Standing Tall and Looking Good

As an active duty Army major and a professed lover of “Army Wives,” I consider the show to be a civilian-friendly version of some of the events that might happen in “everyday” Army life. (Life that might happen in situations with gross generalizations and high-drama one-hour solutions…yet totally addictive!) However, I must take a moment to address an ever-present issue that continues to surface each season: Col. Joan Burton has worn pearl studs with her Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in several previous episodes and did so again in the May 6 “Fallout” episode! Yes, this really happened in television life even though Army Regulation 670-1 prohibits women from wearing earrings with the ACU. (And even though I still quietly pray for the glorious day when the Army finally allows females to wear studs with our ACU…So far 13 years in and still a no-go. I’ll keep hope alive. I digress…)

Section 1-14 of Chapter 1 in AR 670-1 specifically states, “Females are not authorized to wear earrings with any class C (utility) uniform (BDU, hospital duty, food service, physical fitness, field, or organizational).” http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf

Col. Burton is an awesome character. She is a very positive representative of a soldier, not to mention a wonderful example of a female servicemember and a woman of color. She does what’s right, is awesome in the workplace, and works well with managing/balancing her family life as well. These are all great things for servicemembers (regardless of rank or cultural background) to emulate…but her on-camera uniform should reflect reality – as is the case with the male characters on the show. Producers and/or costume designers should respect the uniform for which so many are honored to and privileged to wear.

So rewind: What if real life could imitate art? Why is it that the Army is the only U.S. military service that doesn’t allow its females to wear earrings? The Air Force, Navy and even the Marines (yes, I said “even”) allow females to wear earrings with their service uniform. What’s with the Army…especially in a garrison environment?

Several of my male Army comrades have noted that Air Force and Navy females overall present themselves in a much more polished and ladylike manner than in Army females. Sadly, I too have noticed this time and time again (apart from myself and a few other Army females). Apart from the misfortune surrounding stud earrings, women in the Army can often appear…rough. As did Mama Morton and Velma E. in Chicago, dare I ask, “What ever happened to class?”

It’s great to be able to sharp and physically fit, but doesn’t appearance also play a role in the overall package when “standing tall and looking good?” So ladies, we’ve gotta carry ourselves with professionalism, with a little class, and with pride regardless of military service or career field. As we walk through the tough world we call life, let’s put a little pep our step and some umph in our stride. Keeping in mind that there is indeed someone looking up to you as their example of how a professional woman should appear, represent well – regardless of whether you’re wearing combat boots, Louboutin heels, or anything in between.