Wearing ex military issue and items

[ObiSeanKenobi]

Another former US Soldier chiming in here—this is all my own opinion and perspective, but I know it, anecdotally, to be shared with at least a few other former servicemembers.

There's no problem in the US with wearing surplus military gear in civilian contexts. Fatigues, boots, and headgear seem to be especially common for a variety of reasons. I can't say that I've ever seen a civilian wear any component of a Class A uniform. I also don't see any issue whatsoever in wearing retired uniform patterns or components—If I saw a guy walk down the street in full woodland camo BDUs, I'd assume he's part of a militia group (or maybe just a little nutty) but not US military.

However, when a civilian dresses up in full current uniform (fatigues or otherwise), the obvious intent is to misappropriate the valor associated with that uniform. Likewise, certain elements of a uniform hold special significance, such as colored berets. If I ever saw a maroon, green, tan, grey, or blue beret (with flash and with or without a unit crest) on anyone I knew had not served in any of the associated divisions, even in a civilian wear context, I'd be upset.

So I guess my perhaps inconsistent opinion is that:

• piecemeal usage of individual uniform components is acceptable
• retired uniform components or components from disbanded units are acceptable
• full uniform cosplay is unacceptable
• civilian use of components from elite specialty divisions or regiments is unacceptable

[imbrius]

My best pair of shiny dress shoes were issued to me on the occasion of my enlistment in the United States Air Force. I never completed basic training due to medical issues. However, because of many, many paperwork snags, it turned out that the unit to which the shoes (and boots) were to be returned no longer existed and it made many fewer headaches for everyone if the shoes and boots just "disappeared" (into my closet, with the encouragement of our unit clerk / secretary).

So to this day, I have a very nice pair of Bates Lites dress shoes and an unknown make of arctic warfare combat boots that are excellent for hiking in winter. The only other things I kept were my dog tags, service dress nameplate and "U.S." collar insignia. None of those things are ever worn; I have them only as a memento that I tried.

[Father Bill]

*snip* certain elements of a uniform hold special significance, such as colored berets. If I ever saw a maroon, green, tan, grey, or blue beret (with flash and with or without a unit crest) on anyone I knew had not served in any of the associated divisions, even in a civilian wear context, I'd be upset.*snip*

Interesting, since I have a maroon beret that was formerly part of my Boy Scouts Canada uniform when we wore grey shirts for some years.

Hmm! Of course, it has a "Scouts Canada" badge on the front of it, but even as a retired commissioner, I wouldn't be inclined to wear it with the badge, but might wear it if I removed that badge.

Hmm!

[ObiSeanKenobi]

Interesting, since I have a maroon beret that was formerly part of my Boy Scouts Canada uniform when we wore grey shirts for some years.

Hmm! Of course, it has a "Scouts Canada" badge on the front of it, but even as a retired commissioner, I wouldn't be inclined to wear it with the badge, but might wear it if I removed that badge.

Hmm!

I think to me the difference is the distinctive shield-shaped flash on the front of the beret for US military uniforms. I'm not sure if the BSC beret bears such a device or if the badge is simply affixed to the colored body of the beret, but from my admittedly brief research it looks like other similar Scouts uniform berets have a badge affixed to the beret without a flash or patch behind it.