Veterans slam J.D. Vance for disregarding a mess hall rule 'Marines learn on day 1'

[marble falls]

35. In my mind, a cover is a cover. My experience in service was to take rules to the word ...

... however, I also learned there was a "secret menu" - there were rules for breaking rules. That's why I could see airdales with 'sleeves' on at chow. At the same time, when they launch aircraft, they saluted the pilots when it was time to be sling shot off the deck. That indicates to me that sleeves are a cover, because we did not salute while uncovered, though officers would return a quick salute while they were uncovered and even while sitting.

We were fairly rebellious as enlisted personnel in the early 70s. We would do things to put up a salute: take our cap off and brush our hair back as we approached a saluting distance. Or cut an oblique to get out of range. At least once in "A" school, Bannon and I were cutting across a grinder as two juniors were coming towards us, we cut to port to stay out of range and they cut to starboard to intercept us. We were never successfully intercepted.