DMZ and me and dress code

Tomorrow we are going for a "tour" of the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. Its a little weird to me that a military area is a tourist site. But I'm going anyway, despite my hesitancy to buy into the touristic enterprise of war.

We are going with the United Service Organizations which promotes activities for its soldiers overseas. Because its with the military and whatnot, they are rather strict, check out this dress code which we must follow to go on this tour.

DRESS CODE

SUBJECT: Clothing Policy for Participants in the Commander, United Nations Command (UNC) Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Education and Orientation Program – Joint Security Area (JSA)

1. APPLICABILITY: This policy applies to all personnel in JSA except those at Enclosure A.

2. All visitors to the JSA must display a neat and presentable appearance. To meet this requirement the following standards apply:

1. Active duty military personnel have the option of wearing their service equivalent to the Army Class A or B uniforms or appropriate civilian attire as described below. In accordance with Armistice requirements, battle dress, utility, fatigue, dungaree, or flight suit-type working uniforms cannot be worn by visitors to the JSA.

2. Informal civilian clothes commonly viewed as acceptable in equivalent public settings are normally acceptable. For example, clean jeans without fraying or tearing and a clean t-shirt lettered with profanity, and flip-flop sandals would be deemed unacceptable. Visitors wearing clothing deemed faddish, extreme, torn, tattered, frayed, overly provocative, or otherwise inappropriate by the UNCSB-JSA guides will not be allowed to enter the DMZ. The following attire/appearance is specifically prohibited:

1. Shirts/tops without sleeves or that expose the midriff and tank tops. Also shirts/tops with insulting, profane, provocative or demeaning representations.

2. Frayed cutoff shorts, gym shorts and shorts that expose the buttocks.

3. Any items of outer clothing of a sheer variety.

4. Sports uniforms or athletic clothing of any kind including track pants or other stretch pants or warm-ups.

5. Shower and “flip-flops” shoes. No sandals/open toed shoes.

6. Items of military clothing not worn as an integral part of a prescribed service uniform.

7. Oversize clothing, commonly referred to as “gangster” clothes, including oversize baggy/long pants, t-shirts, or sweatshirts, and “biker” dress such as leather vests and leather riding chaps.

3. This document is not meant to cover every possible clothing/appearance situation. In all cases not otherwise specifically covered by this policy, the UNCSB-JSA guide will make a decision on acceptability of appearance. In the case where a visitor disputes the guide’s determination, the UNC Military Armistice Commission representative will make final determination. The UNC is not responsible to provide appropriate clothing for improperly dressed visitors to wear on the tour and maintains no resources to do so. Visitors who arrive at Camp Bonifas in inappropriate attire will be allowed to receive the UNC DMZ Education and Orientation Brief but will not be allowed to enter the UNCMACHA.

4. This policy supersedes the previous memorandum dated 15 August 2005. Requests for exceptions to this policy are not encouraged but will be considered when necessary by the undersigned. POC is 724-3434