Saturday, October 20, 2007

Marine Dress Code Changes Communities

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (AP) - "The Marine Corps is taking on the role of fashion police.

Earlier this year, the Marine Corps commandant updated the regulations on what Marines can and cannot wear, on duty and off, in the United States. Among the fashion don'ts: No shiny metal or gems on your teeth, no designs carved in your hair, no flashy jewelry and no bare midriffs or excessive cleavage.

But it is Gen. James T. Conway's ban on the wearing of camouflage uniforms, or "cammies," off base that is getting the most attention, changing not only the appearance of the Marines but also the look of their communities.

Under the new regulation, Marines in camouflage cannot get out of their vehicles to run an errand or grab a meal on their way to or from the base. No pumping gas, running into the post office or picking up a cup of joe, either.

Although Marines were always largely prohibited from wearing uniforms off base, they were allowed to make brief stops during their commutes. Now they can stop only for a medical emergency, a traffic accident or a breakdown.

Around Oceanside, a community about 35 miles north of San Diego where Marines from neighboring Camp Pendleton are a common sight, the most noticeable effect is at fast food drive-thrus. Long lines are forming because Marines in uniform are not allowed to get out of their cars and go inside."

Utility uniforms are working uniforms. Dungarees. Painter's pants. Hobo attire. Fit for working men doing an honest day's hard labor but never to be worn off-base. Far too many hip-hopsters thought it was cool to ignore over 230 years of tradition but thankfully such a disgrace has come to an end.

It was and remains unlawful for a Marine to be seen in an airport wearing "cammies" (rhymes with jammies) so those you've happened to witness so attired are not America's fighting men whose discipline and attention to detail is without peer.

Dress up or ship put. Our bosses...the civilian population...should always see their fighting men squared away or not see them at all.

The Marine Corps is NOT the fashion police. Regardless of what some Yellowstream media outlet thinks, and I use the word begrudgingly, the finest are dressed to reflect pride of ownership and if so high a level of comportment is hard for them to understand then we're doing our job because they are not SUPPOSED to understand.

As you were.

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