I guess other sister service dress codes are different. Marines being the strictest. But still, rules like that fly out the window when you are on a detachment like that. I've heard of USAF Honor Guard: glueing uniforms together, sewing seams(to look sharper, opposed to exclusive iron/starch), taping nickels into trouser cuffs(to hang straighter), etc. I guess my point is, when your job is all about image, sometimes rules are broken. None of which, should be of the general public's concern!