[Task & Purpose] Minnesota National Guardsmen will wear bright reflective vests so they won’t be confused with law enforcement agencies that wear military-style camouflage.
"Members of the Minnesota National Guard are serving in support of local law enforcement agencies and are not licensed peace officers," said Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, a spokeswoman for the state’s National Guard. "These vests are being used to distinguish our members from those of other agencies, due to similarFederal law enforcement agencies have been increasingly dressing in military-style garb over the years, and that can make it hard for civilians to tell the difference between the police and the military. Photos from Minneapolis show that U.S. Border Patrol and FBI agents have been wearing gear that closely resembles troops’ uniforms.
That appears to be why Minnesota National Guardsmen will wear reflective vests if activated "to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms," a Jan. 17 post on the Minnesota National Guard’s Facebook page says.
The move is not targeted at any specific agency. Rather, it is meant to make sure that people do not mistake Minnesota National Guardsmen for state or federal agents wearing camouflage uniforms, a state official told Task & Purpose. uniforms being worn." |