On leave

No offense, but with that beard I'm thinking American soldier....not so much.

thats about a 5-8 day growth of a beard, so quite reasonable that he's on leave and letting it go. My good friend never shaves when off duty and every picture you see of him in civilian clothes is with a beard and he's a Major in the Army.

Nice shot, does bother me a bit to see the dress green jacket being worn like that though.

He's our of uniform!

"He's out of uniform"!!!!!!
With what our soldiers are being asked to endure, right now, and the lack of support from the government that is requiring it, I think that comment is offensive!
A great many of our returning vets are suffering PTSD and/or physical damage that will last a lifetime.
Many have had to come to grips with seeing friends blown apart in front of them.
Yet your only concern is he isn't spit and polish and making a good little ornament for your mistaken impression of American superiority in all things!

I apologize, as I know this is a photo forum, but, you sir, dishonored a soldier!

Haven't I seen this photo posted here in the past? I seem to recall a lengthy debate about it ... kind of like what is starting to happen now.

You Americans should learn to be a little less uptight and more tolerant of certain things. He has a beard and is wearing his clothes a certain way...so what he is serving his country and certainly does not need to take flak for such petty b.s.

geofan wrote:
Haven't I seen this photo posted here in the past? I seem to recall a lengthy debate about it ... kind of like what is starting to happen now.

Yes...it is the same soldier (dressed similarly...though I recall he was wearing a poppy...which had to be explained to some unaware of what it represents.. rather than a folded ribbon last time) and the same acrimonious remarks will likely result.

He is indeed out of full uniform right down to the symbolic poppy on his beret while visiting Canada and attending Remembrance Day ceremonies in honour of Canada's war dead.

Rick Joyce wrote:
He is indeed out of full uniform right down to the symbolic poppy on his beret while visiting Canada and attending Remembrance Day ceremonies in honour of Canada's war dead.

And is this photo from that same parade (photo op) that took place about a year ago...that is from the same set of shots you posted before?

My Suggestion: you may want to post a link to that earlier discussion so people here won't miss the background (backstory) and the explanations.

If he is a Major in the army, why is he wearing an enlisted man's jacket? I do like how the man and his girl stand out from the background.

BauerPower wrote:
If he is a Major in the army, why is he wearing an enlisted man's jacket? I do like how the man and his girl stand out from the background.

He is a Specialist (enlisted). On leave. Served in Iraq as I recall....but ALL of this has been discussed at length in the earlier post of this photo.

Steady Hand wrote:
BauerPower wrote:
If he is a Major in the army, why is he wearing an enlisted man's jacket? I do like how the man and his girl stand out from the background.

He is a Specialist (enlisted). On leave. Served in Iraq as I recall....but ALL of this has been discussed at length in the earlier post of this photo.

You have a very good memory, Steady. I did publish a similar photo of this soldier but without the girl. That was shortly after November 11, 2009 when I took it.

Rick Joyce wrote:
Steady Hand wrote:
BauerPower wrote:
If he is a Major in the army, why is he wearing an enlisted man's jacket? I do like how the man and his girl stand out from the background.

He is a Specialist (enlisted). On leave. Served in Iraq as I recall....but ALL of this has been discussed at length in the earlier post of this photo.

You have a very good memory, Steady. I did publish a similar photo of this soldier but without the girl. That was shortly after November 11, 2009 when I took it.




I remember it well because I caught a LOT of off forum flak from some members here for defending this soldier's right to wear his uniform parts and decorations AND the poppy too.

______________

I also started a separate topic at that time, one focused on an outstanding collection of Remembrance Day (same as the US Veterans Day) photos. Here is a link to that in the archives
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/835314

Unfortunately, as I recall, your original post of a photo showing this soldier (above) became a "locked" thread and possibly deleted from the forum because it became such a hot topic (acrimonious).

BauerPower wrote:
If he is a Major in the army, why is he wearing an enlisted man's jacket? I do like how the man and his girl stand out from the background.

+1

I know you can post a picture from any point in time, but I think most of us assume that it's recent work that's being posted. Just think that if you're re-posting a shot from 3 years ago, or another shot from that series that wasn't orginally posted, you should provide the link and some info so we don't waste time talking about things that have already been talked about.

As a former American soldier, I really have a hard time believing this was an active-duty soldier. We were taught to follow protocol to the letter, and that was especially true in how we dressed. To throw on a Class A uniform jacket over a white tanktop would be completely, absolutely against regulation even if you were on leave. If this was a civilian or a vet, then he can do what he wants with his uniform.

rodmcwha wrote:
"He's out of uniform"!!!!!!
With what our soldiers are being asked to endure, right now, and the lack of support from the government that is requiring it, I think that comment is offensive!
A great many of our returning vets are suffering PTSD and/or physical damage that will last a lifetime.
Many have had to come to grips with seeing friends blown apart in front of them.
Yet your only concern is he isn't spit and polish and making a good little ornament for your mistaken impression of American superiority in all things!

I apologize, as I know this is a photo forum, but, you sir, dishonored a soldier!

BS. If you are going to wear the uniform and serve, you had better wear it properly, especially around civilians. You are a representative of the service when you wear your uniform in public.

PTSD and battle injuries don't excuse not wearing the uniform properly.

friscoron wrote:

I know you can post a picture from any point in time, but I think most of us assume that it's recent work that's being posted. Just think that if you're re-posting a shot from 3 years ago, or another shot from that series that wasn't orginally posted, you should provide the link and some info so we don't waste time talking about things that have already been talked about.

As a former American soldier, I really have a hard time believing this was an active-duty soldier. We were taught to follow protocol to the letter, and that was especially true in how we dressed. To throw on a Class A uniform jacket over a white tanktop would be completely, absolutely against regulation even if you were on leave. If this was a civilian or a vet, then he can do what he wants with his uniform.

This man was very much an active duty soldier in the American army in Iraq at the time.. He was deployed to the Patriot missile operation.

Here he was in Canada on leave, off duty and relaxing. He was neither asked to wear full uniform nor to comply with American military dress protocol. He was appreciated because he bothered to show up for our Remembrance Day ceremonies despite not being Canadian.

Ron and Dave, couldn't have said it better myself. Civilians don't see this topic the same way active duty members do. I enjoy taking leave just like the next guy/gal, but when I do there's no way in hell I would be caught wearing my uniform in a manner that blatantly disregards protocol. Should this image get forwarded to his commanding officer, I guarantee he would be standing tall explaining WTF!

Here you guys go. A quick search of the word poppy and soldier from 2009 and here's the original thread, probably no need to duke it out again, eh?

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/835179/0