Wear of Military Uniform

[bt1188]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MO

I was discharged in 2006 under a General Discharge from the USAF Res. I have been invited to a God and Country Day Celebration at a US Senator's home and he has encouraged all veterans to wear our uniforms. So I need to find out if there is a specific rule/regulation, etc that would prohibit me, because of the General Discharge, from wearing my old Air Force Blues. Any and all help would be wonderful. Thanks in advance

[CGRAY]

You are allowed to wear it, but since you have a General discharge, you have to cut the sleeves off

[fozzy2]

I don't know the AF regs, but most of the services are similar and here is the USMC stance:

quote
b. Former Members of the Armed Forces. Unless qualified under another provision of this Order or under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 772, former members who served honorably during a declared or undeclared war and whose most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions may wear the uniform in the highest grade held during such war service only upon the following occasions and in the course of travel incident thereto:

(1) Military funerals, memorial services, weddings, and inaugurals.

(2) Parades on national or state holidays; or other parades or ceremonies of a patriotic character in which any active or reserve United States military unit are taking part. ‘Wearing of the uniform or any part thereof at any other time or for any purpose is prohibited
unquote

If your discharge was General "under honorable conditions" then you qualify for the service termination clause. Did you serve "during a declared or undeclared war"? You should be covered there, I think everything since 9/11 will qualify. Now, you could question whether or not the event qualifies under (2) and is not in the excluded category (which I haven't copied, but includes 'business and political' functions) -- but if a politician is going to call it a "ceremony of a patriotic character" then the military sure isn't going to argue. There is bound to be some kind of military unit waving a flag or singing or something.

Of course, if you do wear a uniform you should ensure that it meets the regs of the time it was issued - most importantly it is in good shape and fits. If the thing is too tight, just go with a flag lapel pin.

[ElvisG]

Is there a prerequisite to carry your DD-214 to this event? How will anyone know other than yourself.

[RealAmerican]

Maybe you should just wear a nice suit. Time to let the past go.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by RealAmerican

Maybe you should just wear a nice suit. Time to let the past go.

If he is legally allowed to wear his uniform, and if he wants to wear his uniform, then why should he just wear a suit?

[RealAmerican]

Former Members of the Armed Forces. Unless qualified under another provision of this Order or under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 772, former members who served honorably during a declared or undeclared war and whose most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions may wear the uniform in the highest grade held during such war service only upon the following occasions and in the course of travel incident thereto:

Looks like he may legally not be able to, depending on the type of his General Discharge. I don't care either way. I just made a suggestion.

[mlane58]

Originally Posted by RealAmerican

Former Members of the Armed Forces. Unless qualified under another provision of this Order or under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. 772, former members who served honorably during a declared or undeclared war and whose most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions may wear the uniform in the highest grade held during such war service only upon the following occasions and in the course of travel incident thereto:

Looks like he may legally not be able to, depending on the type of his General Discharge. I don't care either way. I just made a suggestion.

As long as that General Discharge was under honorable conditions, he is good to go.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by RealAmerican

I just made a suggestion.

You said our OP should not wear the uniform. You said this with NO knowledge of the actual terms of his discharge. I found it disrespectful.

[xylene]

I just got off of the BD_.com website to buy some BDU's to mow the lawn in...

I also on own a pair of night vision goggles.

And an ALICE pack.

My point -

If you are concerned about the matter, ask those with direct knowledge of your discharge.
It is not about the military paraphernalia.
I think you realize that.

[RealAmerican]

I said maybe, indicating a level of uncertainty, he should just wear a nice suit. The fact that he received a General discharge and questions whether or not he should wear his uniform is enough for me to feel justified making that suggestion. Next time keep your comments about my advice to yourself. I was not being disrespectful, I was being straight forward and honest. I didn't feel like I needed or would be required to restate the legalities given in previous posts.

[cyberspook]

Originally Posted by ElvisG

Is there a prerequisite to carry your DD-214 to this event? How will anyone know other than yourself.

He would know and that's all that matters. This reminds me of the folks that went around telling people they served in Nam and never even set foot on Vietnamese soil.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by RealAmerican

I said maybe, indicating a level of uncertainty, he should just wear a nice suit. The fact that he received a General discharge and questions whether or not he should wear his uniform is enough for me to feel justified making that suggestion. Next time keep your comments about my advice to yourself. I was not being disrespectful, I was being straight forward and honest. I didn't feel like I needed or would be required to restate the legalities given in previous posts.

Earlier I thought I might have been mistaken about the disrespectful tone of your post(s). However, the more you post, the more I know I am right.
Your "advice" is faulty and your tone is disrespectful...particularly to "real Americans"

[RealAmerican]

You continue to hold on to live and let live principle. I stated before I could care less what the guy does. He has a uniform and if he wants to wear it I am sure no one would check his record to be sure he is allowed. My point is that he should just wear a suit and not have to worry about whether he is breaking the law or not.

I do have a complete lack of respect for posters who ignore the facts when they are proven wrong. I was hoping in my last post that you had failed to comprehend the meaning of the word "maybe". I'm afraid your problem runs much deeper than that and is throughly rooted in your own stubbornness and pretentious nature. Read the regulation that was posted early on and you will plainly see that he may not have the legal right to continue wearing his uniform. You have yet to post anything that would support your argument to the contrary.

Your answer to a lack of supporting material for your argument , take a personal jab at me for telling the truth without sugarcoating it and call me a bad example of a real American. Well sir, you will not chide me into dropping to that level. I will remind you once again to read the regulation (10 U.S.C. 772) and try to comprehend the meaning of it.

[Zigner]

It's quite simple. Our OP asked a question. You stated that he should wear a suit (implying that he didn't have the right to wear the uniform). You ASSumed things that had not been posted. You jumped the gun.
As much as our OP may not be able to wear it legally, he MAY be able to wear it legally.