Charles Hayden
CSM Charles Hayden
>1 y
SGM Mike Oldsen, The one SGM Academy graduation I attended; for one of my Soldiers, did have a few graduates in Greens. I was surprised. Years, another grad who had wore greens to the ceremony, told me that since he wasn't married, he would not be moving up the chain anyhow?
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SPC Robert Patrick
SPC Robert Patrick
>1 y
CSM (Join to see) - I was issued my greens in 2009 at around 120lbs by 2011 in my first unit my greens no longer fit I was then around 165 lbs. I ended up buying the blues because greens were not available at the clothing and sales at my installation. Now as far as mess I have never seen a need to purchase those seeing as the only individuals I see in the Army wearing them are Senior NCOs and Officers. The standard Blues look nice enough in my opinion especially when you are only an E-4.
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SSgt Daniel Mathews
SSgt Daniel Mathews
>1 y
The Air Force doesn't give you anything for free- even in Basic, they took all our uniforms out of our first paycheck.
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CAPT Kevin B.
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9
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It's a personal preference but I'd recommend you get it one grade below when it's required. It shows the boss you're prepared to move forward. Little things do get noticed.
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SMSgt Daniel Yoder
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If you can afford it and take pride in it go ahead and get one. I had several young airmen buy them for our military balls and they looked great. They had pride and felt like they belonged. I would never discourage a airmen of mine to not buy a mess dress if they wanted and they planned on staying in a while. Yes the SNCO ranks are encouraged to get one. But there is nothing written that says a airmen cannot. Of course the protocol is different service to service but I would never discourage any of my enlisted ranks to not wear any uniform they are authorized to wear just because you may not have one. There are many uniform items in every service we have all bought that were not issued to us but still had to get or need because it looked better or wore better. Build moral not discourage it.
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