Drinking in Uniform? Good idea?

Drinking a beer or glass of wine at a leader call on base is one thing...downing shots portrays a whole different look, even ON BASE. NO, I do not think that the Garrison CSM or any other senior leader at that level, particularly on a TRADOC base where our NCOs are attending leader courses and may be present to witness this (in civilians likely) should happen or be tolerated.

With that said, the NCOs pictured senior leaders just need to have a side-bar with them, and then those NCOs need to conduct an NCOPD with their subordinates to put out the right way to do a leader call (right-arm-night) and how you should conduct yourself...and that should be the end of it. More than likely, given our last 12-13 years of combat, no one ever instructed these NCOs what should happen or how it should look...it was deployments back to back for many and time to conduct traditional things like leaders calls or right arm nights was non-existent in most units....teach the right way and keep some traditions alive is my thought.

I would start off by saying, if this is Chili's then I would say it is not the best place to be taking shots. I remember the NCO Calls on West Ft. hood at the Longhorn Saloon and even recently, I have seen high ranking Soldiers at a formal social function pull out a bottle and start taking shots, once the "fun portion" of the evening started. I don't think there is a problem with taking a shot of alcohol, I just think that we have to be aware of where we are and the image we are giving.

SGM Quick,

From AR 670-1:

c. Restrictions on wear.
(1) Soldiers may not wear the combat uniform for commercial travel unless authorized IAW paragraph 3–7b through c, above.
(2) Personnel may not wear the combat uniform in off-post establishments that primarily sell alcohol. If the off-post establishment sells alcohol and food, Soldiers may not wear the combat uniform if their activities in the establishment center on the drinking of alcohol.
(3) The combat uniform is not normally considered appropriate for social or official functions off the installation, such as memorial services, funerals, weddings, inaugurals, patriotic ceremonies, and similar functions.
(4) Commanders may further restrict wear of the combat uniform IAW paragraph 2–6c.

So (2) does not specifically restrict from drinking while in uniform, but the activities cannot center on that - i.e. out to dinner in ACU's and have a beer with that meal would likely be considered as acceptable. However, the perception from this photo is that the activities here center around the drinking of alcohol. The key to fixing this is found in (4), where installation commanders can restrict uniform wear as they see fit - i.e. ACU's are not authorized for wear at any time when a Soldier is consuming alcohol in a public location - both on and off post. Problem solved, problem staying solved, Rangers lead the way.