The U.S. Air Force Blue! (Read 4,930 times)

We live about twenty minutes from Randolph and are on-base fairly often for shopping and pills. While there we see probably every form of uniform the Air Force authorizes for wear. That included the PE shorts and shirt. Mostly there are BDUs of one type or another. There are also quite a few wearing some form of blues. It is, after all, the headquarters base.
One thing I see that bothers me is the large number of members wearing BDUs off base. When I was in that was verboten. You could wear fatigues, no BDUs back then, while going to and from the base from home. You could be cited if you got caught wearing fatigues off base in a store, bar, etc. I'm sure some one has a good reason for allowing the wear of BDUs off base for most any reason. However, it seems to me it may be sending the wrong message. When people see military in Battle Dress Uniforms, they may get the idea that the combat ready zone is out there where they shop. I may be way off base to some of you, but I think it presents a much better picture to the community when they see our members in blues. I know some one has authorized this as I see colonels eating off base in BDUs. Maybe I'm way behind the thinking and need to see some good reasons for wearing BDUs off base.
Maybe some of you that are on active duty can give more information about this. After all, I retired nearly thirty-seven years ago and things have changed.
Old Jim, Proud Ramp Rat member of the County Sligo squadron

I was never a fan of the Blues myself, but then I feel dressed up when I tuck my shirt in...

I don't think that soldiers/airmen/sailors should be wearing any sort of the work uniform (aside from dress, or work dress) myself. I can understand for short stops at the store, but that's about it.

I will say this tho, they usually get a lot better treatment when they're in uniform, any uniform!

Whilst in the Randolph commissary to-day I had a short conversation with a bird colonel about the wearing of "work" uniforms when shopping, dining or other off-base activities. What caused me to ask the colonel was a conversation I had an hour earlier in COSTCO with a captain in a flight suit.
The colonel said things have been loosened up quite a bit and felt it was overdone. He said BDU's could be worn, but not flight suits. So much for the captain being out of uniform.
The colonel also told me that he thought the traditions and sense of who we are was much greater in my day. He feels that wearing blues when doing activities off-base makes us all look more professional.
Will the current policies ever be changed. I didn't ask and the col. didn't volunteer an answer.
Oh, Well!