Sgt Grit Marine Forums

 

Hello all, this is my 1st post here! 

Is it within protocol to wear one's dress blues to a high school or college formal dance?

My grandson, currently stationed at CamPen, wore his to his girlfriend's prom, and someone told him that it wasn't an appropriate use of the uniform.  I have been unable to find any answers short of calliing a recruiter or other active duty Marine.

Thank you

 

Dan, Welcome to the Forum !

We go through this topic occasionally, and it all boils down to... If worn properly, Marine Dress Blues fit in anywhere.  The only problem at school functions is the King of the Prom is usually upstaged, even in his Tux !

I wore my Blue to my girlfriends prom (now wife) and had no problem.

If that person isnt a Marine who told you that, tell them to STFU and leave you alone.

Dan do us a favor please and fill us in on your USMC bio.

As to your question the uniforms are the Marine's way to dress.  THe utilities are for combat & fieldwork; the charlies used to be for office work in summer, the bravos same same winter, the alphas ARE the business suit and the blues are the dress and then there are the mess dress minkey suits for the higher enllisted/officers.

A Marine may wear his uniform anywhere that those conditions pertain, subject to orders.  If the command forbides wearing the uniform (in any of its "off base" iteratons) then that's that. 

I don't see that this Devil Dog has done anything improper.  Wearing the blues as a dress suit = to a civilian tuxedo is OK in my book.

I don't mean to threadjack, but I have a question about dress blues as well.

I am getting married in a little less than two weeks and my fiance is wearing his dress blues to the wedding. As far as the reception goes, is he allowed to remove the jacket? Dancing, eating, etc. I know he'll be hot and I know with drunk Marines around the chances of spills are pretty high. Is there a certain blouse he can wear underneath the jacket? Thanks for any help!

No - that's the only answer.  sorry.

As long as the person wearing the uniform is entitled to wear it, and if there are no contrary orders from his/her command, it is entirely within protocol to wear it to a formal occasion.

 

However, once the blouse comes off, the Marine is out of uniform. T-shirt and blue trousers are not the same as un-dress blues! I think it’s even kind of “iffy” to remove the gloves except for chow or drinking.....and of course, head calls.

 

Just out of curiousity, are gloves required? I cant remember, I dont think I ever wore my gloves.

On the opposite end of the scale...some high schools have refused young Marines from being allowed to wear their uniform (any uniform) to graduations or to dances.  Freekin' id-jits!!!   

On the gloves question...Gloves are part of the formal wear.  They need not be WORN, but must be carried by the Marine.

I carried the gloves bit even farther.  For 12 years I was the commander of the Legion Honor Guard, and presented every Flag during all Final Rites.  Rarely was I wearing my Blues.  If not the Legion blue uniform, I was in Cammies, and always wore white gloves when handling our Flag.  If I was in violation, no one dared correct me.

 

Meghan:

I don't mean to threadjack, but I have a question about dress blues as well.

I am getting married in a little less than two weeks and my fiance is wearing his dress blues to the wedding. As far as the reception goes, is he allowed to remove the jacket? Dancing, eating, etc. I know he'll be hot and I know with drunk Marines around the chances of spills are pretty high. Is there a certain blouse he can wear underneath the jacket? Thanks for any help!

I don't know for sure, but I don't think it would be out of line to remove the blouse, but replace it with a long sleeve uniform shirt and tie with proper rank insignia. We used to call this "Modified Blues".  If he's worried about spills he doesn't have to wear his ribbons.  Or, failing that, he should just suck it up and sweat.

 Meghan--

 

He couldn't just take off the Dress Blue blouse, however if he wanted to change uniform midway through he could wear the Charlie version of blues, which is the long sleeved shirt, tie, all proper rank & ribbons--however, it is a khaki shirt & probably more likely to stain than the dark blues blouse. 

he blue dress "B" uniform consists of the same items as blue dress "A" except that ribbons are worn in lieu of medals. This uniform is authorized for leave and liberty.

The blue dress uniform with long sleeve khaki shirt (without coat), and tie for male Marines and tab for female Marines, is designated as blue dress "C." Commanders may prescribe blue dress "C" as the uniform of the day for specified occasions or duties. Commanders may prescribe this uniform for honors, parades, and ceremonies on and off the military activity. This uniform is authorized for leave and liberty.
The blue dress uniform with short sleeve khaki shirt (without coat) is designated as blue dress "D." Commanders may prescribe blue dress "D" as the uniform of the day for specified occasions or duties. During the winter uniform period, commanders may, at their discretion when the weather requires, authorize blue dress "D" as the uniform of the day. Commanders may prescribe this uniform for honors, parades, and ceremonies where climatic conditions preclude the comfortable wear of the blue dress "A" or "B" uniforms. This uniform is authorized for leave or liberty.

The bolded line 'authorized for leave and liberty' is the key in regards to traveling while in uniform.

So yes, you provided him with the correct answer once you get back to him. The regulation should you wish to provide to him is MCO P1020.34G

The Marine should also check with his command in case the command has a prescribed or preferred CONUS liberty uniform.

Remember things have changed due to war on terrorism. OCONUS travel is in civilian clothing.

I got married in my dress blues.  During my reception, I kept my blouse on.  I did get hot, and I had a few people ( best man, etc.) tell me that I was too hard core and I needed to relax a bit.  Sorry but I'm a Marine, and I was too proud to take my blouse off.  I did take my gloves off, I didn't want any drinks slipping out of my hands.  If he's so worried about being hot, he can put on a kahki blouse.

As the son of a Marine who was the crewchief on Corsair 122 in the Pacific during WWII, it was expected of us 3 boys to be Marines, when time came to serve.  I enlisted while in college in October of 1968 on the 120 day delayed program and reported to MCRD San Diego on Feb.15th. 1969. Platoon 2030.  I was a squad leader and graduated as a PFC in May, MOS 6212, Avionics.

Made L/Cpl while in AV(A) school NAS Memphis, Tenn.  Upon graduating, I was assigned to HML-267 CamPen CA. This was a squadron where new pilots out of Pensacola came for their Huey and OV-10 A Bronco training.  The avionics shop provided line-level maintenance for the birds.

I was soon transferred across the street to H & MS-56 Sub-unit 1, an intermediate maintenance-level facility supporting HML-267.  For the next year, I attended B and C level schools at Pendleton, El Toro MCAS, and Santa Ana.  I was then assigned to the avionics shop at Pendleton specializing in the APX 64 IFF transponders.  The following week I blew out my left knee during PT!  Shortly thereafter I had surgery and was told by the surgeon that he was going to recommend that I be medically discharged.  I said that I work at a bench, and could still do that, even with a bum knee.  He reminded me that all Marines are grunts 1st. and that I would not be able to jump out of a chopper and run up hills and mountains.

I was declared 10% disabled and Honorably discharged April 2, 1971.  During the time between the injury and the discharge, I performed many duties, none related to Avionics!  So, I really didn't have any real avionics skills outside of the classroom and ended up going back to college and received an AS degree in Radiologic Technology.

The next time I set foot on MCRD San Diego was October 11th, 2007 when I proudly watched my grandson Robert become a Marine.

 

Howdy DriverDan,

I too was medically discharged but before hand (after surgery at Bethesda) I was sent to Quantico. I met a young girl who was a senior (I thought she was older) in high school and she asked me to her prom. She requested that I wear my blues and I did. I didn't wear the gloves but did carry them. We had a great time and I wish I had the picture from that night (although the Mrs. might not let me have it...LOL)

If I remember correctly, when the gloves were not worn, we used to tuck the gloves in under the belt, from the top, with the open ends being tucked, and the gloves draped over the belt.
 
Modified, or un-dress Blues, didn’t used to be authorized for leave or liberty.

 

I may have missed this point if someone made it, but it should also be noted that a white Barracks Cover is also worn with modified Blues.

Dang! I’m trying to remember the difference, if any, between modified Blues and un-dress Blues? It has been a long time and I am certain I remember the term.

 

 Thanks for all of your input! Man, you guys have quite a few ensembles you have to figure out...I'm impressed! Thanks again!

Megan Darlin, I just noticed you used the term “jacket”…….

 

The proper term of reference to the outerwear of the Dress Blue uniform is “Blouse”.

 

And yes, we Marines wear a blouse. We also wear trousers; women and sailors wear pants, men and Marines wear trousers.  (No offense intended, just a point of fact)

 

bunzo351:

Megan Darlin, I just noticed you used the term “jacket”…….

 

The proper term of reference to the outerwear of the Dress Blue uniform is “Blouse”.

 

And yes, we Marines wear a blouse. We also wear trousers; women and sailors wear pants, men and Marines wear trousers.  (No offense intended, just a point of fact)

 

 

No offense taken at all. Thanks for letting me know. I don't want to use the wrong term so I appreciate the info! With a brother and fiance in the Marine Corps you'd think I'd have all of those terms down!

One more question...if you are wearing the blues and the outwear is called a "blouse", what is the top you wear under it called? I though the tan colored long sleeve/short sleeved shirts were called blouses?  

Khaki shirt? thats what we always called them.

Meghan:

One more question...if you are wearing the blues and the outwear is called a "blouse", what is the top you wear under it called? I though the tan colored long sleeve/short sleeved shirts were called blouses?  

 

 

I just always wore a plain 'ol T-shirt under my Dress Blue Blouse; just something to catch the perspiration so it didn't need cleaning quite so often.  

The tan colored uniform I think you are referring to is what we called “Tropicals” or “Tropics”, but I’m thinking a lot of things may have changed since the mid 60s though.

I spent many, many hours wearing Dress Blues as a Sea Going Marine, and I never wore anything but a T-shirt under my Blue Blouse; not even when wearing White-Blue-Whites.

 

 

 

 

bunzo351:

The tan colored uniform I think you are referring to is what we called “Tropicals” or “Tropics” but I’m thinking a lot of things may have changed since the mid 60s though.

Trops and Kahkis are gone.  The only thing left of them is the trop shirt that these others are talking about dress blue Charlies but I am guessing that they are now not made of tropical worsted wool but some kind of synthetic fibers.

He can wear the Blues Uniform, Service Delta's, Service Charlie, Servicew Bravo, and the Service Alfa's.................

 

However When driving back from the M16 range with the First Sgt and CO they were talking about the upcoming Predeployment  Ball , then I asked If I could wear mine , the first response was but of course until they realized I was meaning Our Marine Dress Blues !