TO CONFORM OR NOT TO CONFORM
Courtney, I agree with you 95%, but during my exchange tour there were one or 2 issues with my USAF hosts. I was requested to wear USAF wings, to which I objected, because I earned RAF wings and was/am quite proud of them. Eventually they agreed I should wear an RAF flight suit with appropriate USAF unit patches.
They also asked me to wear experience stars (hours flown on fighters and shown on the left sleeve of the flight suit) I did not like this much either, but when the Wing Commander found I had more stars than him, they again took my view!
They also did not like the look of RAF flying boots, but when I developed a first rate set of blisters trying to wear in their rock stiff footies, again they agreed ours were more comfortable.
Never had long hair or a set of any type so no issues there.
Overall, when there were any minor problems common sense always prevailed.
Great tour, happy memories.