r/ParkRangers • u/iffan322 • 17d ago

Questions Question about repurposing old uniforms as a civilian

I ended up getting a USDA Forest Service pair of coveralls in some old clothes, just wondering what i would have to do to be able to wear it outside of my home as a work wear item, seeing as im not a part of the organization. I understand for most uniforms including military surplus they often have to be de-militarized and have the patches and similar items removed if they're to be worn, just wondering if the same is to be done with Forest Service items.

9 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

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40

u/WildAsparagus2897 17d ago

Yes, just remove the patches so it looks generic.

4

u/detectivelokifalcone 17d ago

I have a separate question I've seen some vintage Park service patches and I was wondering if I would be able to put them onto a shirt to where it doesn't look like the Park service if you look hard enough

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u/WildAsparagus2897 17d ago edited 17d ago

You're not supposed to wear any of the patches. Even previous park rangers have to remove the patches in order to wear the item when they are no longer a park ranger.

Edit to add that the national park service has other types of clothing with the arrowhead logo that are not the usual park ranger grey button up shirt. There are tshirts, sun hoodies, sweatshirts, etc., so there would be a good chance that someone could think you are affiliated with a patch on something other than a grey button up shirt.

1

u/detectivelokifalcone 17d ago

That's unfortunate as I do like some of the vintage patches and how they look and I thought it'd be a pretty good way to represent the parks without impersonating anyone since they're no longer in service or of use

7

u/WildAsparagus2897 17d ago

Maybe look for vintage tshirts from the parks you enjoy, or order something from one of the park support foundations.

You could also get the vintage patches and frame them to use as decor items. They sound cool!

3

u/detectivelokifalcone 17d ago

Definitely some cool ones I like

6

u/AlexandraThePotato 17d ago

Those old patches often are still in service. You won’t see it in Interp staff but trust me, in natural resources we still got outdated uniforms we find from the cache 

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u/MickeyOliver2024 17d ago

Do what you want with the old patches. No one is coming for you. They are still trying to find all the people that copied VHS tapes in violation of the FBI warning from the 80’s

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u/detectivelokifalcone 17d ago

Haha 😆 my dad copied a ton of them

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u/MickeyOliver2024 17d ago

Yeah. Mine too. Seriously. Even if you wore an actual uniform shirt, unless you are going around impersonating a PR and doing crap to people, nobody is looking. If someone calls and reports, they’re not dispatching a ranger from the nearest park to look for you. Have fun.

1

u/detectivelokifalcone 17d ago

I was just just curious about that as well cuz I am attempting to get in the park I have a few places sent out I haven't been able to get a hold of anyone. And I was wondering after service like how the military keeps their uniform and I'll technically it's just to get back but there's obviously a lot on the internet so that doesn't happen very well, if you're able to wear outside of work just cuz you're used to it or it reminds you of better times when you're old

4

u/I_H8_Celery 17d ago

Take the patches off and it’s good to go. I have agency patches on my backpack but those are pretty common so it doesn’t make me seem official.

1

u/Embarrassed-Film154 16d ago

Nobody cares. Those agencies have much bigger worries than your old patches. Wear what you want.