My battle buddy from OIF 06-08 passed away this week from a service related medical condition. He was medically retired a few years back. We were a two man team that worked and traveled together for our entire deployment.

I REFRADed In 2013, and have no official connection anymore, be it reserve, IRR or other. Would it be wrong to wear dress blues to the service? Just wear a suit. He requested nobody wear black to his memorial, so that makes harder as I cannot wear my funeral suit. I'll be with other military friends who will primarily be in uniform.

Read the "Army Veterans" para near the bottom of this: Uniforms

God bless.......

Did you retire or just REFRAD? If you're not retired, you're not authorized to wear it

quote:

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Did you retire or just REFRAD? If you're not retired, you're not authorized to wear it

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From reading the link posted above and checking AR 670-1 both say the same info. If you were honorably discharged during a declared or undeclared war you MAY wear your dress uniform to certain events (military wedding or funeral, inaugurations, parades etc.. and wear uniform to and from said events). Uniform must be correctly and you obviously should wear only awards you've earned.

Also one of my buddies who I served with during two deployments to Iraq passes early in 2015. While I couldn't attend the funeral in NY, plenty of our friends did including our former PL who separated and wore his ASUs. Pretty sure he is no longer associated with the Army any longer.

I wore the uniform, performed duties as a pall bearer, and was actually tasked to present Amanda with the flag. That was hard. I was hesitant about the last part, but Chris' best friend said he couldn't so it was me or the California NG E-7, and I thought it would be best if I did it.

Please make sure your sgli/vgli is handled correctly. This is going to be much harder on his family than it should.

Well done.