As a civilian who owns military issued pants (both Army and USMC), would I be able to wear them with boots or is it unauthorized?

Corey Anderson — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 02:22:17 -0400

As a civilian - never enlisted before - I have a pair of OCP Army Issued and MCCUU Desert Digital, if I buy combat boots, would I be able to wear the pants only with it tucked in, or is it considered stolen valor still as me being a civilian or no?

Response by LTJG Edward Bangor Jr made Jul 26 at 2017 2:29 AM

LTJG Edward Bangor Jr — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 02:29:00 -0400

It depends. Granted there is a bit of subjectivity to this, but are you simply wearing an article of clothing, or are to trying to give of a persona of serving? If the former, you're good to go. If the latter is the case, then it's absolutely stolen valor.

I personally don't care if someone wears some random uniform component. I've seen plenty of contractors wearing random crap in the shipyard.

Response by PFC Jonathan Albano made Jul 26 at 2017 2:33 AM

PFC Jonathan Albano — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 02:33:39 -0400

If anyone approaches you and asks about it, just be honest. Don't claim anything you aren't. You're ok to wear it as long as you follow that golden rule.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2017 2:54 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 02:54:43 -0400

I know guys who wear them for work clothes. Construction, landscaping, mechanics, etc. I've also seen guys who wear the old BDU's and the Desert Camo from Desert Storm as paintball/airsoft gear. The question is, why are you wearing it? Can it easily be misconstrued? Just wearing the bottoms and some boots isn't wrong but people might draw some wrong conclusions. Just be honest about it.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2017 3:47 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 03:47:12 -0400

Unauthorized by who/what? As a civilian, you can pretty much where whatever you want. And as long as you are not trying to pass yourself off as a service member or veteran, I would say you probably won't get any negative feedback about them (especially if they are just BDU pants).

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2017 5:57 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 05:57:23 -0400

Mr. Anderson,

It's not stolen valor for a civilian to wear OCP/MCCUU pants with combat boots. Plenty of construction workers do this. Airsoft and Paintballers do this too. Just don't try to portray yourself as, or claim something that you are not. You'll be fine.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2017 5:58 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 05:58:56 -0400

I am not sure where casual wear treads on stolen valor. Certainly if you wore insignia of branch, rank, unit, years of service, and awards of merit, campaign, or valor there may be reason for concern. But, I have seen so many men and women casually wearing uniform blouse, pants, skirt, shoes, and/or hats without a suggestion or implication they ever served. Indeed, such wear was considered rather a form of comedic camp expression at one time e.g. see the provocative "sailor" girl in old cracker jack navy attire. A civilian who gave it much thought might shy away from a blouse emblazoned US Army, US Coast Guard, and/or uniform hats strictly associated with officers - except in camp club, costume party, or bedroom situation. I personally provoked a few gasps when I dressed up in a more or less accuract replica of HM Princess Elizabeth's WWII ATS Uniform for costume parties and a particularly camp inaugural ball - but I don't believe anyone mistook my uniform for anything beyond an homage to the queen - certainly not as a claim to have served as a WWII Auxiliary Territorial Service Officer. I once wore an extensively taken in dark blue USN MCPO uniform jacket with hash marks down the sleeve on loan from a friend for Halloween Trick or Treat when I was 12 in 1962 - perhaps it was in bad taste - for which I beg forgiveness - but again I don't believe anyone mistook me for a grizzled goat locker inhabitant. Same for a WWII bomber pilot uniform accurate down to the fur lined jacket for yet again another halloween party. Perhaps it was because women were not allowed to serve - or because I was obviously not the young princess - no one took offense at these historic costumes. When a historic uniform is worn casually in the course of performance - in theatre - as an homage - or at a costume party - or in the bedroom - or even for kicks and giggles - should we take offense - or does the true meaning of stolen valor really reside with those who are seriously attempting to make a claim to official position, merit, or valor they did not earn? The MCPO's hat flopped around on my tiny head - and the hem of the jacket fell around my ankles - was that stolen valor - or just a little kid playing dress up in an honored and respected family friend's uniform jacket? I really don't know - but I sometimes wonder whether we take ourselves and our uniforms all too seriously - when they really only have meaning and significance to us - and the rest of the world does not understand. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

Response by Maj John Bell made Jul 26 at 2017 7:50 AM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 07:50:55 -0400

The answer is - "It depends." When I was a kid, I bought an Army Field Jacket with Sergeant Stripes on it from a resale shop. When I walked in the door of the house, my Dad, a retired Navy officer and decorated WWII and Korean War pilot, stripped the field jacket off me in about 8 nanoseconds. He pointed at the Sergeant Stripes and in a cool calm, really scary voice said. "These stripes mean something. You haven't earned the right, and this isn't a costume." He found a seam ripper and had me cut the rank insignia off the field jacket. Then it was perfectly OK.

I'd be very circumspect about wearing anything that a service member had to earn. You want to wear a ball cap with the Eagle Globe and Anchor (EGA), great! You take an honest to God EGA and pin it to your ball cap and it gets annoying real fast.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2017 9:34 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:34:28 -0400

You want to walk around wearing them, by all means wear them. It's certainly your right. There is no Stolen Valor in that. With that being said, if you never served a day, but started telling stories that you did serve after you start wearing them...then you'll be stepping into the Stolen Valor lane.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2017 10:40 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:40:31 -0400

You can wear them, just be aware of where you do so and don't try to be someone that you aren't.
Wear it around a military installation, and you are likely going to be approached. Have a plan to be respectful (even if they aren't) and explain why you wear them, and you'll be fine.

Response by SSgt Holden M. made Jul 26 at 2017 10:55 AM

SSgt Holden M. — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:55:24 -0400

I would say you are perfectly fine to wear the pants with the boots. I would recommend wearing some kind of civilian style shirt meaning it isn't a plan t-shirt. You can technically wear whatever you would like as long as you don't try and claim that you served.

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Jul 26 at 2017 11:23 AM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:23:50 -0400

wear what ever you want, just be truthful if someone asks, no one will say anything if you wear boots and pants, or even a boony cap with them. the main thing about stolen valor is those passing themselves off as something they are not, or earned.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Jul 26 at 2017 11:44 AM

SFC J Fullerton — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:44:14 -0400

Not a big deal. If you ever get a matching top, just make sure there are no patches, rank, insignia, or badges. Without that, it ceases to be a uniform and is just camouflage clothing. (although you may be perceived as a wannabe by some veterans if you are just wearing it to look cool with no real purpose). But no stolen valor.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jul 26 at 2017 12:38 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 12:38:17 -0400

You're a civilian so you can do whatever your want. You can't be authorized or unauthorized to do anything from the US Military

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jul 26 at 2017 12:42 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 12:42:02 -0400

Stolen Valor can only be punished if you are trying to profit by pretending to be a servicemember and I believe you have to wear certain medals from what's listed in the Stolen Valor Act.

You can wear whatever you want. But you might harassed by idiots who think they know what they're talking about and accuse you of it.

Response by PO1 Donald Hammond made Jul 26 at 2017 12:42 PM

PO1 Donald Hammond — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 12:42:24 -0400

You are a civilian. Uniform regs don't apply to you. You can buy tons of medals and ribbons and other military bling and wear all of it at the same time and not break a law. You will be laughed at until our toenails bleed but unless you try to pass yourself off as legit and get benefits from it, you are fine.

Response by PO1 Donald Hammond made Jul 26 at 2017 12:46 PM

PO1 Donald Hammond — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 12:46:43 -0400

You know, this reminds me of the TV show MASH where Hawkeye sneaks Radar into the O Club and when questioned about it says they are trying out a new rank "Private Major" or some such. lol

Response by Corey Anderson made Jul 26 at 2017 4:32 PM

Corey Anderson — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 16:32:47 -0400

Thank you guys' for your responses' now I know pretty much what's what now, I feel the same with you guys, if I want to wear the jacket, ill earn it, I've been talking to a local recruiter her in Council Bluffs, Iowa about Army enlistment possibly, he's a really cool guy and I haven't seen anything that has disqualified me yet, so I have a feeling I have a chance possibly to enlist. I've been planning Full-Time Army though, my ex girlfriend is in the Army National Guard, she's a bit of a psycho, shes actually so crazy i had to go to her recruiter just to get her off my back, but i'd rather be overseas or on deployment 24/7 instead of annual trainings with my ex girlfriend, me and a few of my buddies classify her as a "Military Whore" since her buddies claims she has slept with so many men and had sex with so many bases, but theres no proof to back her up in the military, she claims she has uniforms, knows the Army Soldiers Creed, etc but anyone can memorize that, but if i enlist, it will be Full-Time Army as my ex claims shes national guard, and as before, i ain't doing annual trainings' with my ex.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 26 at 2017 4:35 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 16:35:10 -0400

Not a Problem. Not Aware that either One has Rank or Military Designators on the Pants.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jul 26 at 2017 5:01 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 17:01:27 -0400

No. You were not issued them, so you do not wear them. Also, I don't know about Army, but Marine Corps uniforms of the EGA included in the pattern of the uniform. You did not earn, you do not wear.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jul 26 at 2017 9:15 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 21:15:22 -0400

Just the pants and boots with no insignia? Not trying to get a discount? Not trying to pass on "war stories"? Not stolen valor. Tacky maybe, but not stolen valor.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Jul 26 at 2017 10:46 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 22:46:16 -0400

Thank you for at least asking! As long as there are no service identifying patches, or you aren't passing yourself off as the greatest Marine since Chesty Puller, it shouldn't matter.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jul 27 at 2017 1:44 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 01:44:06 -0400

No problem, lots of people do. Just don't try to pass yourself off as being part of the military (past or present).

Response by Milo Taylor made Jul 28 at 2017 7:08 PM

Milo Taylor — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 19:08:00 -0400

As long as you don't CLAIM to be in; I think you're good. That's just me.

Response by Ethan Handy made Sep 16 at 2017 3:32 PM

Ethan Handy — Sat, 16 Sep 2017 15:32:44 -0400

You can wear whatever you want. Stolen Valor is trying to take credit for rank, etc for some type of public service etc.

Response by David Emery made Dec 15 at 2017 11:23 AM

David Emery — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 11:23:50 -0500

yes its only stolen valor if your wearing patches form a specific unit or something but it gets grey and depends on what your using them for like for airsoft you can wear the patches as long as your not saying your actually a part of that unit

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2018 1:32 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 01:32:45 -0500

It's fine the pants are really comfortable for hunting paintball etc.

Response by Corey Anderson made Feb 15 at 2018 1:40 AM

Corey Anderson — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 01:40:59 -0500

The only thing I've ever wore that I can get called on is my OCP Pants, desert boots and desert tan t-shirt, however since ACU is now outdated, ACU might be more acceptable to wear