Here is another way to look at it: High standards can increase morale. It is a function of pride.

Stonefly

What kind of 'high standard' is telling your people they have to wear civilian clothes to work then change, then work, then change to be able to stop somewhere on the way home and pick up kids at daycare, or whatever. I'm all for high standards but that just doesn't pass the sanity check. Now if you're saying it's because the uniform doesn't look good or is not presentable, I'll buy that but I don't think that's the case.

Oh, so now its a field uniform and not a working uniform. I see how it is. I'll agree to disagree........heaven forbid I wouldn't want to not look like a recruiting poster. Hear the sarcasm here :)

BD, this is just one thing that we'll have to agree to disagree on. To me wearing cammies in public is wrong. We are allowed to wear Charlies, Alphas, and Deltas however. Our camouflage utilities are a field uniform (I call it work because the field was my job). To us a Marine in cammies off base would probably be the same as a soldier walking around in a flak and kevlar. It makes as much sense to me to wear cammies off base as it does to you to be prohibited from it.

Jenn - If we start relaxing our professional standards it does affect good order and discipline. Not wearing utilities off base is one of those "That's the way it was, that's the way it is, and that's the way it is going to be." things. There is no reason to change it, we see it as unprofessional and it's pretty much a unanimous decision from all Marines past and present (I'm sure some people disagree but only out of convenience, not principle)

Well, that's fine. I'm proud to be able to wear my uniform in public on the way to and home from work. As long as yall agree and get your job done then whatever floats your boat, at least the AF hasn't turned to such nonsense...yet.

Sorry Jenn, nonsense or not the Marine Corps didn't just all of a sudden start doing this stuff. It has been going on for centuries now. We're just a small select group of anal retentive historians ;)

And c'mon, you guys have too gone to nonsense! What's up with those tiger stripes? :D

Well I have to agree with you there. lol. The new uniforms are a bit extreme, and I still can't get used to it...but at least we can wear them in public! Even if we do look like tigers. Roar!

I always thought that Air Force cammies should be black with yellow taxi lines and hold short stripes.

Well of course its a field uniform, but then I thought the colors and camoflage patterns would have given that away!

Not every one of us in the army goes cruising around the malls. When I'm done with playing GI Joe for the day, I change into my civies before I even get to my car. I hate people trying to thank me for something I haven't done (go over seas). I guess I should've joined the Marines cause I have a lot of the same views as 'em

You do not have to have gone overseas to be deserving of thanks. The fact that you are serving is reason enough!

Stonefly