A question for veterans?

[Daibhidh O'Baoighill]

I really like the USMC tartan. Would it be offensive to any soldiers if I would wear this tartan since I have never served in the Armed Forces? Thanks for your insight!

Cheers!
David

[Finn]

The military tartans are Universal.
That said, I personally feel that they should be worn by those who have served, or are serving.
Then again, I want a WPG Gordon and never served with those men.
As a tribute to those folks, it can be appropriate. The Leatherneck tartan is very handsome too.

[CelticRanger66]

This has been asked and answered many times here in the forum but it basically comes down to this: No one can stop you from wearing it but wear it respectfully and dont put on that you yourself are a veteran.

[Daibhidh O'Baoighill]

Thanks gents!

[Monkey@Arms]

Don't forget that the search feature is your friend:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/q...x.html?t=32813

Best regards,

Jake

[Fedgunner]

Hi ya!

You will get some good advice here. I'm going to take "Miss Manners" moment.


Marines are not soldiers.

Marines are Marines.

The Army has Soldiers.
The Air Force has Airmen.
The Navy and Coast Guard have Sailors.

This is a general thing... many folks do not know the accecpted terminology.
(Consider this whispered outside the pub doors)

[ardchoille]

To be totally honest, the USMC tartan isn't an official part of any United States Armed Forces uniform. That said, I would think that as long as you wore it with dignity and respect for marines and veterans, I don't see why it would be a problem.

I served in the US Navy, not the USMC, and I'm planning to purchase a kilt in the USMC tartan.. simply because I want to show my support and appreciation for those who serve or have served.

[mcvarmit]

sir, i doubt that most people would even know that it was a USMC tartan, unless you told them. well astute XMARKERS will know. but other than that,wear it and have a good time.

semper fi

slick

USMC 1964-1967
RVN 1965-1967

[Galb]

I love the USMC tartan. I would love to wear one. That being said, I will never put one on because I never served. That's just my personal take. I do the same with T-Shirts, I didn't serve, therefore I have not earned the right to wear it. Out of respect for those brave men and women who serve, I will simply not wear armed forces clothing.

This is just my personal outlook on things. I kind of look at it like, if I am wearing a shirt that says Marines, I am advertising that I am a Marine or am going to become one. Immediately when people see someone in a Marine Shirt (or Army, Navy, Airforce) they associate that person with that branch. I look at the tartans the same way. I haven't earned it. But this is my personal outlook. I won't look down upon someone who chooses differently. This is simply my personal outlook for me.

EDIT: BTW, to those that served and serve currently: Thank you.

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

The Gordon or Cameron tartans, as with the Forbes Tartan, while used by military units are not military tartans per se. The British Scottish regiment tartans, with the exception of the Black Watch are clan tartans. The Black Watch is considered a Universal Tartan, so you are safe there as well.

That said, I wear a Forbes Tartan kilt made to MoD (ministry of defence) specs, even though I never served in the Liverpool Scottish because it is my CLAN tartan.

As people here point out, you are OK as long as you aren't passing yourself off as a member of, or a veteran of, one of these units. Although passing as a member is getting harder as they amalgamate the Scottish Regiments into oblivion.

So, get your Gordon kilt and wear it in good health.

By Regiment

Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders* .......Black Watch/Government then Campbell of Cawdor
Argyll Fencibles......................................... ..................................Campbell of Cawdor
Argyll Highlanders (Old 74th) .................................................. ..Lamont
Argyllshire Highlanders, 91st.............................................. ......Black Watch
Atholl Highlanders....................................... ...............................Murray of Atholl
Auckland Highland Rifle Volunteers (NZ) ..............................Black Watch
Baluch Regiment, Pakistan.......................................... ...............Baluch Regt Tartan
Black Watch of Canada .................................................. ........Black Watch
Black Watch Pipers .................................................. ...............Royal Stewart
Black Watch(The Royal Highland Regt)* ..............................Black Watch
Bombay Volunteer Rifles ( India) ............................................Stewar t Hunting
Breadalbane Fencibles .................................................. ..........Campbell of Breadalbane
Byron Regiment (Australia) .................................................. ..Sutherland
Calcutta Scottish (India) .................................................. .......Stewart Hunting
Cameron Highlanders 79th of Foot .........................................Cameron of Erracht
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)* ..............................................Doug las
Canterbury Scottish Rifle Volunteers (NZ) ...........................Gordon
Cape Town Highlanders (SA) ................................................Go rdon
Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders (72nd) ...........................Prince Charles Edward Stewart
Dunedin Highland Rifle Volunteers (NZ) ...............................Black Watch
The Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment.................................McGregor
First City Regiment (SA) .................................................. .......Graham of Montrose
Ghurka Rifles (1st) .................................................. .................Childers
Glasgow Highlanders (HLI) .....................Black Watch and then MacKenzie as TA Bn until 1967
Glenalmond School Scotland .................................................. Murray of Atholl
Gordon Highlanders* .................................................. ...........Gordon
Highland Light Infantry* .................................................. ....MacKenzie
Highlanders .........................................MacKenzie/Cameron Erracht/Gordon
Highlanders of Canada (48th) ................................................. Davidson/Stewart of Fingask
Kaffrarian Rifles (SA) .................................................. ............MacKenzie
Kimberley Scottish .................................................. ................. MacKenzie
King's Own Scottish Borderers (TA)* ..........(Pipers) Erskine Red/Green till 1940 then Buccleuch
King's Own Scottish Borderers ..............................................Lesl ie/Royal Stewart
Liverpool Scottish (TA) .................................................. .......Forbes
London Irish Rifles (TA) .................................................. .......Saffron
London Scottish (TA)* .................................................. ........Hodden Grey
Loretto School Scotland .................................................. .......Stewart Hunting
Lovat Scouts .................................................. ...................Fraser Hunting
Merchiston Castle School Scotland .......................................Cameron of Erracht
Natal Mounted Rifles (South Africa) ...........pipe band still wear Douglas
New South Wales Scottish (Aus) ...........................................Black Watch
New Zealand 1st Armoured Car Regt .................................... .Black Watch
Pretoria Highlanders (SA) .................................................. .....Stewart Hunting
Prince Alfred's Guard 1874 (SA) .............................................Camer on of Erracht
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders* ...............................Cameron of Erracht
Queen's Own Highlanders ................................Cameron of Erracht/MacKenzie
Rajput Regiment,(NW India) .................................................. Rajput Tartan
Ross-shire Buffs (78th) .................................................. .........MacKenzie
Royal Artillery, 19th Regiment Royal Artillery Highland Gunners.............Robertson Hunting (rank slides)
Royal Auxillary Air Force 602 Sqn. (Glasgow) .........................Douglas Grey
Royal Auxillary Air Force 603 Sqn. (Edinburgh) .........................Douglas Grey
Royal Durban Light Infantry(SA) ..........................................Black Watch
Royal Highland Fusiliers .................................................. ......MacKenzie
Royal New South Wales Regiment (Aus) .............................Black Watch
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Pipers) .................................... Royal Stewart
Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) .......................................Hunting Stewart
Royal Scots Fusiliers* .................................................. ........Erskine Hunting
Royal Scots Fusiliers (Pipers).......................................... ......Erskine red & black
Royal Scots (Pipers)* .................................................. .......... Royal Stewart
Royal Scots Greys (Pipers)....trews................................. ........Dalziel
Royal South Australia Regiment ..........................................MacKenzi e
Scots Guards (Pipers)* .................................................. ........Royal Stewart
Scottish Horse .................................................. .............Fraser Hunting
Seaforth Highlanders* .................................................. ........MacKenzie
Shanghai Volunteer Corps (China) .......................................Stewart Hunting
South African Scottish .................................................. .......Murray of Atholl
Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders TA (Can) ...........MacDonnell of Glengarry
Toronto Scottish (Can) .................................................. .......Hodden Grey
Transvaal Scottish (SA) .................................................. ........Murray of Atholl
Tyneside Scottish (RE) .................................................. .......Black Watch
Wanganui Highland Rifles (NZ) ........................................... Gordon
Wellington Highlanders (NZ) ...............................................Bla ck Watch
Witwatersrand Rifles (SA) .................................................. ..Douglas