Hannaford Employee Should Not Wear Military Attire

It seems that some commenters here think that they're the arbiters of
what's "important" and what's not, that the OP should engage a
confrontation with the employee, and more.

Here's a thought: how about places of business requiring that their
employees dress in a PROFESSIONAL or at least NEUTRAL way. Is that
too much to ask?

Wouldn't this thread be much different if the employee was wearing a
t-shirt with a racial epithet? Would that be more "important" then?
Clearly this was important to the OP, for the reasons stated--and I
agree.

Maybe this has been said already. If so, I apologize.

Don't we have more important things to worry about? This young man
goes to work. He probably even pays his taxes. If he's wearing a
military outfit, he's probably not illegal.

Seems to me like we should be picking on someone that deserves it.
Not someone who is just making a fashion statement.

AR 670-1 Is your source for who and how military(Army) personel can
wear uniform items. This regulation applies to the Military and NOT
Civilians. There is no way on God's green earth you could possibly
regulate what a person not in the military could wear! If it offends
you, go up and talk with that person! Ask why they chose that attire.
Appreciate that they may be trying to credit our military with the
wearing of these items, but just don't know what's appropriate. Then
again they may be just expreesing their like for camos and insignia.
Really who cares? If I see a person disrespectful of America or the
Military then I speak up...I just don't see clothing and insignia
being disrepectful. MSG(Ret)Crawford

Perhaps you should be writing to the surplus stores and the military,
and suggest that it be forbidden for the surplus stores to sell these
items, and for military to sell or give used uniforms to civilians.
Because even if Hannaford tells this guy he can't wear it to work
anymore, he's going to wear it somewhere else and you will continue to
be offended.

It's a free world. We can wear whatever we want. And if the dress
code for the company doesn't designate that he CAN'T wear military
clothing, why is it skin off of your butt?

Military inspired clothing have been fashion statements for decades
now. Dior did them just after WWII and they continue to come in and
out of style. It's a personal choice. Personally I wouldn't be
caught dead in anything remotely close to that look, but others dig
it. Again, it's personal choice. And no one earns a right to wear
any type of clothing. Not you. Not me. Not anyone. Get down off of
your high ledge before you fall off of it!

Have you even asked this young man why he might be wearing it? Maybe
it belonged to his grandfather, father or another relative. He might
wear it to honor someone. You shouldn't just assume.

I used to live near a fairly large army base. Uniforms are everywhere,
on people actually in the army and who have never been in it. Older
pieces find their way in thrift shops and are bought by everyday
people. Obviously it is possible for someone to have just bought an
insignia and sewn it on themselves - but there are tons out there that
are dumped at the Salvation Army by the original owner. I have bought
a green dress jacket on base that still had about 7 different
patches/insignia sewn on it.

If members of the army are supposed to take them off before selling,
they aren't doing it. And if they don't care, why should the people
buying them care?

If the employee is comfortable in military clothes, he should be
allowed to wear them. I don't think it's disrespectful.

The terrorism risk comment is silly.

As long as he removes the insignias I do not see any problem or issue
with his choice of wardrobe.

At first when I read this letter, even though I understood where you
were coming from, I just dont think that it is up to you to decide
what other people wear (On or off the clock), unless it is done in a
HARMFUL fashion.

But then I read sumnerman's comment, about insigna - And my view has
changed somewhat - I never even thought about that and I can
understand that point of view. People who earn insigna's are the only
ones that should wear them.

Perhaps since you go to this store often (I'm sure you've chitchatted
with this fellow), you could kindly inform him about the insigna part
- he may simply be unaware of that and how that can be disrespectful.


Thanks for your service by the way!

This is also true with people that represent the Canadian Miltary.
Some people disapprove which is okay but some harm people who wear the
clothing.

I'm with you 100% when it comes to people wearing military uniforms
WITH INSIGNIA. Insignias should be worn only by those who have
actually earned it. No it's not illegal -- and nor should it be
illegal. But it's just disrespectful for those who HAVE EARNED IT.

I happen to wear military stuff too -- i.e. field jackets. I usually
get the stuff at flea markets and they usually come with insignias on
them. Before I even put it on I take those insignias off with a
sewing instrument (the one that you pull stitches out with).

at least he wasnt wearing a Klansmens uniform ;)

I actually work for Hannaford. Our dress code generally does not
permit casual clothes on the job, however, employees are often given
incentives and rewards in the form of "dress down days" in which case
*almost* anything goes. If i were a veteran i would be glad to see him
dressed like that, its certainly better that the marilyn manson or
hatebreed t shirts that some people wear

I honestly don't see what the issue is with this. Those items are
sold, legally, and therefore anyone can wear them. It's freedom like
this that our soldiers fight for and what makes our country great.

"but my finance and I earned the right to wear the uniform that he
casually wears while working for you."

How do you know that this "young man" hasn't also earned the right to
wear it? I gather by your description of him as "young" that you're
assuming he's too young to have served in the military, either
currently or in the past. I wouldn't make a snap judgment like that
about someone I don't know anything about.

I don't think it's a big deal.

One of the great things about this country is we have freedom of
expression. He's exercising his freedom of expression by wearing what
he wants. It shouldn't be any of your concern. You don't know why he's
wearing it--when I was a teenager, I used to wear my uncle's army
jacket in remembrance of him.

My parents are both retired military and still work for the military
as citizens. They don't bat an eye at civilians wearing military
attire. They don't find it offensive--my mom jokingly says that she
fought against the Red Horde so people could wear what they wanted to,
even if it was military clothing.

I can understand your concerns, I honestly can, but isnt that like
telling me not to fly an American flag in my front yard because I may
be in danger? If I am then they can come blow me away because our men
and woman in the military have fought for our freedom and if I want to
wear camo to work I will!

What kind of business is this?

It seems kind of strange to me that someone could dress like that
while on the job.

If it bothers you so much, say something. Feel free of give the kid
the address to the VA clinic, who knows he might want to volunteer out
there or do something else to help.

Unless there are regs about non-military wearing surplus, then the kid
is doing nothing wrong and is in fact, reaping the benefits of your
service. Congrats, concrete evidence of your effect on the world. (I'm
just a bit snarky tonight.)

My preferred outfit is a long tunic and loose trousers that look
vaguely Arabic/Indian. It's comfortable, I make them myself and after
the first couple double takes, most people get on with their business
without a second thought.

My (Arabic) cousins think it's a hoot when I wear this outfit and my
brother - who was in Iraq - just rolls his eyes at me. When I worked
at the fabric store, a couple women said it was not right that I wear
'that sort of thing' and believe it or not, they actually said that
someone could 'mistake' me for an Arab. Yeah, not so much, unless the
person in question was blind in one eye and couldn't see out of the
other.

Like the kid in fatigues, I'm reaping the benefits of living in a
country and society where I can choose what to wear and as long as I'm
decent enough for public consumption, I can move around freely while
wearing it.

Another take on this... a young man in my building wears a variety
military fatigues much of the time. He also has serious mental health
issues, and sometimes is hospitalized for weeks or months at a time
(his parents own his unit). But he works part time at the armory
about a mile down the road. Perhaps this is my neighbor's way of
being a part of something he would very much like to be involved with
to a greater degree than circumstances allow. And perhaps the young
man being discussed in the letter has personal but important-to-him
reasons for wearing what he wears, and that he does so out of
admiration and respect and a desire to belong to something bigger than
himself.

Pardon me... but isn't one of the reasons your fiance and yourself put
on a uniform as a member of the military to protect the values and
ideals of the United States? Values and ideals like freedom of
expression and freedom of speech?

And yet you can tell someone that he doesn't have the right to wear
something?

Sheesh.

Signed,
A Proud Sister of a U.S. Army Captain

Apparently if you've witnessed him wearing military gear on more than
one occasion that means there is no dress code, his boss doesn't care
about the way he dresses or perhaps the boss minds but the young man
is such a good worker that the boss is willing to overlook it. Quite
honestly, I don't think you should care. If this young mans choice of
dress personally affects you then I suggest you get a hobby.
Seriously, this has to be one of the pettiest things I've read on
here. I don't know about anyone else but when I go shopping, all I
care about is that the store has what I need and that I get in and out
of there in a timely fashion. A happy and friendly cashier is a plus.
I don't care how they're dressed, and they could be dressed in a
gorilla costume for all I care as I'm not expecting a fashion show,
all I expect is for them to scan out my merchandise, take my money and
bag my merchandise so I can go on my merry way.

Sorry, but what he is wearing is none of your business. He is
entitled to wear whatever he wants, so long as its legal. Now, if he
had on MY work uniform, that would be a different story. But, there
is no law (that I know of) saying you cannot wear military attire if
your not in the Military.

Stephanie,
I see your concerns but must wonder aloud..what did the manager say
when you shared your observations?
BillR.

This is the problem with America anymore. Everyone is everyone's
business and everyone is offended by what people say or what people
where.. MYOB!!. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!! If his bosses don;t have a
problem with what he wears then who cares.. With everything else that
is going on in the world now-a-days, why would what someone wears to
work bother you so much. If you don;t like it...look the other way!!
He has a right to wear what he wants

Unless there is offensive writing on what he is wearing, you really
have no grounds to tell him what to wear. Apparently he is allowed to
wear this, so why are you making a big deal about. It just seems
there are far greater things to do than worry about what other people
wear.

Good Day

I too was Army, my husband Marines, my father in law Air Force, and 3
uncles and a nephew in the Navy.

Not once would I ever complain if I saw young men dressed (even in
obviously mis-matched) military uniforms. I would much rather see
this garb, than a marilyn manson shirt, or a "stop snitchin'" shirt,
over sized jeans down around his knee caps with his underpants hanging
out, and especially spandex pants of any kind, on anyone.

Moreover, I feel this young mans expression of patriotism is
REFRESHING considering how unpopular the current War in Iraq is, and
how unpatriotic some people have become.

I was with you, until you starting going off in various directions.

Your complaint, as I understand it, is that you have someone that
isn't an active member of the military wearing a military uniform.

I assume, but I may be wrong, that this is a military surplus item?

I've not served, but I can appreciate the fact that someone working in
a store should not wear a military uniform (unless it WAS a military,
camping, or other store where camo is commonly used). I would also
find that someone wearing a cheerleader outfit, a football jersey, or
a McDonalds uniform would be inappropriate.

The stuff about terrorism, I think, is a red herring to your basic
issue. You'd have been better to stick to a single argument: military
uniforms do not belong at a store like Hannaford.