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[pc_alchemist]

I am wondering about peoples general thoughts about cosplayers wearing uniforms for cosplay. Do you find it disrespectful? What do you think is the proper conduct if a cosplayer decides to wear a uniform?

I am wondering because I have just recently bought a used Army Green Service Uniform from my local thrift store. I am thinking about using it for my America cosplay. I know that this uniform has stopped being issued in 2010 and will be withdrawn after 2014. The new Blue Army Service Uniform is now being issued. So it is technically out of date but is still currently in use.

I can understand how wearing a uniform when you have not EARNED that uniform can be very disrespectful. But I do want to wear this uniform very badly, so I want to make it more of a tribute to soldiers. I plan on putting a "I Wasn't There but I Still Care POW/MIA" Patch on it and other remembrance and general patriotic patches instead of Infantry and Division patches. The other thing I am concerned about it a ribbon bar. I just want to put a small one, do you think that is okay? I am going to make sure that I wear my uniform correctly as well as respect my country and the men/women that have wore/are wearing this uniform by not acting like a fool in it. I also won't be wearing it outside the convention center.

So do you think that this is okay? I really want minimum offending while still being able to wear this awesome uniform. I have seen other cosplayers wearing uniforms and I know sometimes it gets a little too much (like full blown SS Uniform).

[kuroki-neko]

Well I have seen some of the costumes from this series up close in dealer’s halls and they just don't look or feel right. While wearing something close to the real world thing in the series might be nice people might have problems identifying who you’re cosplaying as.

The thing is as long as you remove all the patches that pertain to any earned rank you should be fine. There is real looking patches from certain series and while to those who would get offended by someone wearing a uniform that displays a rank; you just can say it’s a fake patch from a TV show. Plus if they get a good look at it they should see it’s not a real patch from the armed forces.

[Moonsong]

There's always some people who are going to get offended at every little thing, but I believe as long as you take the precautions mentioned in both your post and Kuroki's post, you should be fine. I do agree that you might be a little hard to recognize as America, though, since I don't recall him ever wearing anything resembling that uniform.

Just don't conduct yourself in any manner which could be perceived as disrespectful to our troops (though I'm sure you know that.) If you want to take fan-servicey make out photos with anyone, I highly suggest picking a different costume to do that in.

[Mangochutney]

You...don't need to bow and scrape like that just because you're wearing uniform parts. Relax a little. Military surplus has been a perfectly straightforward part of everyday fashion for a fair while now.

Yes, some people have done stupid things like wearing SS uniforms for cosplay. That's stupid not because it's a uniform, but because it's a goddamn SS uniform. What you want to do is not even vaguely the same thing. You don't need to apologize to everyone or to genuflect to "the troops" in order to wear standard-issue grunt slops.

Regarding the ribbon bar: might as well. Wearing medals you haven't earned is a separate issue, but when any schmuck can become a sergeant-major just by visiting the thrift store, wearing rank insignia seems like a pretty minor deal in comparison.

[Riichan]

I'd say that so long as you get rid of any real rank or name patches on it you're fine.

Also, you may not want to wear it to any conventions in army bases, if there are any in your area. People who don't know that it's an anime and you're representing a character may take offense at how you act while in uniform, or if there are high-ranking officials from other countries they may get offended if you are wearing their countries' uniform and act disrespectful.

But mainly, I'd just say use common sense and try not to be offensive. Real military uniforms are present in fashion all the time, so there should be no problem.

[mokulen22]

Get rid of any real rank/name patches and act in a civil and mature manner while in costume and I think you're fine.

Remember that people outside the con don't know you're in costume so they could mistake you for an actual solider; so, always be aware of your actions.