Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
The idea that soldiers wear every item of their dress according to regulation is a commonly-heard misconception.
Not by those of us who have served in the military. I'm sure that when you were in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard you knew exactly where every element of dress was supposed to go- from how your cap fit to how close to your shoes the cuffs of your trousers were supposed to be. That's why it's called a uniform, and it's nonsense to suggest otherwise.

Civilian attire is not as regulated or prescribed, and therefor they have far greater latitude in how they dress.

Now one can parse the issue of uniform dress regulations all they want, but it doesn't alter the fact that there are uniform regulations, and all soldiers are required (not merely expected) to adhere to those regulations. That some soldiers to a better job of it than others is obvious and beyond on-going discussion.

I am continually amazed at the amount of "justification" sought from photographs, as though a snapshot of a few individuals is proof that no regulations existed.