You shouldn't wear that, it's disrespectful to the troops! Why?

T

TheCanadian

Joined
Sep 11, 2012
Messages
152
Okay so two summers ago I went out camping with a friend of mine, the trip went south fairly quick though as it poured with rain the whole trip and half way home a rear wheel fell off the quad we were using. After walking home through soaking wet waist high grass by the time we got to my buddies place I was soaked. No clean dry clothes nearby, no dry shoes, no dry anything. I tell my friend lets go to town and I'll buy myself some gear so next time I won't get wet like that. We went to the army surplus store as it's owned and run by a veteran of the Canadian military. The fella was really nice, I ended up buying a pair of "Tactical" boots (Not surplus combat boots but a water resistant pair with a zipper up the side, similar to Original SWAT brand), a CADPAT BDU and hat and walked out of the store wearing it (He let me change out of my wet clothes)

So, after wearing my new BDU for a while I came to realize that I really like wearing the BDU, so I went and bought two more sets (Yes, CADPAT, it's my favorite.) I wear it quite frequently however I don't wear it "properly" because I AM NOT A SOLDIER and I don't try to impersonate a soldier. I wear the shirt more like a light jacket (I love the pockets), the pants are a bit big and I don't blouse them to the top of my boots (Unless wading through ankle deep water..). I liked the CADPAT BDU so much I went out and bought a matching molle day pack and a CADPAT Parka (Yes, I know green camo in snow probably won’t work well... not the point though) I don't see how what I'm doing is disrespectful, I don't wear any patches or ranks, I don't pretend I'm a soldier, I don't try to give off the impression that I'm something that I'm not. I'm simply a guy who likes to shop at the surplus store because the gear is good, the people are cool and the owner is nice.

I have had people on the street stop me and ask me if I was a soldier and when I replied no they told me I should go home and change because what I'm wearing is disrespectful to the guys who actually served. I've also seen it posted on internet forums where people get mad at other people for wearing a BDU or other military surplus gear.

Could someone explain to me why wearing my BDU is disrespectful? From my point of view I’m openly showing support for our troops by wearing the BDU, I’m helping out a retired veteran of the Canadian Military by shopping in his store and I get to wear something that I like.
 
Wherever you go,
Whatever you do,
Some stranger will know
What's best for you.

If only the world had an Ignore List like Bladeforums. :)
 
This reminds me of a scene in "Moneyball":
Billy: "You think it's a problem that you need to explain yourself?"
Pete: "Yeah"
Billy: DON'T! Not to anyone!"
Your reasons are your own, there is nothing at all disrespectful about what you wear, so keep doing what works and what pleases you. I also wear a lot of surplus clothing. Right now I'm wearing a US M1951 wool shirt, Swedish surplus thermal under shirt, a German Flektarn jacket, and Czech pants liners. I wear it because I care about how it works and I like the ruggedness of the gear.
Nightflyer
 
Yeah, I intend to wear it, I was just wondering why people think it's rude or disrespectful to wear it. I mean I live in Canada, a free country, you can wear what you want, not Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia..
 
Not disrespectful at all, I am surprised anyone would suggest that it is. Lieing about military service is an awful thing to do but as you are not and are not trying to pass yourself off as someone you are not you are not doing anything wrong. People can be silly. My 2 cents.

Jim
 
vonrichthofen54 said:
You forgot America under that idiot Obama!
Click to expand...

Well, I don't really follow politics that much, plus I didn't want to insult anyone. To be honest the only thing that I really know that he did was apparently catch/kill Osama Bin Laden, which if it's true is pretty freakin' sweet..
 
He did not catch/kill bin laden. The CIA and the US military did it. And they only did it because President Bush started the ball rolling. Pres. Clinton had the chance and didnt and had been widely criticized for it. If our current pres. didnt "authorize" the actions then he would have been seen very negatively. We all know he cares only about the optics of a situation. If he could have not authorized that action and kept it secret he would have.

If you are walking around urban/suburban areas in full military gear (even without ranks and insignias), then yes, many people see that as impersonating. If you are out in the wilderness then most peiple understand why you are wearing the surplus equipment.
 
Let's keep the politics out of our discussion forums, please. If you have a paid membership, you can post those opinions in the Political Arena.
 
Wearing surplus clothing or using surplus gear does not fall under disrespectful. I due consider it disrespectful to wear any badge ,button, ribbon or metal that is earned through service if you didn't earn it.
Roy
 
Outdoorsmen have been wearing surplused military clothing and using surplused military gear and firearms for well over a century. I see nothing wrong with it other than those infamous stolen valor guys who attempt to pass themselves off as active military or veterans for gain of one type or another. And too the fact that most of that gear is well designed to be durable and useful. And the fact that many of the stores are owned and staffed by veterans. If they had concerns about civillians owning, wearing and using old military clothing and gear they would not be in the business or require proof of service from their customers. In which case they again would not be in the business.
 
I can understand wearing army surplus... It's cheap solid gear.

However if you are wearing current issue those reasons don't really apply anymore. That stuff costs as much as quality civilian gear. I'll look at you funny if you spent the same coin to look military as you would have for new civilian. Not because I find it disrespectful, but because I don't understand the mentality. There are loads of good choices out there but you chose the current issue military look. What message are you trying to send?

In general I think there is some social stigma attached to wearing any camo gear around town (especially for men of a certain age and build) and that will get you tarred with the same brush as those who wore the uniform before you. It's not fair but that's life. Chicks can get away with the look easier. Guys not wanting attention should probably steer clear. Personally I'll pay extra to not stick out.
 
Kilts are regimental, but I'm not in the regiment. I wear them all the time. I don't call the sheriff's office to see if it's okay... :D
 
Whoa yeah... this isn't meant to spark a political discussion about a country who's politics I know very little about.

I wear my CADPAT bdu and hat (Which is a civvie version, not a true surplus or issued bdu/hat) when I feel like it whether I'm in the woods or in the city. I do not wear any patches or medals because I haven't earned any.

I have only ever been asked one time by a fella who was in the armed forces if I had served. If I had said yes he probably would have whooped my @$$ but I told him no and explained the same points I made in this thread and he just smiled and said if I want the real stuff I should join up. I just laughed and said I'd stick with my paintball gear and let the real soldiers handle the real gear.

My point is, if this fella didn't care about what I was wearing (Other than curiosity as to whether or not I served) then I know I'm not out of line or being disrespectful by wearing it. I was wondering WHY someone might feel disrespected by it.
 
"You have to think of yourself as your own planet. That's the most important part. You have to realize that your life is entirely separated from everybody elses. Comparing yourself to others is entirely pointless.
Your life will only happen once, no matter what you believe in. It's going to end some day. Even if you believe in the "after life": this life will still only happen once.
You've got two choices: enjoying yourself or not.
One ticket, one ride. Doesn't matter what you do. The only thing that matters, the only possible point to life, is to enjoy yourself.
Then you have to ask yourself, what is it that you enjoy? Then you do it. Life is way too short, no matter how long it is, for you to do things you don't like..."

- Achalemoipas
 
Imo wearing a piece or two is fine, but wearing a full outfit seems like cosplay at best and an attempt to impersonate at worst.

I would ask myself why I liked wearing the outfit. Is it to gain some benefit of service w/o having borne the sacrifices of service? If so, then it's disrespectful imo.
 
Its not disrespectful its good solid gear thats easy to afford. Don't worry about it. There is so much good gear today for cheap it would be goofy not to take advantage of it.
 
I don't need a "thank you", etc ..... but like many on this forum I am a military veteran.

I am not nor would I be offended or felt disrespected if someone who had never served in the military wore military surplus *anything*. If someone else is offended too @#*@*%& bad. They need to get over themselves and any condescension which they may suffer from.

Wear whatever the h&## you want. I have my own personal preferences about clothing (etc.,) styles, but so long as people are appropriately covered up (I do have children and don't want them to see what is inappropriate for day-to-day life) I don't much care what others wear.

I have a good bit of .mil surplus gear/clothing and wear it when I'm in the woods. I don't wear it in everyday life activities, but that's more of a style preference than anything else. A lot of things .mil are superb - US military "Bunny Boots" are a prime example and are super cheap for what you get.

Wear and enjoy!
 
Wear whatever you want.
If others don't like it, they can cram their opinion up their cramhole.
 
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