You (and others) have placed me into a box based on your perception of issues we've discussed here. I'm probably a little more rangey than you give me credit for.
We may disagree on career paths and what it takes to get to the top of the proverbial hill, but retired idiots going out of their way to hassle AD folks should be uniformly taken to task. When I'm retired and tending to my precious grapevines in my beloved state of Oregon, the last thing on my mind will be what some JO is doing with their fight suit. The very notion that there are people who care about this kind of thing needs to be agressively addressed. Retired? Think you have an opinon? Shut the fuck up. I will happily crush any retired asshole, regardless of previous rank who interjects their opinion about uniforms or whatever with me or my people. It's a ridiculous notion that nobody should tollerate.
I applaude and agree with your sentiment, but where does that leave us JOs when people, who far outrank us, take heed of ANYthing a retired flag has to say? Whether it's a noise complaint or a phone call about a uniform issue to a spineless/supplicating/overly respectful CO/XO, it seems like if the front office cares what they say, then your point isn't valid and someone can "reach out and touch you". Or worst case, if they are good buddies with another active flag or O-6, and exert their influence.
On PAPER, they shouldn't be able to do shit and ought to be told to pack sand, especially if they're wrong. But in reality, politics beats all.
once again. Haven't laughed so hard since you squeezed that DC-10 under the GATE!