Posted on Jun 1, 2015
Uniformed Navy Officer Turned Away From NY Hotel Bar For Violating Dress Code: How would You Deal With This Situation?
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An unidentified female Navy Officer, staying at an upscale NYC hotel with family while visiting during Fleet Week festivities last week was taken aback when her group was stopped by bouncers and prevented from entering the hotel's bar one evening. At first, nobody could figure it out, everyone was dressed in professional attire; until the bouncer's indicated that the Officer's Class A Uniform did not fit it's criteria for female dress, and they weren't backing down. How about it? How would you address such an insulting situation?
Posted in these groups: 
Etiquette
Dress Uniform
Etiquette Dress Uniform
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 111
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I ran into a somewhat similar situation once at a bar in downtown San Diego. The doorman asked for ID, and my friend and I produced our military ID's. The doorman refused us entry because "he didn't know how to tell if military ID's were fake or not."
Please note this was a bar I was a regular at, and the doorman was on his first night. I asked to speak with the manager right away. In fact I asked for him by name. He came out and said "John, what's the problem?" I said "Ask your bouncer. He won't let me and Rob in with military ID's."
The manager let us in and in fact told the doorman that he wouldn't be needing his services again after that night. I wouldn't say I got him fired per say as he was an employee of a temp agency and not the bar.
Please note this was a bar I was a regular at, and the doorman was on his first night. I asked to speak with the manager right away. In fact I asked for him by name. He came out and said "John, what's the problem?" I said "Ask your bouncer. He won't let me and Rob in with military ID's."
The manager let us in and in fact told the doorman that he wouldn't be needing his services again after that night. I wouldn't say I got him fired per say as he was an employee of a temp agency and not the bar.
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PO1 John Miller
CWO2 (Join to see), sounds to me like the management of that establishment needed some basic training in rank recognition! LOL...
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SGT Tevis Burke
Working the door in San Diego and turning away service members for having military ID's. No wonder the manager fired him. He would have lost half his business. Experienced a similar situation in Orange Co. at a club near Tustin MCAS in the late 80's. The place used hired help from a security company and they told a group of us (mixed service Army, Navy, and MC attending a training and all in uniform) that military ID was not valid and also refused to accept out of state id. Being a local I knew some of the people who worked there and got their attention. The manager came to the door told the security they were idiots since most of his business was military and that if he lost money on a Friday night because they were too stupid to let military into a club that club was a 1/4 mile from a base he would take it from their checks. We all got a free beer and no cover.
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PO2 Robert Cuminale
Which Wilmington is this? I can't imagine it is North Carolina. Camp Lejeune is an hour north. I'm at Emerald Isle and I can't imagine this happening there.
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I think this is disgraceful, a member of our military in a proper dress uniform should meet any dress code any where. This shouldn't take training to realize.
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CDR Mike Kovack
Let's keep in mind that individual people making mistakes shouldn't be used to paint a huge swath of stupid. The bouncer has specific instructions on dress. Let's face it - how many civilians have any familiarity with military dress. Asking to speak with the manager would set the whole thing right, the bouncer would learn a lesson and the world would be a better place......*L* Easy solution. But that doesn't sell well in social media......*L*
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PO2 Robert Cuminale
It doesn't help that the Army insists on wearing camos everywhere. I can remember when I couldn't leave the base to go home unless I changed out of dungarees and a chambray shirt or at least change my belt and shirt.
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LCpl Mark Lefler
Marines you couldn't go off base in cammies unless it was home or navy federal, well at least at Lejeune.
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I have run into this situation before both in the US and overseas. When it was pointed out to Management that our Uniform both officer and enlisted) WAS in fact the same as their equivalent of formal dress, Management QUICKLY relented. Especially when it was pointed out that the place would be place Off Limits to ALL Military Personnel.
The best/worst example of this was in Monaco at the Casino. Management was going to let in officers because their Summer Dress Uniform at that time included a tie, while the Enlisted uniform included only a neckerchief. As soon as it was explained that NO Sailor, Officer, Enlisted, or ANY Navy would be allowed to enter the Casino and that the Off Limits Designation would extend to ALL Allied Forces, USN Enlisted Sailors were welcomed with open arms. BTW - 1968 and NEVER again.
The best/worst example of this was in Monaco at the Casino. Management was going to let in officers because their Summer Dress Uniform at that time included a tie, while the Enlisted uniform included only a neckerchief. As soon as it was explained that NO Sailor, Officer, Enlisted, or ANY Navy would be allowed to enter the Casino and that the Off Limits Designation would extend to ALL Allied Forces, USN Enlisted Sailors were welcomed with open arms. BTW - 1968 and NEVER again.
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SPC Leisel Luman
MCPO Gene Treants,
The pen can be mightier than the sword depending on who is wielding it.
The pen can be mightier than the sword depending on who is wielding it.
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I might have asked for a manager, but I wouldn't have waited for one. I'd just leave.
If the club has a dress code, especially one with dumb rules, I don't want to go there anyway.
If the club has a dress code, especially one with dumb rules, I don't want to go there anyway.
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PO2 Robert Lee
I like that answer, then I would advise everyone in and out of uniform and all families NOT to utilize that establishment. During Fleet Week, that would be a lot of business that they may lose. And also very bad for its reputation.
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I would inform the manager that I was no longer interested in his/her establishment and make sure that signage was posted on every ship tied up that week that military members were not allowed in this establishment. In uniform or not. At that point the Marines would probably launch a recon mission...
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I think there is a lot in the details and the details are missing. If the uniform does not meet their dress code, it does not meet their dress code. Of course, I will not be going there anytime soon, but I probably wasn't going to go there before?
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SCPO Joshua I
This is basically what it boils down to. Every picture I saw of people in NYC during fleet week was summer whites, which does not have a jacket (it's basically a short sleeved white shirt/white pants/white shoes), and probably does not meet some club dress codes if they call for a jacket. There is a more formal dress white uniform that would meet dress code and wouldn't be a problem.
I wouldn't go to a club like that, but if you want to go to one, you follow the dress code.
I wouldn't go to a club like that, but if you want to go to one, you follow the dress code.
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This picture needs to be taken down. The officer has requested a number of times that her picture not be used. I would suggest removing it. Thank you
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I chose Politely leave and go elsewhere. Here's why:
1. Why does the officer go to a bar in uniform to drink? I am enlist so I do not about officer, but to best of my knowledge, we are not allowed to even eat out in uniform in certain command, let alone drinking. The only exception to drinking in uniform is command function such as Balls.
2. Yes, the bouncer might be not properly trained. However, a lot of establishment do have dress code and it doesn't include military uniform.
3. 7% of people here think that causing a mild scene is actually an option? Where's the professional and military bearing? It's like demanding for discount at the mini mart.
4. Serving and wearing the uniform does not make me feel any special in civilian setting. So other than politely leave and go elsewhere, I strongly curious what the 11% think any other option is appropriate. I do not care what rank you are when I put my uniform down upon retirement or getting out. What on your collar device does not command anything to a manager. And if you are to speak to a manager, your only credential is just like any other civilian patrons. In which case, the manager will address the dress code policy. Life too short to complain. The fact that 62% think we entitled to an argument is baffling. We do our job, but no one owe us anything in civilian sectors.
5. Even if I was to entertain the idea that I was "enraged" by this incident. I would rather Politely leave and go elsewhere. Go buy that bar, then fire everyone and make it a sailor joint.
Have a fine Navy day.
1. Why does the officer go to a bar in uniform to drink? I am enlist so I do not about officer, but to best of my knowledge, we are not allowed to even eat out in uniform in certain command, let alone drinking. The only exception to drinking in uniform is command function such as Balls.
2. Yes, the bouncer might be not properly trained. However, a lot of establishment do have dress code and it doesn't include military uniform.
3. 7% of people here think that causing a mild scene is actually an option? Where's the professional and military bearing? It's like demanding for discount at the mini mart.
4. Serving and wearing the uniform does not make me feel any special in civilian setting. So other than politely leave and go elsewhere, I strongly curious what the 11% think any other option is appropriate. I do not care what rank you are when I put my uniform down upon retirement or getting out. What on your collar device does not command anything to a manager. And if you are to speak to a manager, your only credential is just like any other civilian patrons. In which case, the manager will address the dress code policy. Life too short to complain. The fact that 62% think we entitled to an argument is baffling. We do our job, but no one owe us anything in civilian sectors.
5. Even if I was to entertain the idea that I was "enraged" by this incident. I would rather Politely leave and go elsewhere. Go buy that bar, then fire everyone and make it a sailor joint.
Have a fine Navy day.
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Leave after speaking my peace and report the incident to management and alert all military personnel that they are not welcomed at this business. The way I see it, if you turn away one member of our military you are turning away all of them.
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SSgt Dale W.
From the article in the Military Times:
"Nayara Branco, manager of the rooftop lounge, wrote an apology to the sailor and her family.
"We most certainly do appreciate and take a lot of pride [in] all the young people giving their lives to defend our nation," Branco wrote. "As per regular protocol, our team at the Top of The Standard is instructed to enforce a dress code -- which obviously should not apply to military uniforms. Once again, our sincere apologies for the miscommunication at our end, the issue has been brought to all of our team's attention and it will certainly not repeat itself."
The Standard Hotel issued a public apology to WPIX-TV.
"We hold those service in the United States Armed Forces in the highest regard. This was a mistake and we sincerely apologize," the statement said."
PO2 Jamie Lawson It appears that's what happened. I give credit to the hotel for a sincere apology instead of a PR apology.
"Nayara Branco, manager of the rooftop lounge, wrote an apology to the sailor and her family.
"We most certainly do appreciate and take a lot of pride [in] all the young people giving their lives to defend our nation," Branco wrote. "As per regular protocol, our team at the Top of The Standard is instructed to enforce a dress code -- which obviously should not apply to military uniforms. Once again, our sincere apologies for the miscommunication at our end, the issue has been brought to all of our team's attention and it will certainly not repeat itself."
The Standard Hotel issued a public apology to WPIX-TV.
"We hold those service in the United States Armed Forces in the highest regard. This was a mistake and we sincerely apologize," the statement said."
PO2 Jamie Lawson It appears that's what happened. I give credit to the hotel for a sincere apology instead of a PR apology.
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