Military Personnel: Traveling in Uniform?

[Chase]

ok I have run into a few folks who are in the Military on here, So I want your opinions.. When I went on R&R leave from Iraq I had to be in uniform when I flew, we all did because we didn't have civlian clothes in Iraq anyways.. What I am asking is, Would you wear your uniform when you fly domestically when you don't neccesarily have to? For like a PCS, TDY or Block Leave? I ask because I was treated really well when I was in uniform, every Airline put Me in first class for Free. People made Me cut them in line, and always bought Me food.. Im grateful for what these folks did, but I mostly want to sit in first class again for FREE.. Am I just an Idiot or what?

[atruhondagrl]

I just did this on Friday. I wore my uniform from OKC- ORD- PHL. I was apprehensive about it since i was stationed overeseas for 5 years and traveling in uni was a major no no. I was sure I was going to bring unwanted negetive attention to myself but that wasn't the case. People, I feel, were friendlier.

while I got bumped up to business class on my flight from Ohare to Philly, the individual who did so never saw my uniform. He did so because of the Denver back up and I told him I was on orders. I was. we spoke over the phone.

I want no special treatment because I'm in the military. I just want to be treated fairly. No comments about the war. No knocking the military's job etc. The military is my job and I've finally accepted (I've always been rebellious) that it is what I was meant to do. I'm a sailor dammit and I'm proud of it. I'm wearing my uniform from LVI (allentown) to Columbia, SC on Saturday. If anyone has a problem with it, they can go move to the middle east or France with the rest of the people that don't like america.

[atruhondagrl]

P.S. I edited your title since there is already a different thread with the same one. Merry belated Christmas. What branch are you in?

[Chase]

Army.. Yeah I'd like to say that I don't want special treatment but in essence thats what I'm asking for by wanting to be put in 1st Class. I have not been home for christmas in 3 years now, and I haven't seen anyone in my family since last January.

[atruhondagrl]

I know what that feels like. This was my first Christmas at home since 2000. When I came back on leave in '03, I hadn't seen my family in 2 years. It's a weird life we live.

[Chase]

haha, yeah thats why I laugh at people who just CANT STAND being away from their Boyfriend/Girlfriend for a week...

[Seemund]

wow
at least you guys make a lot of money $$$$$$$$$$$$$ :

[Coop]

a lot of money, hahahha. thats funny. anyways, with my career field, or at least where I have been stationed, we are told to always travel in civies if possible. Both of my tours overseas, I wore civies until our 1 stop in the ao. So i guess its all in who your UDM is. In fact I have never worn my uniform even when I go to upgrade field schools. Well once, and that was because we were soooo tired and nasty dirty and just wanted to get home, plus a gov was our method of trans.

[imtim25]

thats coooool

[consumer22]

I am retired Navy. Never traveled in uniform. We were usually told not to. Makes it too easy for someone to single you out as a target. I never really wanted to anyway.

[atruhondagrl]

This past week was the first time I ever traveled in uniform since my pcs from Bootcamp to "A" school back in '94. It felt odd. But people left me the hell alone (for once) when I was sleeping on the plane!

[bossman]

I am a member of the Army and I don't think I would travel in uniform if I did'nt have to.I'm not looking for free handouts and after years of having ppl tell me how grateful they are of me and all that I'd just assume be left alone.It's not that i don't appreciate the support because I do but with the exception of the town where my base is I can't go anywhere without being stopped and told that I'm doing such a great thing yada yada yada...I also prefer that ppl don't know what I do for a living for security reasons....but this is all just IMO so take it how you see it.

[atruhondagrl]

Originally Posted by bossman

I am a member of the Army and I don't think I would travel in uniform if I did'nt have to.I'm not looking for free handouts and after years of having ppl tell me how grateful they are of me and all that I'd just assume be left alone.It's not that i don't appreciate the support because I do but with the exception of the town where my base is I can't go anywhere without being stopped and told that I'm doing such a great thing yada yada yada...I also prefer that ppl don't know what I do for a living for security reasons....but this is all just IMO so take it how you see it.

Army wears their uniforms everywhere so I understand why you don't want to wear it. I went to the Mall in Lawton, OK and there were people walking around in their ACUs. The Navy usually isn't allowed to wear their working uniforms off base. (this has got to be because they look like janitorial uniforms) For some reason my whole detachment did this time but we wear DCUs. Weird. Usually, I'd rather people be shocked to learn that I'm a sailor and that military people can look completely normal. I'm still utterly convinced that civilians think we all must look like GI Jane or the military movie hero of the week.

[sfneo21]

i have never worn my uniform when i traveled. I always show my military ID and say i'm on orders.

[Fixer]

I'm retired USAF and only wore my uniform once traveling. And I traveled often. The one time was a short trip home between basic training and my tech school in 1979. Was (and still am) proud of my uniform and wanted to show my folks. My mom broke down and cried so bad however. My father was in the Army and was KIA in Vietnam in Nov '65. The last time my mom saw my dad was in uniform. The reminder was a bit too much for her to take. I now have a son in the Army, presently in Germany.

I think all military men and women would rather travel in civies. I don't know many who want to bring undo attention to themselves. They have a job, they do their job. They normally don't strut around looking for limelight. I always found recognition from my peers more satisfactory than from civilians who often don't understand the military way of life. Having said that, I think it's great to see folks coming home from Iraq or 'Stan wearing their ACUs. I'm going be be the first one to shake their hand when I see them. Granted every service member deserves a hand shake but I know the men and women over in the sand have it particularly rough right now.

[Chase]

Your son is in Germany eh? What Part... I PCS From Wiesbaden in about 12 hours.. but yeah I def changed my Mind... I won't be wearing ACU when I fly tommorow... I wore that shit for a whole year when I was in Iraq and im glad to be on leave and out of it now.

[ImTheVoiceOfGod]

If you want to get technical about it, you aren't allowed to travel in uniform unless you are on official business that requires you to be uniform. But I dont see a problem with Class-Ain' it from time to time. Not to get hand outs and such. A lot of people enjpy seeing service members in uniform. Almost like their seeing a celebrity.

[txdude]

It's my understanding that you are never allowed to travel 1st class while in uniform. If the member has frequent flyer miles or wants to pay the additional cost he/she can fly first class as long as he/she is not in uniform. That's pretty much how the TMO breifing goes from what I recall from tech school.

BTW I'm Air Force.

[jduet7]

Us Marines are never allowed to wear our Cammies out, but it is cool to go to the bar in Dress Blues on special occasions. I've traveled in uniform once but would rather not b/c I really don't like all the attention. I usually just go covert in civies.

[fuller083]

I honestly hate the attention, but it is nice sometimes to be treated a little nicer. I haven't traveled in uniform since my return home after basic, but when I did people kept asking me what my opinion on this war was and blah blah blah..... When I travel on my own time (off orders) I carry my RAPTOR pack which is obviously a military bag, and sometimes now I get bad looks from people who aren't really sure who I am or WHAT I am.

Honestly though, it IS against regs to wear your BDU, ACU or any other "work" uniform outside of work on the military installation. But everywhere I go here in town I see others in their uniform and it's the same in most airports. So, to conclude, I wouldn't wear mine unless my orders specifically told me to, besides, I'm WAAAAY more comfortable in my civies when it comes to flying.

USAF here.....