Why is the military as a whole so against its members wearing a proper & professional looking uniform on duty when in a garrison environment?

2022-05-11T09:37:04-04:00

Why are Military Members wearing "combat" uniforms to work in a garrison environment?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made May 11 at 2022 10:09 AM

2022-05-11T10:09:50-04:00

It is simply based on what they are designed for. Policy/uniformity over personal preference. Commanders also make modifications on training schedules based on the type of duty being performed in Garrison. Platoon Sgt and above are usually able to make these type uniform recommendations for Garrison duties outside of the norm.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2022 10:46 AM

2022-05-11T10:46:31-04:00

The army is shifting back to this. I am sure you remember when the Army didn't do that. We used to wear Class B's when we were in an office setting. During GWOT this changed. I am a commander at the Infantry Officer's Course. We make our students were their Class B uniform when we only have classroom instruction for the week.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made May 11 at 2022 11:05 AM

2022-05-11T11:05:30-04:00

Because not everyone spends their day sitting in a climate controlled office with a nice comfortable chair. I've been in several units that insisted on Class B's for daily wear. Those units went broke paying for replacement uniforms because of the nature of our duties. We quickly realized while not as "professional" looking, BDU/ACU uniforms were more practical for daily wear.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2022 11:16 AM

2022-05-11T11:16:54-04:00

This shift from Class B's to the Combat Uniform as a Duty Uniform occurred during GWOT for ease of use, especially so after the Army got rid of the Greens and went to the ASU around... 2008-ish. The ACU is more comfortable, requires less maintenance, and allows for transition of duties from desk to anything else at a moments notice.

However with the return of the Pinks and Greens (AGSU) the Army will now have a Dress Uniform (ASU), Garrison Uniform (AGSU), and a Duty/Field/Combat Uniform (ACU-OCP) so we will likely see the return of a Class B style uniform in Garrison with the Pinks and Greens.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2022 11:25 AM

2022-05-11T11:25:52-04:00

Cost, probably.
A one time cost of buying additional shirts/trousers, because you only get issued 2, and you need 1 to wear, 1 ready to wear, and 1 at the cleaners.
Then there's the weekly dry-cleaning costs x 52 weeks a year.
I joined the active component Army 8 years before the war started, and during that time, across at least 7 different installations, I never saw anyone at any job (except recruiters) wearing class Bs for anything other than "Payday activities" once a month.
I do recall the Air Force having a "wash and wear" version of their Class Bs. These uniform parts could not be mixed with their Class A uniforms (different material), but the wash and wear version allowed for all non-flight line personnel to work in Class Bs daily with no dry cleaning costs. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the majority of servicemembers I saw on Air Force installations on any given day were in this wash and wear Class B. And I did notice as the Air Force did away with the wash and wear Class Bs, wearing Class Bs daily also went away.
The Army has never had a similar version of this. I think that a daily Class B requirement would probably need to start with a wash and wear version of the Class B.

Functionality is probably the other consideration.
While a good many Soldiers "work at a computer" part or most of every day, none of them do exclusively that every day. Most of them are tasked one or more times a week to clean something, inventory something, mow something, load or unload something etc. Countless random but necessary tasks that will get the Soldier's uniform dirty, grimy, greasy, sweaty, etc.
.
I would propose the question to you:
If a Soldier's primary duty during the week is at a desk working on their computer, why exactly do you feel that they "need to be in Class Bs"?

Is it to present a neat and Soldierly, professional appearance while dealing with other Soldiers?
I can assure you, if a particular Soldier struggles to present a neat and professional appearance in ACUs, they certainly aren't going to pull it off by simply switching to Class Bs, they would, in fact, look worse.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made May 11 at 2022 1:44 PM

2022-05-11T13:44:26-04:00

op tempo and deployments have a big part to play in this. I came in back in 2001 and you noticed that when the op tempo and deployments ramp up spit, polish and focus on the dog and pony was sidelined by doing the work in theater. With that said I don't know anyone who proposed or supported an unprofessional or improper wear of any uniform in garrison or forward deployed. When Marines wear Utilities they are still expected to wear them correctly and look good while doing so.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made May 11 at 2022 1:50 PM

2022-05-11T13:50:35-04:00

For one thing, we do not have khakis any longer. I think even the Navy got rid of wash khakis. I have seen pictures of Os and CPOs wearing, on fleet boats, a blue jumpsuit like the CAP wear.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 11 at 2022 3:51 PM

2022-05-11T15:51:53-04:00

Do you want to explain to the Secretary of Defense why he/she needs to approve ANOTHER allowance for Servicemembers to get all their dress uniforms dry-cleaned several times a month?

Remember, that annual clothing allowance is for maintenance and replacement of ALL uniform items. If you were to use that for your dry cleaning, it would be blown through in 2-3 months, and you would still have the rest of the years dry cleaning, boot buying, ribbon replacement, alterations, ACU item replacements, etc...
All of that would fall on the Soldier. Hell, an E-2 wouldn't be able to afford anything but staring at his barracks wall.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 11 at 2022 6:05 PM

2022-05-11T18:05:00-04:00

Up until De

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2022 10:02 AM

2022-05-13T10:02:32-04:00

It's the Army....not Wall Street.
There's more to professionalism than what you wear. SO MUCH MORE.
The Army should concentrate of becoming more efficient, less 19th century, more lethal, less tasked out, and conduct actually effective PT before it worries about wearing a suit instead of fatigues.
We can't even maintain our vehicles, qualify with primary weapons, get enough reenlistments, or keep our people alive..... wearing a suit and getting grilled for 1/32 of an inch misplacement will just make things worse right now.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made May 15 at 2022 10:49 PM

2022-05-15T22:49:00-04:00

As far as I understand, it's started right after 9/11. This is what I recall hearing (I came in 2004) that since we were an Army at war we should be in ACUs/BDUs (I came in there were still BDUs). I don't know how true that is.

In my first joint unit, we had to wear class B's every Monday because the Air Force did. That's about the only time I've worn Class Bs regularly in 18 years. I think right before I PCSed that unit, the Army Element was finally stood up and the Army Element commander said the soldiers would go to class A's once a month for payday activities.