The Army has begun monitoring what soldiers are wearing at a base in Hawaii, cracking down on clothing that’s deemed too risqué and implementing strict controls on what even civilian visitors can don — a sort of fashion police mission.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser said the team of monitors is called the “Courtesy Patrol.” They’re trolling the Schofield Barracks on Oahu, looking for short shorts, bare midriffs, underwear that peaks above waistbands, saggy pants and swimwear that’s worn outside of the swimming pool area, The Associated Press reported.
The two-person teams have another mission, too: Search out the likes of uniformed soldiers who break military protocol by talking on cellphones while walking, AP said.
The Army calls the monitoring missions necessary. Military officials say soldiers are just getting out-of-hand with their appearance — and as such, the crackdown has been extended to include even off-duty clothing that’s perceived as “revealing, offensive and unkempt,” AP said.
And what happens to violators?
Courtesy Patrol teams can “verbally detain” soldiers, but not civilians.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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