Comments on: 7 Lessons on Appearance Learned in the Marine Corps

By: Will

Will — Wed, 22 May 2013 02:28:14 +0000

Just to chime in,
Aesthetics has always been a very subjective area. One that I still struggle with to this day. Also, the current culture doesn’t help. That is, “under-dressing is cool, over-dressing is stiff, boastful, etc.”. Some older people used to tell me that they would never go to a nightclub (in Montreal) in the 60s or 70s without a shirt, tie, and jacket. Now, wearing anything but jeans and a T-shirt is “over-dressing”. You go to nice restaurants, and people are ultra casual. Even in churches, you see women in skin tight, low-neck outfits, full makeup (suitable for clubbing) whereas in the 50s and 60s, no woman entered a church without wearing a hat and her Sunday best. T-shirts used to be considered underwear. Really. No matter what your job, you always wore a shirt with a collar. Now, everyone has met in the middle where casual is it. It’s even gone further than that. I know engineering contractors who purposefully drive crappy cars not worth over $1000 just so people won’t think they have any money. Maybe it’s the “tall poppy” syndrome.

Oh, and about the military debate, my opinion is the military is a powerful tool, used for good or bad purposes, depending on the government. You can find examples of both throughout history.

I like sharp-dressed people, but I don’t think it gets the respect it once did. Everyone is mainly concerned with entertaining themselves, let alone care about their own appearance.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sat, 11 May 2013 20:27:33 +0000

There is a high correlation between a rookie police officer having minor discrepancies with his uniform and being implicated in a corruption scandal ten years later.

By: Brown

Brown — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:20:11 +0000

Semper Fi, Devil Dog.

By: Derek

Derek — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:54:00 +0000

I’m a teacher and I dress for the job (i.e. shirt and tie or suit). I find that small people who are stuck wearing khakis and a polo daily appreciate a grown-up who takes time to work on his appearance and look professional. It’s about mutual respect.

By: Doug P

Doug P — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:53:36 +0000

Well said Devil Dog.
The lessons learned in the USMC DO pay off in the civilian world. I give my personal work wardrobe (suit and tie every day) 1/2 the attention I gave my Dress Blues while I was in. It still set me apart from my contemporaries and well before I broke into management, I looked better than most VP’s of my company. It’s not just the clothes either. It’s the way one carries himself. Walking with confidence, standing up straight, looking coworkers in the eye, being polite but not a doormat, the list goes on.

Semper Fi Brother

By: Rupa

Rupa — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 08:43:59 +0000

Hi, wonderful article…..just what is that White thing worn on boots by the indian army soldiers? thanks

By: J.J. Vicars

J.J. Vicars — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:39:16 +0000

Sometimes I think Antonio is a fellow musician. #6 is very important and too often overlooked. Time and time again I’ve had to remind musicians I hired for a gig that everything they do at the gig, not just on stage performing, reflects on the group as a whole and me as a bandleader. Dress sharp and act professional if you want more gigs. Otherwise don’t give up your day job.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 05:13:23 +0000

As an Officer in the Army now I agree with your article full heartedly. I grew up with a Marine 1st SGT as a father and he instilled all of these into me. As an Officer I always have my uniforms spotless and have back ups ready if something would happen. I have learned to always be prepared for what every happens and spend the time to ensure you are ready for the worst but dressed for the best. I did spend 6 years in the Navy enlisted prior to my time as an Officer in the Army, but that time only pushed the ideals my father gave me in deeper. I try to tell my soldiers in my command that they should be able to present an inspection ready uniform at any time. I also tell them to dress presentable in public but can’t truly enforce that. I just want to say again this was a great article.

By: suchitra

suchitra — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 01:53:39 +0000

All of us throughout our lives, play a role. that of child, daughter, student, woman, man, father, employee, boss and so on.
Each role has a defined role, a set of codes and we all conform to those. This is taught to us as our culture or beliefs or even values. So grooming is actually about having imbibed these role play rules well. grooming applies to the clothes you wear, the way you speak, your reactions to what happens around you, and similar things.
Some of these rules apply to all roles, like cleanliness, neatness, modesty, sincerity, etc. Other rules- there is a scope to express ones individuality, like the clothes, accessories, make up you wear;but, within the ambit of some dos and don’ts.
We know for example that at a funeral, one wears black or white-depending on ones culture. We talk softly, don’t laugh loudly and our expression mirrors the grief one is expected to feel…Á tangible evidence of for others to see and comprehend.
At work, too we must give tangible evidence of being well groomed. This signifies many things, that we were taught all the rules, we learnt them, we exercise those codes, while keeping our unique style and individuality. We conform and play the role.
If you are the boss, you set the dress code; you try to look successful, you try to be nurturing, and display your control by asserting yourself. Your clothes, and your demeanor express the role boss.
As a doctor, one must have a high standard of personal hygiene and cleanliness, One must dress well; tangible evidence of success-, speak well, be efficient and make the patient feel well from the moment he meet you. Of course your actions will give cues as to your knowledge, skill etc.
If you don’t play the role, you confuse the others, they need to sift through the wrong cues they are getting to understand what you are actually all about. These wrong cues, obstruct you at every step, as a student, employee employer, man or woman.
So grooming to my mind, are the external cues of what you are and what you want people to think you are

By: John M.

John M. — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:16:57 +0000

Also on #5, don’t be the guy looking down the barrel of your own rifle….ever!