# Help me find military eyeglasses **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 3, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876 "2003-05-03T16:53:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mongrel\_8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@mongrel\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mongrel_8)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/1 "2003-05-03T16:53:30Z")
I am an ROTC cadet and am going to Airborne school this summer for the Army. I need to get eyeglasses for it but I haven’t been able to find any. They need to be the thick frames that you see people wearing in boot camp. I asked our supply guy where I should get them and he said that I should be able to get them from any eyewear place, but I have called at least six local places and none of them had anything that would work. So can anyone suggest somewhere online I could order them or somewhere I could go? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/2 "2003-05-03T17:15:57Z")
Do you mean something like [prescription safety glasses](http://www.titmus.com/catalog/standard/index.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/3 "2003-05-03T17:46:02Z")
He’s talking about “BC’s” (Birth Control glasses. So named because you’ll be lucky to get laid while wearing 'em) Having never seen them outside bootcamp, or on guys recently coming from bootcamp, I would just call down to the nearest Military Treatment Facility and ask them. Any military medical site that does eyewear should have a source of supply. Perhaps the nearest VA hospital would be a good site as well. I’ll google around a bit to see if I can locate a commercial source. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/4 "2003-05-03T17:52:22Z")
Heh. Here’s an [article](http://www.pstripes.com/dec00/ed122800d.html) about what I believe you’re looking for. Still looking. ---
**Author:** ![mongrel\_8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@mongrel\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mongrel_8)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/5 "2003-05-03T17:52:35Z")
I never thought about trying the VA hospital. I’ll have to try that. I think safety glasses would work. Does anyone know if recspecs (the sports goggles) would be authorized? I have a pair at home that I wore in junior high. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/6 "2003-05-03T18:40:19Z")
FYI [Military Now Offers Eye Surgery](http://groups.google.com/groups?q=military++eyeglasses&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=f5bg6u4hufrc3nt7vsakqi89hfu0c6lpe6%404ax.com&rnum=3) ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/7 "2003-05-03T18:52:02Z")
When my buddy went off to the navy, they required that he had glasses going in. As soon as he got to RTC (recruit training command, “boot camp” for the Navy) they issued him the classic birth control specs. And his GF broke up with him, so I’d say they were aptly named. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/8 "2003-05-03T20:09:37Z")
Did they tell you that you have to get glasses of a specific style at your own expense? That sounds extremely fishy. Mind you I was enlisted navy but the only restriction aside from garish, sequinned Dame Edna style specs was that you could not wear sunglasses in formation. If I were you I’d get some FG-58 pilot frames and have clear lenses put in them. I’m pretty sure American Optical made the frames when I was in. They were issue for pilots and aircrew with gold plated frames and in a silver/pewter for flight deck crew like me. ---
**Author:** ![jack\_ss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c77e96/32.png) [@jack\_ss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_ss)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/9 "2003-05-03T20:18:13Z")
I was issued the old school black BCGs in basic training 1982. I actually got laid wearing them in 1989. More than once. So, anything was possible in the bizaro-underground-punk/goth/industrial-artist scene. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/10 "2003-05-03T20:22:32Z")
Well, I had no luck finding anything for ya. > [@](#): > > I asked our supply guy where I should get them and he said that I should be able to get them from any eyewear place :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/11 "2003-05-03T20:24:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jack@ss \* > \*\*I was issued the old school black BCGs in basic training 1982. I actually got laid wearing them in 1989. More than once. > So, anything was possible in the bizaro-underground-punk/goth/industrial-artist scene. \*\* Yeah, but it took ya 7 _years!_ :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/12 "2003-05-03T20:40:51Z")
Actually the whole [Airforce ROTC spec](http://www.tulane.edu/~afrotc/afrotc/cadetinf/warknow/uniform.htm) is kind of interesting. They even have the entire [Air Force Song](http://www.tulane.edu/~afrotc/afrotc/cadetinf/warknow/afsong/index.htm) with all the verses! (kind of rare as the last verse is usually left off) > [@](#): > > [sub] > Uniform Guidelines > > **General Guidelines for Military Appearance (Men and Women)** > > Clothing: Clothing must be neat, clean, pressed, of proper fit, in good condition, and zipped, snapped, or buttoned. > Footwear: Footwear must be shined and in good repair. > Watch: Watches must be conservative. > Bracelet: Bracelets must be conservative, not present a safety hazard, and no wider than one inch. > Rings: Cadet may wear a maximum of three rings at any time. > Tattoos: No tattoos that are obscene, sexist, racist, prejudicial, or discrediting to the Air Force are allowed. In uniform, no excessive tattoos will be visible, including through clothing. See AFI36-2903 for more information. > \*\*Eyeglasses: While indoors or in formation, eyeglasses must be conservative, clear or slightly tinted, or photosensitive. Outdoors when not in formation, conservative lenses and frames are permitted. No mirrored lenses are permitted. \*\* > Pencils and pens: Pencils and pens must be concealed. > Beepers and cell phones: Beepers and cell phones are not permitted unless they are required to perform duties. > Umbrella: Plain black or navy umbrellas are permitted and must be carried in the left hand. > Bags: Bags may be carried in the left hand or over the left shoulder unless riding a bicycle or motorcycle, when they may be worn over both shoulders. > > **Men** > > Hair: Hair must be clean, groomed, and neat in a tapered, natural appearance. No excessive grooming aids are allowed. The hair is not allowed to touch the eyebrows, ears, or collar. The hair may not exceed 1.25 inches in bulk or extend below the front band of headgear. The hair may not exceed 0.25 inch at the natural termination point at the neck. > Beard: No beards are allowed unless cadet has been granted a shaving waiver by HQAFROTC. > Mustache: The mustache must not extend below the upper lip or the sides of the mouth > Sideburns: Sideburns must be neatly trimmed, tapered, and end in a horizontal line. Sideburns may not be flared or end below the lowest part of the ear opening. > Piercings: No visible piercing is allowed in uniform, on official duty, or on a military installation. This includes piercings visible through clothing. > > **Women** > > Hair: Hair must be clean, groomed, and neat in a natural appearance. No excessive grooming aids are allowed. The hair is not allowed to touch the eyebrows when groomed. Hair may extend below the front band of the flight cap but may not extend below the front band of the BDU cap. The hair will not extend below the bottom of the collar at the neckline or exceed three inches in bulk. Plain, conservative pins, headbands, elastic bands, and barrettes of a color similar to the cadet’s hair are permitted. Ribbons, jeweled pins, and hair that presents a safety hazard are not permitted. > Cosmetics: Cosmetics must be conservative and in good taste. > Nail Polish: Nail polish must be conservative, one color, and in good taste without ornamentation. > Piercings: No visible piercings are allowed in uniform, on official duty, or on a military installation. This includes piercings visible through clothing. The only exception is that females may wear one matching set of small, spherical, conservative diamond, gold, white pearl, or silver pierced or clipped earrings in the earlobe. [/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/13 "2003-05-03T20:43:23Z")
[http://images.google.com/images?q=bcg+glasses&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi](http://images.google.com/images?q=bcg+glasses&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi) There is a pic perhaps? First img shown in that link. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/14 "2003-05-03T21:19:04Z")
Here is a site with relatively inexpensive prescription ready safety frames that meet miltary specs. They will ship the frames to your eye doctor/optician of choice. [Safety Glasses USA](http://store.yahoo.com/safetyglassesusa/hudsaffram.html) ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/15 "2003-05-03T22:44:30Z")
- - - Somewhat Related Factoid: in Drew Carey’s book titled “guns and beer” or something, he tells a story about how his famous military-issue glasses broke, and he came to find out that the only place left that still made them was in England. ~ ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-find-military-eyeglasses/172876/16 "2003-05-04T03:27:09Z")
My regular glasses were lost at the 2nd LAR Bn CP site in Saudi Arabia one night in 1991 (I have the grid position written down if I’m ever back in the neighborhood with a GPS), and I had to wear the BCGs. My g/f made me take them off before I got laid. Good luck, leg.