New rules for cammies released

[thedrifter]

New rules for cammies released
Staff report
Posted : Wednesday Jul 25, 2007 19:22:44 EDT

If you were planning on wearing green cammies to work tomorrow, don’t. You’ll be wearing the wrong uniform and, chances are, you’ll get a lecture on why you should read AlMars in your off time.

Effective Wednesday, desert cammies with sleeves rolled up will be the designated summer uniform in garrison, while the woodland uniform with sleeves down will be the uniform for the winter months, according to AlMar 035/07, which hit the Web late Wednesday afternoon, after most East Coast Marines had left work for the day.

For aircrew Marines, the new rules means tan flight suits in summer and green flight suits in winter, according to the message.

The commandant’s guidance also tightened the rules for wearing cammies off base, banning the practice in all instances except “bona fide” emergencies, such as a medical emergencies, car accidents or vehicle breakdowns, according to the message.

Trips to the ATM, fast-food restaurants and dry cleaners are still kosher — as long as you do drive-thru. But there’s no more visiting off-base banks or gas stations without changing clothes, the message states.

“The [combat utility uniform] is a field uniform and is not appropriate for wear in a civilian environment,” Commandant Gen. James Conway writes in the AlMar, which goes on to say that en route stops “are not authorized” unless they’re an emergency.

Under the old policy, Marines could pump gas or stop at a grocery store for necessities such as milk, diapers or prescription drugs while wearing their cammies, but those days are over.

Conway wrote that he’s making the rule change because the Corps is no longer transitioning from the old camouflage pattern to the newer pixel pattern.

“As Marines, our uniforms and military appearance are an important part of our identity and have traditionally marked us as the nation’s most distinctive military service,” Conway wrote. “As such, uniformity and an outward pride in our appearance have been constants for every Marine — from private to general.”

Local commanders can still prescribe the appropriate uniform for exercises, the AlMar said. Also, a commanding general or other component commander can ask Conway for a waiver from the seasonal rules. This could be the case for Marines stationed at joint headquarters or for other “climactic conditions” at bases and stations.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marine Corps changes camouflage uniform rules

By: CRAIG TENBROECK - Staff Writer

OCEANSIDE ---- Camouflage-clad Marines can no longer get out of their cars to run errands on their way to or from base under a revised Marine Corps policy that prohibits troops from making such stops while in uniform.

The rule change was announced in an order issued Wednesday by Commandant Gen. James Conway, who said the camouflage outfit ---- officially known as the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform ---- is "not appropriate for a civilian environment."

When asked about the reason for the change, a Marine Corps spokesman would only refer to Conway's written remarks. Those remarks said the policy was necessary to set a consistent standard for Marine Corps dress.


At H&M Military Supplies in Oceanside, where advertisements for "cammies" decorate nearly every window, owner Mary Cathey peeled a copy of the now-outdated uniform policy off the wall Thursday.

"We don't see any abuse, but there must be a reason why the Marine Corps is doing this, and we'll respect that," she said.

The policy affects all active-duty and Reserve Marines, including those stationed at Camp Pendleton, one of the two largest Marine training installations in the nation. That base has a daytime civilian and military population of 60,000.

Rules for "cammies" were already pretty strict. Troops were largely prohibited from wearing the uniforms off base, but they had wiggle room to make "brief, essential stops" during their commutes or during duty hours for a handful of reasons, such as picking up a child from school, pumping gas or dropping off dry cleaning.

The new rules say such stops are outlawed except for "bona fide" emergencies, such as an automobile accident or medical problem.

Drive-thru businesses, however, are fair game. Troops can still visit fast-food restaurants, dry cleaners and other establishments, as long as they stay in their vehicles, the policy states.

Marines can still wear the uniform while running errands on base, the order states.

In Oceanside on Thursday, a handful of Marines, and proprietors of military supply stores had mixed reactions to the new rules.

Cpl. Andrew Klein, wearing civilian clothes, said he had not yet heard about the change, but added that he had always been told it was prohibited to wear the uniform off the base, so he never did.

"It's just a professionalism thing for me," he said.

Robert Alexander, manager of G.I. Joe's military supply on Pier View Way, scoffed when told of the new policy.

"I'm not going to make any friends saying that it's stupid," he said with a shrug. "But oh, well."

Marines come through his store "all the time" in their camouflage uniforms to drop off or pick up dry cleaning at a connected establishment, he said. Now, "they're going to have to change in their cars," he said.

Clad in civilian clothes, one Camp Pendleton Marine, who asked not to be named, gave a similar assessment.

"I think it's micromanaging," he said.

Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 901-4062 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Cammies: All work, no play
JENNIFER HLAD
July 27, 2007 - 12:18AM
DAILY NEWS STAFF

Marine Corps combat utility uniforms are meant for just that - utility - and should not be worn in the civilian world unless an emergency arises, the commandant of the Marine Corps directed Wednesday in a message to all Marines.

Previously, rules and enforcement varied from unit to unit, with some units allowing Marines to wear camouflage uniforms to pick up children at civilian schools, pump gas at stations in town, pick up dry cleaning on the way home from work and run other errands.

Now, Marines wearing combat utilities are not allowed to get out of their vehicles off base unless there is a "bona fide emergency," according to the All Marine message.

Emergencies, according to the message, are only things for which the Marine cannot plan - such as a car wreck, a medical emergency or a vehicle breakdown.

Marines can still visit drive-through establishments off base in their camouflage uniforms, as long as they do not get out of their vehicles.

"We kind of pushed the use beyond the emergency stops. Ever since the day I came into the Marine Corps, we considered (wearing the work uniform off base) like turning into a pumpkin," said Lt. Col. T.V. Johnson, spokesman for the commandant. "It is a field uniform ... not authorized for leave and liberty."

The message also regulates the color of camouflage Marines wear at different times of the year. Previously, commanders would set the rules for when Marines would wear the green woodland camouflage or the tan desert camouflage.

Now, Marines will wear desert camouflage with sleeves rolled up in the summer and woodland camouflage with sleeves down in the winter. Commanders will determine when Marines will switch from summer to winter uniforms, said Lt. Geraldine Carey, a spokeswoman for Marine Corps Systems Command.

Regulating the color of the uniform by season and strengthening the rules for off-base wear will ease confusion, Johnson said.

"Tightening up the policy makes it more fair," he said. "That way, it's one less thing you've got to worry about."

Not all Jacksonville Marines had heard about the new rules by Thursday afternoon. But a handful said they are not concerned about the changes because, if anything, they will make it easier to remember what to wear and where they are allowed to go.

Sgt. Nelson Vargas said his unit already basically follows the stricter rules, so he did not think the change would be any problem.

Lance Cpls. Nick Story, Emmanuel Pe a and Alex Pais said Marines in their unit switch back and forth between desert camouflage and woodland camouflage a few times a week, so the new rules will be less complicated.

And, though they said they can go to Navy Federal Credit Union and a few other locations wearing camouflage now, they don't think stricter regulations will be an issue.

Some people may say the change will "cramp their style," Johnson said, but bringing civilian clothes to work and changing before leaving base is simply a time management issue.

"You just have to budget your time, and most Marines know how to do that very well," he said.

The rules set the Marine Corps apart from other service branches, especially the Army, Johnson said.

"It's just the Marine way, and I'm very comfortable with it," he said. "I think it brings us back to basics."

While the rules for combat utilities have been set, the Marine Corps also is working on a new running suit for physical training, Carey said.

Marines can take a survey at www.usmc.mil to provide input on the type of running clothing the Corps will choose, Johnson said.

The reason for the change, he said, is that Marines like to work out, but don't always look good in the current green-on-green ensemble.

In the summer, the official physical training uniform is short green running shorts with a green cotton T-shirt. When it is colder, Marines can wear a green cotton sweatshirt and sweatpants.

But the cotton can weigh "about 100 pounds" when it is wet, and they don't always look sharp, Johnson said.

The commandant is looking for a new ensemble that will identify Marines as Marines, is made of modern materials and looks good, Johnson said.

The survey soliciting input about the new PT gear will end at midnight tonight, according to a press release.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

New policy bars Marines from wearing utility uniform off base
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, July 28, 2007



MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps has eliminated exceptions that allowed Marines to wear their utility uniforms off base.

Under the Corps’ new policy, Marines cannot get out of their vehicles off base if they are wearing their camouflage uniforms except in “bona fide emergencies,” a recent message from Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway says.

Such emergencies include car crashes, vehicle breakdowns and medical emergencies.

That means Marines can no longer wear their utility uniforms when they are off base and decide to pick up their kids from day care, run to the drug store or get gas, said Mary Boyt, of the Marine Corps Uniform Board.

But Marines can still go through drive-thru restaurants and dry cleaners while in their utility uniforms, as long as they don’t get out of their vehicles, Boyt said.

She said the changes primarily affect Marines who commute to work.

The new policy also gives Marines some leeway. For example, Marines can make rest stops when driving tactical vehicles over a long distance to a training area, she said.

“Those stops should be short and essential,” Boyt said.

But under the new policy, running low on gas is not considered an emergency, so Marines cannot get out of their car to fill up unless they run out of gas, she said.

Her advice to Marines on this matter: “Don’t run out of gas. Plan accordingly.”

Boyt also advised Marines to have a spare set of clothes in their vehicles.

“When in doubt, do not exit your vehicle off base until you get home,” Boyt said, adding that a hotel room is considered home when Marines are on travel.

The move is meant to standardize uniform regulations, which had varied from base to base until the new policy was issued Wednesday, said Lt. Col. T.V. Johnson, a spokesman for the commandant.

Johnson said the new policy provides “clear-cut guidance” for Marines on when they can wear their utility uniform.

“If you’re off base, out of our vehicle, in cammies, you’re wrong, unless you have a bona fide emergency,” he said.

He said the Marines take pride their uniforms, and wearing the utility uniform off base goes against the Corps’ culture.

“It’s a field uniform,” Johnson said. “It’s not a service uniform. It’s not a dress uniform.”

In another change, the new policy establishes that where the utility uniform is designated as the uniform of the day in garrison by local commanders, the desert camouflage uniform with the sleeves rolled up will be the summer uniform, and the woodland green camouflage uniform with the sleeves down will be the winter uniform.

Local commanders determine the uniform of the day and when or if Marines should switch uniforms with the season, Boyt said.

“If your unit is in the ‘winter season’ year round, then you will not wear the desert uniform,” she said.

Ellie