Posted on May 22, 2024
As a retiree who served as both an officer and enlisted, which uniform should I wear to a military or civilian function?
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I had 30 years of service, active and National Guard, with 20 years enlisted and 10 years commissioned sandwiched in between. I went in the Retired Reserve in 2010 as a First Sergeant, but draw retired pay as a Captain. My question is if I want to wear my uniform to a military or civilian function, do I wear the officer or enlisted? Can I choose either? I prefer the enlisted, as that is the capacity I served the most years and achieved a higher rank than as an officer.
Posted in these groups: 
Retirement
Dress Uniform
Retirement Dress Uniform
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 7
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Not having looked at the regs, I would look at your retirement orders, what do they say. On mine it tells me I am a 11Z. What ever your retirement orders say is what I would go with.
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COL Randall C.
Agree. The "Correct" answer is whatever is listed on your DD-214 for retirement as that reflects the rank that an individual is permanently retired at (i.e., the rank that is shown on the Army's Retired Reserve List).
Keep in mind that "retired rank" does not necessarily equal "retired pay".
Keep in mind that "retired rank" does not necessarily equal "retired pay".
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COL Randall C.
CPO Christian Wilson - Good point. While the law regarding retirement grade is the same across the Services, there could be variations as the law allows for adjustment in some cases by the Service's Secretary.
Without diving into the different Service regulations, I don't know if this actually is the case, but it could be.
Without diving into the different Service regulations, I don't know if this actually is the case, but it could be.
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AR 670-1, 21-3c:
"Retired personnel not on active duty may wear either the uniform reflecting their grade and branch on the date of their retirement, or the uniform prescribed for personnel in the AA of corresponding grade and branch, when appropriate, but may not mix the two uniforms. Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on their retirement order."
But.....you are retired. And since I highly doubt you would be brought back in to face punishment by violating regs for wearing 1SG rank.....
"Retired personnel not on active duty may wear either the uniform reflecting their grade and branch on the date of their retirement, or the uniform prescribed for personnel in the AA of corresponding grade and branch, when appropriate, but may not mix the two uniforms. Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on their retirement order."
But.....you are retired. And since I highly doubt you would be brought back in to face punishment by violating regs for wearing 1SG rank.....
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CPT Willis Davis
If you are drawing officer retired pay, you were advanced to the highest grade held on the retirement rolls, your ID card should be that of the Officer rank, and that is the uniform you are authorized.
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I was going to say split the difference at CW3 or 4, but that' probably isn't going to fly.
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