uniform error


During Grey's wedding scene in the season finale, they had Mack wearing the rank of a Sgt. First Class. Isn't he a Master Sgt.? (3 rockers instead of the two they had on his uniform).

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It's not a uniform error, however it is illegal to reproduce an exact replicant of a uniform, some changes must be added for tv/movies

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No, it is not illegal to reproduce an exact replicant of a uniform for a theatrical production. The law which forbids individuals from impersonating or wearing uniforms specifically excluded theatrical works. No changes need to be made for performances when it is obvious that the person is playing a character.

This is a very common belief but it is incorrect.

Cheers.

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Yes it is, I believe HUSKERS (user) on here who was in the military explained this ages ago. I'll try to find his post


although I cannot find the exact post, (board has been purged) more info can be found here.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090106154006AAHl8bM

Also, I'm in the military, so I know somewhat of the rules and regulations.

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The answer on Yahoo that you link to specifically states that it doesn't apply to theatrical performances.

Theatrical wear is OK. It is not in this piece of legislation but is an exception. The person is supposed to wear the uniform as if they were "in". NO GLITCHES. The actor is supposed to meet the grooming and weight standards. They can use real unit patches, they can use historiclly correct uniforms.

THEY CANNOT use the uniform to mock the Armed Forces or to bring discredit to the branch the uniform is portraying.


But I will go you one better, here is a link to the actual statue involved and the applicable quote showing that it is NOT illegal to wear a military uniform in a theatrical production.

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C45.txt

10 USC Sec. 772

(f) While portraying a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or
Marine Corps, an actor in a theatrical or motion-picture production
may wear the uniform of that armed force if the portrayal does not
tend to discredit that armed force.

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the date is back from 2008, not 2009

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I don't understand your reply. The date of what?

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It doesn't matter. Either way. If he was wearing a Sergeant First class rank he is still wearing an accurate uniform. But no, if you are ACTING it is an urban myth about the uniforms mandatorily having a uniform error somewhere. I played Barney Greenwald in the Caine Mutiny Court Martial, in a College theatre group production, where the audience paid tickets to see, and our uniforms were directly accurate according to histoical photos and placement and precedence of ribbons.. Plus movies like Top Gun and Courage Under fire, the uniforms are 100 percent accurate. So it's a myth.

I don't think the costume people for the unit get creative, or have much of a budget. They are supposed to depict the 1st SFOD-D, who wear Ranger tan Berets or green berets, and the red and black usasoc path on their left sleeve. The unit characters wear none of this. But since 1st SFOD-D disowned Eric Haney for publishing a book about them, ( Inside Delta Force) I guess they have to be ambiguous in their uniforms.

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It’s a common misconception that the law requires actors portraying military personnel to wear the uniform improperly so as to not be "impersonating" military personnel. This is simply not so ... 10 U.S.C. 772(f) does authorize the wear of an armed forces uniform by an actor in a theatrical or motion picture production "if that portrayal does not tend to discredit that armed force." SCHACHT v. UNITED STATES, a Supreme Court case in 1970 found the preceding quote to be unconstitutional. As such, actors may wear the uniform in a theatrical or motion picture production without fear that it must reflect well on the military ... so that means any movies or TV shows which depict improperly worn uniforms simply screwed up!

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like most thing on the show, they got it wrong

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If that were true wearing SFC rank would be as illegal as wearing MSG rank.

It was an error. Mack has been a Master Sergeant (E-8) the entire show.

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Wasn't Mack busted a stripe following domestic abuse charges with Tiff? Time for me to go pick up some DVDs, I know.

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I know I'm late responding (about a year) but it doesn't matter. Because if the Unit is truly modeled after Delta, they would not wear distinguishing markings on their uniforms in the first place, let alone actual rank.

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Hooyah, good answer and completely accurate.

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No, not completely accurate. SFOD (SFOD-D, CAG, whatever you want to call a unit with no public name) members are still in the US Army and have uniforms. They would not wear an SFOD patch on (either) shoulder but they do wear uniforms and unless part of an operation would not wear anything to which they are not entitled (ranks, badges, etc). Pure Hollywood fiction to think otherwise.

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TJMAC IMDB you never served in the military, you are a moron. Now stay off the Message Boards. Or go sit on a land mine or something.

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You guys need to ease up a little.

It is public knowledge that members of Delta may not wear name tags, badges or ribbons that would give away their identities. However take a look at the uniforms they wear in The Unit. Jonas wears is Special Forces and Ranger tabs, as well as his Distinguished Service Cross ribbon along with his name tag. Mac wears his Silver Star ribbon, his name tag, Ranger DUI... and you think he'd intentionally fudge his chevrons to try and mask his identity? Yea... probably not.

BTW, Mac's uniform has been of the correct rank insignia in other episodes. Go back and watch the end of season 2, when the Unit members are being interviewed by the general in Col. Ryan's office. Look at the uniforms in the episode when they have Williams' funeral. How they portray the dress uniforms on The Unit has little, if any resemblance, to how Delta is said to wear their uniforms.

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No explanation needed, I know you are right. I just give Tjmac a hard time because he has personally pissed all over my page. He is really disrespectful toward US Veterans who are Actors, such as myself.

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One only needs to look at the most recent confirmed Delta member who was killed in action. MSG Josh Wheeler. In his unit portrait his uniform is not sanitized in any way. His rank is correct, his ribbons are correct, his badges are correct including the ASOC id badge, his ASOC unit crests and he even wears a name tag with his real name. ASOC unit crests with an ASOC id badge is always a dead give away for a JSOC Soldier. Non JSOC soldiers in ASOC don't wear ASOC id badges.

Delta do in fact wear correct uniforms when and where appropriate.

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There are many errors with the uniforms throughout the seasons. I believe this is for legal reasons. If any of these guys were to wear a proper uniform, with medals/decorations they had no been authorized by the government to wear, they'd be in violation of the stolen valor act. From what I understand there is a loophole in the law that states if you wear it incorrectly then it's not a crime, or something to that effect. This is why you'll see constant mistakes in US military uniforms when the show/movie is filmed in the US. This is just what I was told, not sure how accurate it is.

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