From a piece at Milblogging.com:
Dang. I would have been a permanent feature on this Hit Parade, had USAF adopted this sorta thang back in the day. From an old post...Apparently, Team Maxwell-Gunter at Maxwell Air Force Base earned very low marks for standards in 2011. "Disregarding them shows a lack of attention to detail and a lack of respect to our service. It shows disregard to our core values." writes Jeff Bergdolt of the 42nd Air Base Wing Plans Office.
While news of uniform violations may not be all that interesting, here's where the story gets juicy.
In the coming months, Maxwell AFB photographers will capture pictures of standards violations across Maxwell Air Force base and post them in the Dispatch. Then readers will be challenged to identify the violation.
Fashionistas are going to have a field day with this.
...what used to be known as AFR 35-10... the bane of my military existence and a perpetual thorn in my non-conformist side... but is now AFI 36-2903. (Minor digression: Today's Modern Air Force doesn't have regulations; it has "instructions." This irritates me slightly, an unusual position for a non-conformist to take. Whatevah.)You have NO ideer, Gentle Reader, how many times I shot myself in the foot over "personal appearance" issues. It took me a loooong time to grow up. Wait. Check that -- it hasn't happened yet.
Well, gee...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.duffelblog.com/2013/02/air-force-musical-showcase-ensemble-sees-tryout-surge-one-year-after-dadt/
I don't know what you're tho upthet about. We're doing our betht.
Oh, Sweet Jesus. I've lived too long, indeed.
DeleteI think women are supposed to always walk to the left of men. The reason (as a former Templar) is so the man can draw his sword freely.
DeleteSomething clicked with me early on, and appearance was no longer a problem for me. I got out of my car and was walking to the BX and in my path lay a Marine officer (rank unknown, but definitely an Officer type). I just did my normal half-assed salute, and he didn't say anything, but returned a salute that would make my Basic Training TI cry. I decided then and there to not be an asshole, a wear a nice uniform.
One day, a few months later, I was crossing an alley between buildings, and I saw this car coming. Then I recognized it as the commander, as I saw the white roof and license plate on front. I did my snap to attention and gave him my new Marine salute, and damned if he didn't stop. He rolled down the window, and thanked me for the courtesy. I didn't understand why anyone would thank me for that, but I guess not many people saluted his staff car.
Later when I was in Iceland, the TAC General came up to brief us on our getting new F-15's to replace the F-4's, and the Admiral gave him a tour around Keflavik. He said 90% of the sailors ignored the staff car and never saluted. Finally the Admiral was pissed, and rolled down the window at one sailor and said "Where's my salute sailor!" The sailor looked at him and gave him the finger and ran off, to which he opened the door to chase after him, but the General said - "I grabbed his arm and said another time Admiral, I got a lot of fucking work to do." Anyway, the whole audience broke up in laughter, as we knew the Admiral was the biggest pussy on the island.
I observed the customs and courtesies of the military religiously (including saluting staff cars with appropriate plates) and my uniform was always squared away. The BIG issue I had was the hair regulations and I pushed that one to the limits and beyond. Great stories, Anon.
DeleteDON'T get me started..
ReplyDeleteSalutes are a courtesy, but more than that they are a part of military culture. Culture that is important and lays the foundation for good order and dicipline. It can seem stupid at times and for officers that demand their salutes... vain. But officers like that generally don't go far. I believe if Officers and senior NCO's tolerate their Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen to slack at one or more rules and regulations... then they, actually encourage them to slack off in other areas too. When I see someone disregarding a rule or regulation, I always wonder what else they choose to disregard... especially when no one else is around. Danger Will Robinson.
ReplyDeleteSee my reply to Anon, above. And you KNOW from whence I speak, Sir. ;-)
DeleteTo clarify one point... I will remind people to salute, if it's clear they see my rank, but choose to forego the salute. I never demand or get overly excited about it; there are more important things in life.
ReplyDeleteWhile at Norton in S. Califonia, we wore 1505's year round. However, it did get cold in the morning, so we wore Flight Jackets (MA-1). They were only suppose to be worn by the rated guys. Norton was an AMA at the time and Systems Command was a tenant....it was a little more relaxed than March (SAC) down the road.
ReplyDeleteI hated those damned 1505s. One of the happiest days of my uniformed life was when those things went away. The only good thing I can say about 'em is they were better than the old 505s.
DeleteThe first thing we did when we got to Keesler was go to the BX laundry and shop for 1505's that the shirt and pants matched! They were always different shades as issued in Basic training. I found two perfect sets and one of them even had one stripe sewn on (which I had to wait six months to wear).
DeleteThey always had a bunch of clothes for sale. Seems a lot of people didn't always pick up their laundry so after a period they sold it. I'm sure they still do. Anyway, I always got my uniforms there.
People would look in awe at my matched shade 1505's !! ha
@Anon: I don't recall my 1505s being mismatched in color. What year was this, Anon?
DeleteHmm, this would have been late 72, September or so. When we wore the 1505's in Basic, we all looked funny. Two shades of brown. I remember we wore the wheel hat with 1505's...
DeleteI was issued my 1505s in '63 and the pants/shirt color matched; I never bought another set. I hardly EVER wore the damned things (which is why I never bought another set) bein' a maintenance guy. I'd wear 'em occasionally for formations and such but by the time I got a desk job they'd been phased out.
DeleteI have more than a touch of OCD, so seeing people not squared away PISSED ME OFF. Female airmen with nose piercings, bangs hanging in their faces, hair below the collar. I think if I'd been higher ranking, I'd have turned into a total martinet. We had one space-cadet in basic training who bought an officer's flight cap and wore it (VERY briefly, heh). He liked the shininess of it, thought the enlisted ones were too plain. *facepalm* Mind you, this wasn't recently, this is over twenty years ago now.
ReplyDeleteThe officer flight cap story is just too, TOO good, Christina. I never saw anyone that screwed up!
Delete