Bravo Indeed
Friday, March 7th, 2008
Quote of the Day: “A sympathetic Scot summed it all up very neatly in the remark, ‘You should make a point of trying every experience once, excepting incest and folk dancing.’”
- Sir Arnold Bax
Today marks a milestone.
Today, when I removed my United Sates Marine Corps Service “B” uniform, it was the last time that particular version of our legendary uniform set would be on my body.
What am I talking about?
Monday we will change seasonal uniforms. That means that we will go from sleeves down on the green utility uniform to sleeves up on the desert pattern utility uniforms.
It also means that we will go from wearing the Service “B” on Thursdays and Fridays of graduation weeks to wearing the Service “C.”
The next seasonal change, I will be in Saudi Arabia and I highly doubt I will be wearing bravos over there.
By the time I get back, it will be summer again and IF I have occasion to wear the Service uniform before I retire, it will be charlies again.
So, I repeat, today was the last day in my 20+ year career that I will don the Service Bravo uniform.
I was very aware of this as I stood in front of the mirror at about 5:30 PM, the last one in the building other than the duty. I looked in the mirror and my eyes roamed over the ribbons. Over the Windsor knot in the tie. Over the name tag that reads “Grose.” Over the shiny tie clip. Over the two golden oak leaves on the collar. Over the tip of the tie that fell right in the middle of the belt buckle that was aligned with the fly of my trousers.
As I took off that uniform and disassembled it, I thought about all the times I had worn that uniform from bootcamp to now. The duties I’ve stood. The inspections I’ve stood and performed.
The fact that I could not now even slid my arms into the original sleeves from 1987.
When I got everything off that uniform, there was a mound of items on the table. Oak leaves, clips for the rank, ribbons, and name tag. Cut pieces of web belt for backing of the ribbons and name tag so they don’t sag. A piece of duct tape to prevent the back-clips from popping off. The metal collar stays to keep the collar edges straight and stiff. A rack of ribbons. The name tag. The tie clasp.
And in the end, there it was. The shirt itself. Laying on the couch, just a small heap of khaki material with a lot of holes in it and just a hint of sweat around the collar.
I tried to take it to the cleaners but they were closed.
On the way home, the thought hit me…
“Why are you going to take a shirt you know you will never wear again to the cleaners?”
I didn’t really think about it until that moment. It never occurred to me NOT to have it cleaned.
And on further thought, I came up with the answer.
Of course I’m going to clean it before I put it away for the last time. Call it respect or whatever but it will not finish its duty as a dirty, khaki heap somewhere in the back of my closet. It will be hung with care and appreciation as the Cloth of the Nation by a grateful man proud I was allowed to wear it with pride for over two decades.
Free Advice for Today: “When a good man or woman runs for political office, support him or her with your time and money.”
- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
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wow. that must be really weird, im not quite up to date since i just started reading your blog – where are you working a recruit depot? I know i will be thinking something similar when i take off my clothes at MCRD San Diego in 27 days, i know i will not fit my clothes when i come back and i have been whering the same size pants and same kind of pants since i was 13, while i realize its not quite the same i cant help but feel it will be a strange feeling similar to yours – only i will probably have a drill instructor yelling at me.
Ethan
Comment by Ethan Hutchman — March 9, 2008 @ 9:47 pm
Man, this one choked me up, Jason. Many emotions to come for you yet. Semper Fideis, Marine. Thanks from a grateful citizen are never enough for the hardships but, Thanks.
Comment by Jim Burke — March 10, 2008 @ 4:39 am
Don’t you have a half-dozen of those shirts anyway? I still can’t get over how different you and Brian are though both Marines. Brian would probably take the shirt off at work, stuff it into his gym bag, spill a chocolate protein drink on it, then leave it in the back of his truck to fester there until I came along a month later and dumped the bag in the trash.
And the sleeves up desert cammies (though I like to call them “dessert” cammies) are hot! Something about the sleeves up I guess. Just really makes a Marine look badass. This is the most celebrated day in my book. I can’t wait to go to the commissary!
Comment by Killjoy — March 10, 2008 @ 6:19 am
Where is your Husky mug? <>
Comment by ~Jeanie~ — March 11, 2008 @ 5:43 am
Jason, Good to see you back in the saddle!
Comment by Dan — March 11, 2008 @ 8:59 am
Ethan, you probably wouldn’t come across from me. The Depot is basically split in two with the Bootcamp side on one side and the permanent Headquarters and Service folks on the other. But there are not many Majors so if you see one that looks like me, well, I wouldn’t say anything because I’d just turn you over to the nearest DI.
Comment by Jason — March 13, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
Thanks Jim, glad you liked this one.
Comment by Jason — March 13, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
Someone get Killjoy a tissue. Or a blanket!
Comment by Jason — March 13, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
Jeanie, I have 3 main mugs now. The red one you see above, a blue one just like it, and yes, the Husky mug is still in active service.
Comment by Jason — March 13, 2008 @ 7:34 pm
Hi, Jason! This is an absolutely beautiful post. We are certainly proud to have people like you wearing those uniforms!
Comment by Tish — March 13, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
I felt bad about hitting you with the bad news about Gargoyles, so here are my concessions. First off, I realized today there is a “PAncho Villas” and a “POncho Villas”. I’ve not been to the latter, and I recommend you avoid the former.
Gargoyles is closed, and the sign gave directions to their new location but I was unsuccessful in finding it. Somewhere in the redneck part of Stafford, a few miles south of their other location.
Comment by Lt Schroeder — March 14, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
Jason, I’ve got a little surprise for you. Check it out.
http://blogsweluv.com/2008/03/15/how-did-i-get-here-a-blog-we-luv/
Comment by Tish — March 15, 2008 @ 4:58 am
Tish, thank you for the great comment and glad you liked this post. Turned out pretty good which makes me happy since I wanted to do it justice. Now I need to catch up on the past WEEK!
Comment by Jason — March 15, 2008 @ 9:59 am
Lt,
Ok, you get points for redeeming the PV comment but those are instantly negated by making the mistake in the first place. Welcome to Officer logic.
And the “redneck part of Stafford”? That narrows it down. It’s like saying the liberal part of Berkley.
Comment by Jason — March 15, 2008 @ 10:13 am
Tish, I don’t know what to say. What I CAN say is that I have never received such a flattering and in-depth write-up on my blog…EVER! I’m speechless and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Wow, sometimes I write what I think is gold and I get no response and then other times I scribble off something without much thought and it gets the biggest reaction.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was very kind of you.
Comment by Jason — March 15, 2008 @ 10:17 am
Jason, you’re very welcome! I’m glad you liked it.
Comment by Tish — March 15, 2008 @ 2:03 pm
Gah!
…want to be… sgt… again…
*collapses into pile of 5-paragraph orders and half-filled canteens*
Comment by Lt Schroeder — March 15, 2008 @ 4:54 pm