Why uniforms then? Unless I missed it on my quick skim through the above arguments, no one has touched on one of the primary reasons the academies wear uniforms. First of all, when you are in uniform, you are identifiable. The world looks at you and says, “he/she’s a Cadet, I expect more from them.”

And you deliver. Putting on the uniform means you cannot hide behind anonymity. The blazer, as silly as it may seem, comes with a lot of expectation and responsibility. And believe me, people behave a lot differently in uniform than out- because they are literally wearing the pride of their beloved institution, and wouldn’t dare behave in such a way as to disgrace it.

I agree that militaristic uniforms may restrict to a degree the nature of the academy as an institution that promotes innovative thought and solutions. However, as has been pointed out, you have to build a sense of cause greater than oneself and remove the outward symbols of socio-economic status and any type of pre-judging associated with allowing people the freedom to dress as they please.

If the tuition is to be paid for by the government, students should expect to be required to wear a uniform, just as they would at a job. A comfortable, yet practical uniform is probably expected to be worn by most people who would apply to the academy.

I have seen public secondary schools implement uniform policies that give students the choice of which uniforms to wear and that leads to a sense of disharmony. On any given day, you would see students with mismatched shirts or pants that while technically adhering to the uniform policy, didn’t create a uniform appearance for the student body on the day in questions. You would have to have everyone in the same uniform at the same time much like the service academies, or you run the risk of people pushing the envelope on uniform requirements.

I think ties for men are a thing of the past. In business, many regions in the country wear ties only for formal occasions. Look at Bill Gates and the leadership of for-profit corporations. Bill is often seen in a crisp button down collar shirt, cashmere v-neck and nice slacks. A tie is uncomfortable and constricts blood flow (or at least it feels like it if you’re sitting in a classroom). Like public schools, the tie is prone to being loosely knotted or all matter of varied ways. Take the tie for men out of the daily uniform requirements and reserve it only for formal occasions.

The other factor with the tie and/or business dress is that in many of the areas the graduates will be serving the public service, the style of business dress can raise barriers between them and the very public they are trying to help. Additionally, slacks and a dress shirt may not be very practical in helping build houses or tend to the sick or elderly. Maybe some form of stylized medical “scrub” or similar unique uniform, short white lab coat, or something similar might work, along with published standards on how they should be worn.

There should also be some thought given to grooming standards. While military haircuts aren’t necessarily suggested or desired, personal grooming is also open to variants in socio-economic class and pre-judging. Right or wrong, people make their first impression when meeting a new person during the first 15 seconds of their encounter. A person with long, matted hair and untrimmed facial hair may overshadow the actual talent of the individual at least in the eyes of those people they may be trying to assist.

Lastly, think of a uniform as trying to establish a “brand” image for the U.S. Public Service Academy. If there were a set of uniforms required at the Academy AND during the 5 years of public service following graduation, this would help stimulate recognition of the Academy.

Many things to think about, but this is probably one of the first questions prospective candidates will ask when considering the academy.