In the United States, many people wear clothing with military symbols on them. However, some consider this to be disrespectful to those serving in the military forces.
Wearing military clothing is not disrespectful as long as you are not attempting to impersonate a member of the military. If you wish to show your support for the military through clothing, try wearing something with the message, “I support the military.”
What Kind Of Military Clothing Is Discouraged?
While it is not illegal to wear military clothing as a civilian in the United States, some specific forms of clothing are discouraged.
Camouflage is not a discouraging clothing item or style to wear. Camouflage is very common in fashion nowadays and can sometimes be seen on fashion runways featuring famous designers. However, military officers wear very specific types of camouflage, depending on what branch of the military they are a part of. These camouflage patterns are not typically found in clothing worn by civilians.
The most common pattern that people wear on the street is a green-and-brown colored pattern. The military tends to use camouflage patterns with sandier colors, like grey and brown, and the colors are spread across smaller areas than the green-and-brown pattern. The uniforms with camouflage are also boxier and in a completely different style than the camouflage found in fashion.
It is discouraged to wear military jackets or hats that say that you are a part of the military, or that you were a part of a certain squadron when you were not. Wearing these clothing items can lead to awkward questions from strangers about your experience in the military or people thanking you for your service.
It is okay to wear something that a family member or close friend used to wear that has their stripes and symbols of rank on them, but you may also get questions about your experience in the military.
However, most people will accept your answer if you say that it belonged to a family member and not pay any more attention to what you are wearing.
It is illegal to impersonate a military officer in the United States. If you wear clothing that suggests that you are an active member of the military, be sure that you make it clear to anyone who asks about your military experience that you are not a member of the military unless you are currently serving. If you are a retired military personnel, then you should say that.
However, it is legal in the United States to wear a military uniform as long as you do not claim that you are a member of the military. If you want to wear a military uniform on Halloween, for example, you can as long as you say that you are just wearing a Halloween costume and are not actually a military service member.
If you impersonate a service member, especially if you try to gain information while impersonating a military service member, you will be arrested and serve jail time, as it’s considered to be a serious crime.
What Should I Wear Instead?
Instead of wearing clothing with military insignias, wear something that shows your support for your favorite branch of the military. Clothing that says, “I support the military” very clearly shows your gratitude for the branch that you are supporting and does not have any symbols of rank or experience that may offend a stranger.
If you wish to wear camouflage that is a similar pattern to the military’s, by all means, do so. However, if you want to avoid awkward encounters with strangers thanking you for your service because they think that you are wearing a military uniform, put something on your camouflage to make it clear that this is a fashion piece, not part of a uniform.
Sparkles, non-military patches, and personalized phrases are good things to put that will help you avoid any confusion from strangers. Fashion is an art form that you can play with.
Why Do Military Officers Wear Uniforms in Public?
Military officers tend to wear uniforms in public if they are coming home from deployment, currently working with the military, going to a formal event where their formal military attire is appropriate, or going to their assigned base and are in public before work. This is normal and very much allowed. However, service members are encouraged to act appropriately while they are in uniform, even if they are off duty.
Military officers also wear their uniforms in public if they are with their coworkers, on a mission, or traveling with other service members. The uniform helps them find their peers and keep track of them if they somehow become separated. This is especially helpful on the battlefield and is one of the reasons why military personnel wear their uniforms while off-duty.
Can Retired Military Personnel Wear Their Uniforms?
Retired military personnel are allowed to wear their uniforms after they retire, as long as they have left the military under honorable circumstances. Many retired military personnel choose to wear the formal uniform during the appropriate occasions but choose not to wear the others because they now can choose what they wear in their day-to-day lives.
Dishonorably discharged members of the military are not allowed to wear their uniforms after they are discharged. If a dishonorably discharged service member continues to wear the uniform, and the military finds out, they will be punished.
Dog tags are often worn by military personnel as a form of identification, especially if a service member is currently deployed. After a service member retires or is honorably discharged, they are allowed to continue wearing their assigned dog tags, especially because they are easily concealed. Non-military personnel often wear their loved one’s dog tags for various personal reasons.
This is not discouraged, and it is a very common practice. However, many other people choose to put a loved one’s dog tags in a special place in their home so that they are protected and cannot get lost while they are going about their daily lives.