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Uniforms on leave?

C

Carno

Insane
Is wearing the service uniform discouraged while traveling on leave or liberty? More specifically on commercial air?

Last time I was at the airport for a long weekend I saw quite a few Marines wearing their service alphas when they were flying home, and when I commented about it to some friends, they told me that it was discouraged, citing force protection (along with always sitting in a window seat).

So, is wearing service alphas on commercial flights kinda discouraged, or is that a load of shit?
 
Brett327

Brett327

Well-Known Member
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Carno said:
Is wearing the service uniform discouraged while traveling on leave or liberty? More specifically on commercial air?

Last time I was at the airport for a long weekend I saw quite a few Marines wearing their service alphas when they were flying home, and when I commented about it to some friends, they told me that it was discouraged, citing force protection (along with always sitting in a window seat).

So, is wearing service alphas on commercial flights kinda discouraged, or is that a load of shit?
Click to expand...

Why would you wear an uncomfortable uniform on a plane when you could be wearing something more comfortable? Wearing uniforms while traveling is silly.

Brett
 
C

Carno

Insane
Brett327 said:
Why would you wear an uncomfortable uniform on a plane when you could be wearing something more comfortable? Wearing uniforms while traveling is silly.

Brett
Click to expand...

I agree, and that is the reason the conversation started in the first place. I have no idea why anyone would want to take a plane ride in their uniform.
 
joshmf

joshmf

Member
When reporting to a new unit or school you're required to wear your Service Alphas, so those Marines may have been on their way to report in. Its especially likely if they had all graduated from MCT or a similar school, and were going to various MOS schools. I've never know anyone to wear a service uniform when going on leave, there's no reason to.
 
C

Carno

Insane
Nah, they were all Lt's that I recognized from my TBS company going home for Labor Day weekend.

And no, I have no desire to wear my uniform on liberty.

Does anyone have any input on the force protection thing?
 
joshmf

joshmf

Member
When I went to a unit in Okinawa I was told to fly in civilian clothes, and change in to Alphas when I got there. I think this was motivated by force protection concerns rather then my comfort. Also, in several anti-terrorism classes we were told not to fly internationally in uniform, so take that for what it's worth.
 
tk628

tk628

Electronic Attack Savant
pilot
or trying (to hard) to show off for the ladies...

I don't mind flying in the bag....
 
xj220

xj220

Will fly for food.
pilot
Contributor
If flight suits were a uniform item (a la Air Force), I'd be rockin it all the time.
 
BACONATOR

BACONATOR

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
I did it, only cuz I was going straight to base from the airport. It turned out well since I didn't get a full cavity search from the genius TSA agents and the FA moved me from sitting next to jabba the hut and a screaming child to business class. Do what you want. Take it for what it's worth.
 
mmx1

mmx1

Woof!
pilot
Contributor
Identifying yourself as military is a big force protection no-no - see the example of Robert Stethem, a seabee who was singled out on a flight from Greece to Rome when it was hijacked, and murdered by terrorists who found out he was in the military and thought he was a Marine.

Is it necessarily a concern on domestic flights? Probably not. My high 'n tight probably gives it away. Still, I wouldn't want to skyline myself any more than I have to.
 
tk628

tk628

Electronic Attack Savant
pilot
xj220 said:
If flight suits were a uniform item (a la Air Force), I'd be rockin it all the time.
Click to expand...


But then you would have to iron it so it would be considered "professional".....

Yea I think we all get the irony in that
 
tk628

tk628

Electronic Attack Savant
pilot
bogey_spotter said:
I did it, only cuz I was going straight to base from the airport. It turned out well since I didn't get a full cavity search from the genius TSA agents and the FA moved me from sitting next to jabba the hut and a screaming child to business class. Do what you want. Take it for what it's worth.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I have not had the same experience.. every time I traveled in uniform because ROTC told us to, I could barely walk for the next 3 weeks, and not to profile, but there was normally a much more suspicious person behind me....they walked right through
 
M

MasterBates

Well-Known Member
My experience with TSA in uniform is either being passed right thru (crew line a couple times, which I thought was odd) or you get the overzealous one who tries to make you take all your wings/ribbons/etc off.

I flat out refused the last time (to remove anything beyond belt buckle) and got to visit with the airport TSA head. Who chewed the goons ass.. So satisfying.
 
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