What would your dress uniform look like if you had to wear it weekly?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 09:19:49 -0500

So, if you had to wear any combination of your dress uniform on a weekly basis, what would yours entail.  Meaning, booted and suited ASU's, Full on Class B's, or the bare minimum?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2014 9:25 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 09:25:49 -0500

Shower shoes, shorts and the long sleeve white shirt with no tie

Response by SPC Dan Goforth made Mar 7 at 2014 10:54 PM

SPC Dan Goforth — Fri, 07 Mar 2014 22:54:59 -0500

Until I can purchase a second set, bare minimum unless something was happening that required more. Once I had the second set, minimum class b.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2014 5:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:51:47 -0400

B's with Jump Boots. 

Response by SSG Alexander Hoffman made Mar 11 at 2014 6:22 PM

SSG Alexander Hoffman — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:22:59 -0400

MOPP4.<div><br></div><div>Seriously though. For about 6 months last year, our shop used to wear full ASU's on the last Friday of every month. As AIT instructors, I thought it added a look of professionalism that the young Soldiers appreciated. Gave them something to strive for. When we changed branch leadership, it sort of fell to the wayside.</div><div><br></div><div>I personally think that classroom-based AIT instructors should wear B's as a daily duty uniform. I never understood the use of a utility uniform when you are not working in a "utility" environment. As a young private, I remember the recruiters wearing B's and always thought that it looked REALLY professional, and I think AIT instructors should carry that look on. A college English professor wears a tie to work, why do we wear our field/utility/workin' uniform?</div>

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Mar 11 at 2014 6:32 PM

SPC Christopher Smith — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:32:12 -0400

I think I'd rather wear full MOPP4 all day every day instead of the dress uniform. At least if the MOPP gear gets messed up after repeated wear and wash it doesn't come out of my pocket. JMO

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2014 6:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:46:55 -0400

I'd like to say short-sleeve class B's with all awards, but I would probably get annoyed pinning it all on every day, and I don't even have that much to pin on! :)

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2014 7:50 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 19:50:52 -0400

Full-blown, short-sleeved, open collared B's in the summer with full-blown, long-sleeved, tie B's (indoors) under the ASU jacket (outdoors).<br><br>And a large bib.  I eat a lot of messy foods for lunch.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Mar 11 at 2014 8:33 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 20:33:54 -0400

I did wear it daily when in MDW as an MP! Medals, ribbons, white gloves and with taps while on 12 hour patrols and working gates. It gets easy once you have to to maintain it. We wear it so little, we forget the tricks and secrets to weekly or daily wear protection! 

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2014 12:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 12:08:35 -0400

B's, at a minimum, once a month isn't the worst idea. It would prevent the all too common occurrence of people realizing on the morning of inspection day that their uniform has "shrunk".

Response by CMC Robert Young made Apr 22 at 2014 8:30 PM

CMC Robert Young — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 20:30:16 -0400

Service Dress for the winter and Trops for the summer both with all the bells and whistles.

At one point, I was stationed on a Navy base where every Friday, the Navy folks wore the appropriate seasonal dress uniform. Always looked sharp, and never saw anybody who wasn't squared away.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2014 6:34 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 18:34:22 -0400

We do that at Nuclear Power School - service uniform Monday-Thrusday, dress uniform on Friday. No big deal - we maintain them as if it was our job.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2015 10:16 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 10:16:48 -0500

I went to basic in 88 during the "old Military" if you did not have a Job such as a mechanic where you got dirty or was in the field, you wore your class b uniform and were responsible for maintaining the standard. You did not go off base or post in uniform unless you were coming to and from work. there was no going to visit schools in ACU's or public events. The marines still adhere to this standard why cant the Army or Air Force. a lot of basic soldiering is being lost just by the new uniforms we wear today. Shining shoes ironing shirts and pants on your own personal time was part of daily life. it taught self discipline and when i did it I would take pride in making sure i had a professional appearance every day.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 4:55 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:55:03 -0500

Bare minimum amount of work. For me, I think that would be what the Army calls "class B" and what the Air Force calls "service dress"...essentially, the blue suit and tie with the ribbon rack. Definitely not the Mess Dress.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 24 at 2016 2:33 AM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 24 May 2016 02:33:00 -0400

I sent a Corporal to a meritorious Sergeant Promotion board. When the Sergeant Major gave them their pre-board brief he told them to pick the uniform of their choice for the board. It was a Marine Barracks so everyone had dress blues. The four candidates all waited on the quarterdeck. Three in dress blues, mine in clean, unstarched, un-ironed utilities. When the board was done, I was called to the Barracks XO's office. He wanted to tell me about my Corporal at the board.

Each Marine was asked why they chose the uniform they did. The three in Dress Blues gave generic dress blues are the sharpest uniform and some history points about the uniform. My Corporal gave the following answer.

"I serve in an important role at an important post. I do it in utilities. If I am called upon to fight, capture, wound, or kill an enemy, I'll do it in utilities. If I am to die for my country, I'll do it in utilities. I understand who I am and why I am in the United States Marine Corps. Everything that the Marine Corps wants me to do that is truly important, I'll do in utilities. That's why I am at this promotion board in utilities."

The XO wanted to know what I and my 1stSgt were feeding our NCO's. He advised that we cut the ration in half, but wanted to know if we could spare some for the three other companies. He said after that answer the Corporal could have told them to take a flying leap and he still would have swept the board.

Response by SPC John Parmenter made Aug 5 at 2017 5:49 PM

SPC John Parmenter — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 17:49:31 -0400

Tailored khakis in "under arms" (helmet, branch scarf, pistol belt, & boots) configuration. In my time, this was a uniform reserved for interior guard duty, honor guard, parades, etc.