Can you wear the uniform of a previous service to a family member's graduation if you are currently a higher grade in a different service?

2019-02-18T23:37:52-05:00

A friend of mine was a Sergeant in the Marines and is now commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy. He has a younger relative that is about to graduate Marine Boot Camp. Is it against regulations to wear his Marine Dress or Service uniform as they were, with sergeant rank and awards he rated at the time he was still in the Marines, to the graduation?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Feb 18 at 2019 11:45 PM

2019-02-18T23:45:48-05:00

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member No. As a commissioned officer he should know that.

Wearing his current service uniform or equivalent civilian attire would be appropriate.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Feb 18 at 2019 11:51 PM

2019-02-18T23:51:06-05:00

I am going to say NO. After you leave the service, I believe that only retired members of the military can wear their uniform for certain occasions. Since he never retired from the Marines, I don’t think that he should be wearing the uniform. (However, I am not 100% positive on the retirement requirement for uniform wear after you leave the service)

Since he is still in, he should wear his current uniform of his present service. Not a previous one. While I don’t know the actual Navy regulation, I am sure that there is a section about the proper wear of your uniform which would your current rank, badges and awards. I know for a fact that the Army and Air Force has such a regulation.

Response by TSgt David L. made Feb 19 at 2019 12:01 AM

2019-02-19T00:01:45-05:00

I get the fact that a Marine would want to honor a new Marine at graduation but doing it as a commissioned Naval officer is fitting and proper and doing otherwise would be impersonating a Marine it would seem. Just my 2 cents.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Feb 19 at 2019 12:05 AM

2019-02-19T00:05:01-05:00

See NAVPERS 15665I, Navy uniform regulations.

I stand corrected, former members of the Navy, who served during war and were honorably discharged, may wear their uniform during certain ceremonies. See Title 10, US Code, section 772e

See section 61002 for further details on retired wear.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Feb 19 at 2019 12:09 AM

2019-02-19T00:09:12-05:00

No. They cover this in commissioning source training.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2019 12:20 AM

2019-02-19T00:20:14-05:00

That hurts my head. Why would he want to do this?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Feb 19 at 2019 12:24 AM

2019-02-19T00:24:44-05:00

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member Why would anyone wear a lesser uniform with a lower rank than their current one? Are you a PI or a Hollywood Marine?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2019 12:44 AM

2019-02-19T00:44:55-05:00

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member I agree with LTC Jason Mackay. An Ensign in the Navy should know that this is not allowed. Please ensure that your friend gets the word.

Response by Maj John Bell made Feb 19 at 2019 1:39 AM

2019-02-19T01:39:07-05:00

I can't cite a regulation, but if that ensign wants to impersonate an E-5 in pay grade, I'd be speeking with the JAG looking into how to make the ensign a C-1, Basic civilian.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Feb 19 at 2019 7:51 AM

2019-02-19T07:51:10-05:00

Nope.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Feb 19 at 2019 10:39 AM

2019-02-19T10:39:50-05:00

Tell me this is a joke, my head hurts so much at this point. Why doesn’t your friend go whole hog and wear a World War 1 or 2 marine dress uniform? I can guarantee he will be the center of attention. In reality, the focus should be on the individual graduating basic training. Not some lame navy ensign that wants to play Marine for a day.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2019 10:52 AM

2019-02-19T10:52:40-05:00

He needs to wear the uniform he is currently authorized to wear. i.e. the Naval uniform.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Feb 19 at 2019 11:14 AM

2019-02-19T11:14:23-05:00

I would wear the uniform of my present service and rank. It ought to be a no-brainer. If your friend wanted to wear his Marine uniform and identity as a Marine, he should have stayed in the Marines. His ribbons and medals will suffice to show that he once wore the uniform of a Marine.

Response by PO1 C Arnold made Feb 19 at 2019 12:22 PM

2019-02-19T12:22:14-05:00

I get that they were/are both in the Marines, but as this is a formal and official ceremony, and as Marines are held to a slightly higher when it comes to honorable service, wearing the "old uniform" probably wouldn't be appropriate here, despite both being Navy branched.

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Feb 19 at 2019 2:49 PM

2019-02-19T14:49:58-05:00

You WERE an active duty Marine. No longer...No...you wear your current service uniform...and Marine Baseball cap... my advice only.

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Feb 19 at 2019 2:52 PM

2019-02-19T14:52:01-05:00

...or wear this.

Response by Sgt Charles Welling made Feb 19 at 2019 3:39 PM

2019-02-19T15:39:10-05:00

Your friend is a commissioned officer, of course it is not permissible to wear an enlisted uniform now nor is it appropriate to wear non-current uniforms anytime. Why don't you know that? I had a friend that was a pilot and officer during WW II. He got demoted during the huge reduction in forces, was it ever appropriate for him to dress as an officer while an active E-9? Good grief?

Response by SPC Brent Melton made Feb 19 at 2019 4:44 PM

2019-02-19T16:44:52-05:00

I'd tell him to fork over the cash for the new dress uniform and just get it over with lol

Response by MSgt Gerald Orvis made Feb 19 at 2019 6:31 PM

2019-02-19T18:31:39-05:00

Nope. Your friend WAS a Sergeant of Marines, but no longer. The saying "Once a Marine, always a Marine" means something else. He should wear his USN ensign's uniform proudly. What are we playing here - dress-up? I understand that your friend wants to accommodate his younger relative's admiration for him as a Marine, but your friend is in the Navy now and should act the part. His USMC Good Conduct Medal ribbon will say all that needs to be said about his Marine service to those that know.

Response by CPL Luke Saunders made Feb 20 at 2019 11:54 AM

2019-02-20T11:54:31-05:00

No. You are to wear YOUR latest and greratest ONLY. You try to get away with wearing someone else's uniform from a different branch and you will have SJW's all up in your shit screaming "STOLEN VALOR!!!"

Use your head.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2019 12:10 PM

2019-02-20T12:10:28-05:00

So to elaborate on the situation, it was my friend’s mother that was asking me as he was unavailable at the time. I gave him a call the other night and he DID know that what his mom was asking was a no-go.
He said if their family wanted to get pictures they could get t-shirts or something like everyone else.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Feb 22 at 2019 12:27 PM

2019-02-22T12:27:56-05:00

Don't know about the Marines and Navy but the Army AR 670-1 uniform reg is clear that you may upon retirement or honorable discharge wear the dress uniform and accoutrements you rated at ETS or retirement. So if he was Army the answer would be "No".
Active Soldiers are required to wear the uniform with some , all or none of the accoutrements they are currently authorized depending on the circumstances and class of dress uniform.