Why the Minnesota National Guard is being forced to dress like crossing guards

The announcement earlier this week that the Minnesota National Guard was standing by to assist local law enforcement and public safety agencies in and around Minneapolis-St. Paul included a surprising detail. “If our members are activated,” it read, “they will be wearing reflective vests … to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms.”

From a design perspective, the whole point of uniforms is to provide an instant visual signal. But that mission has been thwarted...