Then, on top of that, Lt. Col. James Cutting had the NCO "warned" against being a good American soldier?  I mean part of what makes US soldiers so great is resolve, discipline and independent thought.  These are not mutually exclusive traits.  History has taught us that American soldiers can think for themselves on their feet and then to send a warning over "failure to follow the chain of command".  Over his combat patch!

I really do believe in uniformity but everything must rest within the constraints of the regulations.

Where is the warning for enforcing an order against regulations?  No of course.  It is always an issue of enlisted personnel doing wrong.  Rarely do we see Officers being held to a similar standard. 

That's my rant.  Thanks.

A five jump chump ready to go.

Awesome...

#1) I have worked with far too many officers than will sacrifice anyone or anything for their next OER.  The ring knocker club is especially that way.  I am surprised more of these officers that focus on chickenshit items like this are not fragged on the shitter.

#2)  For every officer like I mentioned in #1 that I met, I have met *10* CSMs that are as bad or worse.  They don't give a flying eff about Joe, they go through the motions and bust on camp cleanliness and uniforms.  I swear to the Almighty, there is an entire line Company of CSM/SGM's flown into Victory once a quarter to ensure no Soldier is allowed anywhere near a weapon, and everyone on the planet is wearing their reflective belt to ensure the maximum effectiveness of the enemy to hit our Soldiers.

#3)  I understand that we are proud of what we have accomplished.  Each and every one of us were in the "last hard deployment".  We suffer through things average humans don't, so we have pride in that (as we should).  My current unit farms out manpower to support everybody in the army - so my guys come back with a true melting pot of SSI's- and some have 4.  I only have 1, and my 1000 deployed days with SF will keep it firmly on my shoulder. 

However, I can see line unit commanders wanting the look of one team/one fight.  In garrison, maybe something else, but would you argue with me here that you are doing your own thing when the bullets are flying, or are you fighting as a team?  Are we in this together - then let us look the same.  It can even go OPSEC if you have an FO/PJ/CCT/Corpsman/PSYOP/Intel guy attached to you.  Don't want to give the enemy a chance to carve an INDIVIDUAL out of the herd.

I say this for argument sake.  I think anyone who earned an SSI deserves the right to wear it, and some splash command uniform policy is not the way to execute.

But I see some wisdom in uniformity.