In the cruise I like to wear a thong ( it pleases the stewewards). It's great after walking to the a/c with a jacket and tie on. But on a more serios note, my doctor wears shorts and a t shirt. I would never doubt his ability to perform his job. We are qualified by our ability and not dress sense. Times change, people change, attitudes change, professionalism does does not!
As said earlier, dress code comes from the miliatry, which we are not. So tell the ex mil people to take a chill pill and adapt to the civvy world.
ILS 119.5