Comments on: Marines Drop Dress Blues for Death Notifications

By: Ed W

Ed W — Sat, 05 Mar 2005 03:20:43 +0000

I truley do not think the general public is that ignorant. I challenge anyone to regard my "Dress" uniform as anything other than formal attire. Maybe they have never been to a Marine wedding, a Marine Corps Ball. I never recieved anything but good cheer while I stode the local malls and organizations collecting "Toys for Tots" last December. As far as replacing it with "Alphas" I am sure the same will be said of them, as you are more likely to see the Blues than the Service A.

By: JohnnyV

JohnnyV — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 15:16:24 +0000

Maybe a grim reaper uniform?

It's a bad idea, and the dress blues are meant for serious matters, not "festive" ones. Unless your birthday balls are more about dancing the macarena at your unit.

As many have said, the uniform is the least of concerns. So why change it? There are other issues with the CAO than this.

By: John

John — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 04:19:21 +0000

A different uniform, used exclusively for occasions that do, necessarily, focus on death could be considered. There would be no ambiguity, no mistaken perceptions.

Wearing it wouldn't have to be restricted to death notifications, though. They could also be worn at the appropriate public occasions such as Veteran's Day, the funerals of service members, guards of honor for state funerals, and the like.

The would certainly add to the cost of the military, but sometimes clarity is worth paying a price.

By: Cousin Dave

Cousin Dave — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 23:16:12 +0000

Hmm. I had always assumed that the wearing of the dress uniform was a sign of respect for the family of the deceased. I'm afraid I have to disagree with this change. Although, as others have said, if it was me getting that visit, very soon the uniform of the person visiting me would be the least of my concerns.

By: Boyd

Boyd — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 20:33:18 +0000

The boatcloak is merely a ceremonial part of the uniform, based on a functional predecessor. The Navy has boatcloaks as well, and I only saw one ever worn, and that for a Navy Day Ball.

Virtually no one has a boatcloak because they're not required, don't serve much of a purpose, and cost $600.00.

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 20:08:20 +0000

I understand the concern of the Marines about a negitive asapect of the the Dress Blues used for Death notification. However either uniform is approrate. The CAO shold have some leeway in which uniform would be approrate. Realisticly which ever uniform is used, the public will associate it with the negitive aspect of the notification. Marine wear the Blues for funeral service, how will the family associate the uniform with that?

By: Tom Carter

Tom Carter — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:48:22 +0000

Interesting. I don't think it matters that much what the Marines wear during this very difficult duty. I think the "A" is probably more appropriate, given the somber nature of what they're doing. I was briefly assigned this duty at one point, but fortunately never had to perform it. It's a nightmare.

In my 30 years in the Army, I went through a lot of these uniform dust-ups. As a pilot, I always found it frustrating that to start with, flight suits were allowed only in very limited circumstances because they looked, well, different from normal fatigues (now BDUs). Then a nomex flight suit was developed to keep us from burning to death, but the first ones had to be designed as two-piece outfits that would look as much like fatigues as possible. Uncomfortable and silly, but at least they served the purpose. Now, life as an aviator in the Army is a lot more reasonable on such issues.

The fact is, Army leadership has always been suspicious of anything or anyone who looked or acted as though he were outside the mainstream. Out-of-the-box thinkers like the special operations types, in particular, have always had a hard time.

By: htom

htom — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:39:34 +0000

Lose-lose. The only way you win pandering to idiots is if you're selling junk, and that is not at all what the Corps is about.

By: JakeV

JakeV — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:34:43 +0000

I think Boyd's point is a good one. The angry spouse quoted here notwithstanding, it's hard to imagine the level of dressiness among the notifiers will be a primary concern for bereaved family members.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:21:43 +0000

The trenchcoat is just cold weather garb over the service uniforms. I've never seen the boatcloak before that picture. I'm guessing it's worn during sea duty, though.

By: B. Minich, PI

B. Minich, PI — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:14:47 +0000

What are the boatcloak and trenchcoat uniforms used for? Just curious - haven't seen those ones at all.

I have to agree that this is a lose-lose, though the other uniform is pretty sharp looking - just not as sharp as the Dress Blues.

By: Boyd

Boyd — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 18:43:39 +0000

Ken, the Army guards the Tomb of the Unknowns, not the Marine Corps.

And if my son, who is a Marine, dies while on active duty, I'll have much bigger concerns than whether the CACO wears dress blues. Although that call will go to his wife, not to me, but the principle stands.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 18:42:06 +0000

Wow! I don't know about this issue before, or that Marines wore different uniforms for such things.

In any case, I'd hate to have to have been the person to make the decision to change the policy. I agree, James. There's no winning this one.

By: ZuDfunck

ZuDfunck — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 18:33:36 +0000

Dressed For the Occasion
OTB's James Joyner posts:

By: ken

ken — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 18:28:49 +0000

When the marines stop wearing their fancy pants at the tomb of the unkown soldier they can stop wearing them when visiting the families of the dead they know.