So you want to wear a military jacket? Possibly from your grandfather’s time abroad or your dad’s while he’s home from his recent siege? Here in this article, we’ll talk about when it is and isn’t ok to wear a military jacket.
You cannot wear old military jackets if it is not part of your uniform that you own and you are currently on duty. However, you can wear someone else’s jacket if they are no longer in the service and you remove all patches, unit insignia, tags, and rank badges.
The laws regarding military clothing are strict and this article is here to help you understand what you can and cannot do.
Is It Disrespectful To Wear If It’s Old?
It is not disrespectful to wear military clothing if it is old. Military uniforms are often sold off in surplus stores, making them available to citizens for purchase. This is because people wear them a lot sometimes for fashion and other useful reasons such as hunting, work pants, etc. If you wear the full uniform, claiming you’re an active-duty soldier, you will face charges such as impersonating a federal officer, charged with fraud.
This is also what is called “Stolen Valor” and is a federal crime. You still need to remove everything off the uniform if it hasn’t been removed already as it is a sign of respect to the soldier who has served his or her time or passed away during their time of service.
Why Is It Illegal To Wear The Jacket?
In order to be found guilty for breaking the law in Article 106, all three statements must be present as follows:
- That the accused impersonated a commissioned, warrant, noncommissioned, or petty officer, or an agent of the superior authority of one of the armed forces of the United States, or an official of a certain government, in a certain manner;
- That the impersonation was wrongful and willful; and
- That, under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused was to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces.
Summary of the Elements of Article 106 (Impersonating an Officer or Official): Prosecutors will attempt to prove that the service member intentionally sought to impersonate an officer, government official, or person of authority. They may also seek maximum charges by alleging that the soldier sought to derive some benefit from the impersonation, thereby adding an element of fraud to the case.
The following is also taken from bilechilawgroup.com in regards to what the maximum punishments are for anyone in active duty in any part of the military breaking Article 106 of UCMJ:
- Reduction to E-1
- Forfeiture of all pay and allowances
- Confinement for up to 3 years
- Dishonorable discharge
- Reduction to E-1
- Forfeiture of all pay and allowances
- Confinement for up to 6 months
- Bad-conduct discharge Source
Wearing A Family Member’s Jacket In Life And In Film
If there is worry present, visiting or calling a VFW, American Legion, AmVets will provide you an authoritarian answer. However, the same applies to someone wearing an old uniform: everything needs to be removed.
The following is a statement from 10 year US Army Air Defense/Stinger Missile veteran, Thomas Blank, who was responding to a question on Quora whether or not someone’s son could wear his uniform:
“Absolutely…Wearing daddy’s BDU blouse and cover doesn’t mean he’s impersonating a soldier. I picture my boys dressing up in my fatigues and playing ARMY but their not pretending to be someone they are not. Their last name is my last my last name. Both of their great grandfathers served…both grandfathers served..2 of their uncle’s served ….and I served.
Ya see…when they go outside to play ARMY soldier….their not pretending. Their training…being a soldier is in their blood which means its impossible for them to impersonate a soldier. They are soldiers and I am honored that they want to wear my Battle Dress Uniform.” Source
Even in the film industry, everything must be provided in context. Film actors have to make subtle changes such as something being misplaced or wearing ribbons out of order to present the uniform as not currently accurate. However, if real members of the military are featured, they are required to wear his or her uniform correctly as they still represent the Military and serve as professional guests of honor.
When Do Soldiers Wear Their Jackets During Deployment?
This following is an answer on US ARMY uniform protocol from Tiffany Rodriguez-Rexroad on Quora, who assembled uniforms and equipment from American wars.
*1700 is 5:00 PM, 1900 is 7:00PM
“The Physical Training (PT) uniform is to be worn to/during/from physical training (usually in the morning). We are not supposed to stop off at convenience stores or gas stations while wearing it, but this often gets overlooked. You are not supposed to wear it to the PX (on-post department store) or commissary (on-post grocery store), but this varies from base to base.
The combat or duty uniform (camouflage fatigues) are worn on a daily basis as a utility uniform. Since we spend most of the duty day (0900–1700*) in it we are allowed to go to lunch or run errands during the lunch break while wearing it. Also, we can stop for gas, groceries, short shopping trips after work while wearing it. The uniform is not supposed to be worn past 1900* unless you are on an extended duty day past that time.
The Service and Dress uniforms are mostly worn for special occasions. The same rules apply as for the camo uniforms in regards to stopping for gas and groceries, but you will also see Soldiers wearing them to weddings, funerals, parties, movies, etc. This is very much true if the base you are near is a training base and recent graduates are out with their parents.
The combat uniform cannot be worn to recreational functions, like the bar/strip club, movies, etc. (There seems to be leeway for sporting events). The Service/Dress uniforms can, BUT the locale and the Soldier’s behavior must not be “unbecoming”. Uniforms can NEVER be worn to political rallies/events unless the event is specifically to honor the military, to any meeting of a domestic terror/hate group (i.e. KKK), in sponsorship or endorsement of a product, service, or political candidate, or when engaged in an act of sedition against America.(This last happened frequently during the Vietnam War protests.)
Once you get out or retire you are not supposed to wear the PT/Camo uniforms, and only wear the Dress uniforms for Veteran functions/special occasions, but since you are out there isn’t much they can do to you. And there is absolutely nothing preventing civilians from wearing military uniforms, although please try to avoid stolen valor if you want to play dress up.” Source