OK, OK I get it! Let’s not correct soldiers in uniform anymore because they only mirror what they see senior noncommissioned officers and officers do.
After arriving at Kandahar Air Field, I must have missed the Army Regulation 670-1 burning fest. I didn’t realize there were so many violations of uniforms possible.
My favorite is the Army Combat Uniform sleeve cuff, where soldiers cuff the sleeves at the bottom instead of using the Velcro wrap.
Get this one: shades on top of head, in physical training clothes, with sleeves on brown T-shirt rolled up to the armpits.
It gets better: brown T-shirt outside PT shorts and walking with a cigarette.
I have to carry a bottle of water around with me so my voice doesn’t get hoarse correcting soldiers, but when I do, there’s an NCO walking behind them with the same deficiency or worse.
Maybe it is time to retire, or maybe it is time to forget standards because we are in a war zone. Someone please let me know now so I don’t continue to get on our soldiers’ nerves.
Last, but not least, I leave you with my ultimate favorite: "My first sergeant said I can wear it like this."
Granted, we know this is not the case, but when asked what regulation covers the uniform … deer-in-headlights stare.
Sgt. 1st Class Jamie McNeillKandahar Air Field, Afghanistan