Is it "ok" to go in to a "breastaurant" in uniform?

Keep it simple... If not on duty, not in uniform. When on duty, eat at an establishment not serving alcohol.

This is easy. Every uniform has its purpose. The Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform is for combat, not enjoying liberty out in town. If you want to wear a uniform when you're out and about, put on your service uniform (Service "C", etc). If that doesn't appeal to you, all branches of the service are fairly generous in allowing the wear of civilian attire. The wear of certain uniforms at a so-called "breastaurant" is allowed with exceptions. However, in some locales, some of these establishments have garnered a reputation that doesn't mesh well with service standards. Specifically, a Twin Peaks restaurant in Jacksonville, NC was placed off limits to all service personnel because it had become a place where local prostitutes were plying their trade. In this case, no serviceman should be there (although it's tough to enforce!), whether in uniform or not. Regardless of its legality, patronizing an establishment with a local reputation like that sets a poor example and displays a tolerance, if not an outright endorsement, of the exploitation of women and sexual misconduct. This is both my service policy and my personal opinion.

I understand this question is aimed primarily at the Army and Air Force, but we all know they have equivalent service-type uniforms. Combat uniforms are for combat. Flight suits and work coveralls, etc, are for work. The appropriate wear of all our uniforms presents a professional appearance and instills a sense of pride and attention to detail, if the officer and NCO leadership makes it so. Otherwise, the "uniform of the day" just becomes another burden on the little guy passed down from the boss.

After a career in the Corps, and working closely with members of all services, I still can't figure out why other branches allow their "combat" uniforms to be worn on liberty to begin with. It's giving in to an attitude of "I want it the way I want it, and I want it now", and convenience over propriety in the extreme. At the end of a typical workday, I've never known a Serviceman who didn't have time or a place to change over into civvies before heading home. If you are wearing combat utilities out to lunch during the work day, then you have time to change into civvies. I don't know any major installation that doesn't take at least 15 minutes of driving time to get on or off base during lunch hour. So take a couple minutes to get out of your combat uniform first.

For Marines, our answer is to allow limited wear of the combat uniform off base when traveling to and from work. No stopping for gas or matters of convenience. If your destination is chow, how about eating on base where it's not an issue? Chow is a crutch anyway ;). The chow hall sucks? Maybe you should be fighting to make it a better place to eat instead of wearing the very uniform that many of your brothers bled and died in out to the local Hooters. In my day, eating at the chow hall was considered a privilege. It's also convenient, since every unit or base has one or more. And, interestingly enough, it provides immeasurable opportunities for NCO's to exercise leadership or simply observe their Marines (or soldiers or airmen, etc) outside of work. We're winding down from the entire Force being at war to a basically peacetime force. I've been through this routine several times, and I can tell you that you should be looking for opportunities for junior leaders to be in front of their people. Many of you will scoff, but something as simple as close order drill, or moving a platoon to the chow hall will become important again.

I also read a response from junior officer who may benefit from some senior SNCO advice. NEVER, EVER use as your justification for allowing an objectionable behavior, the fact that someone else allows an objectionable behavior, therefore, my pet objectionable behavior shouldn't be a problem. Two wrongs don't make a right! If you think standards are becoming lax or overlooked in other areas, fix them. It's your responsibility as a leader. Don't ever use it as an excuse to allow other standards to be overlooked. As an officer who may someday make policy, you should have an eye toward raising the bar, not lowering it. When I became a Master Sergeant (E-8), a wise colonel told me that my loyalty was no longer to individual Marines or even to the unit. My loyalty was to the institution. That's not saying that Troop Welfare isn't still half of the leadership equation, because is certainly is. As an officer, you set the tone. What you allow will be taken advantage of. What you diligently enforce will become the standard.

If you're wearing your camis out in town for anything short of a life threatening emergency, official command function*, or you're driving home, I don't care if your regs say it's cool or not, but you look like a bag of ass. Drives me up the wall every single time I see the local Army or Airforce guys doing that. Change into service dress if you wanna go off post in uniform. You'll get way more girls (or guys if that's your thing) with a uniform that's designed for looking good any way.



*Ex: My funeral detail would have a driver/armed security escort and that Marine would be in camis. Perfectly appropriate. He's working, and should be in the working uniform.

Absolutely. I live near a base and I see military eating in uniform at Hooters all the time and Twin Peaks supports the military with a free lunch on Veterans Day. Breastaurants aren't stripper bars. There's nothing wrong with going to any restaurant just because you think they have the best wings around.

Uhhhhh...........No? Not OK in uniform. Just my opinion. But then I don't go there anyway.

As a senior NCO, I was required to enforce regulations and SOP's (policy). Although the reg's stated it was prohibited, local policy often allowed it during lunch periods (of course, when I first went in, there was a two-beer limit during lunch). I retired in 2000 and it was common place to see soldiers, airmen, and marines at off post eating establishments in Aberdeen, Maryland and surrounding areas.

If you are a recruiter and are "zone canvassing" you can go just about anywhere in uniform :)

Personally speaking, when I wore a uniform I never went to those establishments. Not because I felt it was unprofessional, but because none of them ever did anything for me. Hooters? Meh. Okay short shorts, push-up bras, and tight shirts. Zippity doo. Tilted Kilt and other establishments did not exist at that time.

I wouldn't prohibit members from getting a meal at one of these establishments. If their actions or demeanor are offensive and cause complaints however, I would drop the righteous wrath on their heads. If I were a local commander I would encourage these establishments to report any unseemly behavior as well....... If you want to leer, ogle, and drool, do it in civilian attire.

Be sensitive to how it appears...that counts.