When the lawyer first meets the accused he is wearing what appears to be a US Marine uniform but in the courtroom he is wearing a Navy uniform.Why?Was it a mistake?Are Marine officers obliged to wear a Navy uniform during a court martial?
shareYeah I wondered that too.
Remember Rabbit Ears with tin foil?
Greenwald is a USNR pilot. In scenes prior to the court martial he is wearing "Aviation Greens."
http://www.navalhistory.org/2010/04/08/on-this-date-in-naval-aviation-history-aviation-greens-make-a-comeback
I don't know if there's a regulation that states only blues or whites are allowed in court.
Interesting,thanks for the information.
shareTo comment on your post, as a navy veteran I can tell you that
dress blues are authorized for wear by both officers and
enlisted personnel year round at all commands both in the
USA and overseas. So yes navy jag officers would wear service
dress blues and never whites in a military courtroom. However
USMC jags would wear service dress green just like the
character of Capt. Ross played by Kevin Bacon in "A Few Good
Men" wore in the movie.
Lorenzo Sunny Florida
Call me a sailor or a swabby just don't call me a squid!
All year round?So even at summer they would have to wear their winter uniform?
shareGood question and to clarify my earlier point, US Navy regs. state
that JAG lawyers must wear dress blue uniforms while in a military
courtroom during a trial in session. Though while outdoors and
inside of an office they are free to wear either whites or khakis.
And keep in mind that the uniform of the day is up to the discretion
of each command's commanding officer. Of course officers can
and often wear khakis while performing office duties and while
walking or being inside of a motor vehicle both on and off of
their base. If you've seen "A Few Good Men" then you'll remember
that Lt. JG Kaffee and Lt. Cmdr. Galloway wore both khakis and
dress whites in the movie. Though they wore dress blues inside
of the courtroom. Chief petty officers of pay grades E-7 thru
E-9 also wear khakis, whites & dress blues. And E-6 and below wear
either dress blues, whites or the standard enlisted uniform
which consists of a short sleeve khaki shirt with black slacks
and black dress shoes. The new navy working uniform (NWU) is
authorized for all ranks to wear aboard ships, submarines and
on base. And black leather boots are the normal footwear to
go with the nwu. I hope that this post has answered your
question!
Lorenzo Sunny Florida
Call me a sailor or a swabby just don't call me a squid!
The poster "gvb0907" is correct.
When Greenwald first shows up onsceen, he is indeed wearing "Aviation Greens," an alternate dress uniform for Naval Aviators (pilots) which is similar in it's look and color to that of Marine Corps uniforms.
Yes I do remember Lt. Greenwald wearing such a uniform which was
worn by naval aviators in the 50's & 60's though was phased
out by the 70's in favor of the traditional dress blue uniform
for all naval officers.
Lorenzo Sunny California
Call me a sailor or a swabby just don't call me a squid!
Just a further comment - one of the previous posters was asking about blues in the summer. The dress blues is always an option (although not always logical such as working onboard a ship). For example, whites never seemed appropriate for funerals, so I would choose blues out of respect; especially before enlisted females actually had a dress white uniform and simply wore the working whites with skirt.
Considering what I was taught to call Marines, I never minded 'squid'. Didn't like "Navy chick' though.
Very cool post boxerrebellion, back in early 2001 I attended the funeral
for a friend who was a former Marine and he was buried with full
honors including a local USMC honor guard who wore full dress blues
for the funeral. My friend was a sergeant who died young at 38.
Lawrence Sunny California
Call me a sailor or a swabby just don't call me a squid!
At a court martial In the Royal Navy, dress is ceremonial. For male officers this means blue jacket and trousers (white in tropical rig) with sword, gloves and medals. The same applies to funerals.
shareI served in the US Navy and really know nothing of the british royal
navy. So while in the courtroom male officers are required to wear
swords, gloves and medals? Wow did not know that the Royal Navy is
so formal and would not have guessed so if not for your post!
American naval officers do not carry swords nor wear gloves and
medals while in a courtroom for either a court martial or trying
any navy or marine corps related criminal case. Although Marine
officers do wear gloves with medals and carry sabers for funerals,
parades and award or promotion ceremonies. Thank you for your post.
Lorenzo Sunny Arizona
Call me a sailor or a swabby just don't call me a squid!
It's interesting that in every stage production of "Caine Mutiny Court Martial", the character of Greenwald wears the "aviation green" uniform throughout the entire trial and during the court proceedings, which evidently would not happen in real life and I surmise is why in the film technical accuracy mandated Ferrer not wearing it in those scenes.
shareGreenwald's uniform was the Naval Aviation working uniform, not a Marine uniform.
"It's a hard country, kid."