Mini Medals

[bigdad1]

As to wearing miniature medals with civilian clothes.
For a black or white tie occasion, the rule is quite simple: if the lapel is wide enough, wear the miniatures on the left lapel or, in the case of a shawl lapel on a tuxedo, the miniature medals are worn over the left breast pocket. The center of the holding bar of the bottom row of medals should be parallel to the deck immediately above the pocket. D not wear a pocket handkerchief.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As to wearing miniature medals with civilian clothes.
For a black or white tie occasion, the rule is quite simple: if the lapel is wide enough, wear the miniatures on the left lapel or, in the case of a shawl lapel on a tuxedo, the miniature medals are worn over the left breast pocket. The center of the holding bar of the bottom row of medals should be parallel to the deck immediately above the pocket. D not wear a pocket handkerchief.

Actually, the width of the lapel has little or nothing to do with the placement of medals on civilian attire. Civilians, unlike the military, have a wide range of options when it comes to wearing miniature medals. While the USMC has distinct regulations for wearing medals with mess dress, so does the USAF, although I do not believe that the regulations are identical. Generally, when wearing miniatures, it is important to make them look like a balanced part of your attire. This generally means that they should be worn as close as possible to the center line of the body with the top of the medal bar slightly above mid-way between the shoulder and the top of the pocket. If more than one row of medals is worn, then the bottom row should hang approximately 1/2 inch above the breast pocket.

In the instance of civilians wearing medals, there are only two rules: Full size medals are only worn during the day and Miniature medals are only worn in the evening. How they are worn is a matter of personal preference, not government regulation.

[bigdad1]

In the instance of civilians wearing medals, there are only two rules: Full size medals are only worn during the day and Miniature medals are only worn in the evening. How they are worn is a matter of personal preference, not government regulation.

I believe that full size in the day and mini in the evening is not a regulation either. The basic and main regulation regarding medals of any size for either active duty or civilian is that you wear only authorized medals.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The basic and main regulation regarding medals of any size for... (a) civilian is that you wear only authorized medals.

Could you please cite the government regulation to which you are referring? I only ask because a cursory search through the Federal Code has failed yield any regulation concerning non-government employees and the wearing of medals. If there is some government regulation prohibiting the wearing of medals by private citizens, I should like to know of it.

[Chas]

In the instance of civilians wearing medals, there are only two rules: Full size medals are only worn during the day and Miniature medals are only worn in the evening. How they are worn is a matter of personal preference, not government regulation.

I believe that full size in the day and mini in the evening is not a regulation either. The basic and main regulation regarding medals of any size for either active duty or civilian is that you wear only authorized medals.

Sorry, don't understand. Who is supposed to be doing this authorising? Or did you mean 'people should only wear medals to which they are entitled'? That, I could understand.

Regards

Chas

[davedove]

Here's the regulation from the Army. I'm sure the other services have similar regs.

AR 670-1

30–6. Wear of medals on civilian clothes

Retired personnel and former members of the Army (as described above) may wear all categories of medals described in this regulation on appropriate civilian clothing. This includes clothes designed for veteran and patriotic organizations on Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, and Armed Forces Day, as well as at formal occasions of ceremony and social functions of a military nature. Personnel may wear either full-size or miniature medals. Personnel who wear medals on civilian clothes should place the medals on the clothing in approximately the same location and in the same manner as for the Army uniform, so they look similar to medals worn on the Army uniform.

So, from this I would say that if you earned the medals in the Army, you should wear them as you would have in the Army. That means full-sized during the day, mini in the evening, and placing them in the same location as you would have on the uniform.

[English Bloke]

...
http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/gen..._Rulations.pdf ... The official mounting method for UK medals is swing mount, with few exceptions, but court mounted is more popular and accepted as the norm by most.

Err... Current British Army regulation is court mounting. Page 61 of the link you quoted above agrees. I believe its a matter of uniformity and probably so that medals don't clink on parade...

... Decorations and Medals
Decorations and Medals are to be court mounted and worn as follows: ...

[kiltimabar]

Could you please cite the government regulation to which you are referring? I only ask because a cursory search through the Federal Code has failed yield any regulation concerning non-government employees and the wearing of medals. If there is some government regulation prohibiting the wearing of medals by private citizens, I should like to know of it.

I believe the reference is to the Stolen Valor Act, 18 USC 704, as amended in 2005, which forbids, among other acts, the wearing, or falsely claiming to have been awarded, decorations and medals to which one is not entitled.

[Laird O'the Cowcaddens]

The British are as a rule, somewhat FRUGAL in the issuing of Decorations. This is not a bad thing, my decorations mean a hell of a lot to me,for just that reason. I may, in comparison to servicemen from other countries, look like an orphan in the Decoration dept,but my Campaign ribbons mark my service. I am not sure that ribbons for basic skills and courses for promotion should be worn as Decorations. Perhaps I am wrong in my belief that when dressed in Muffti, Campaign and Decorations for Valor are sufficient evidence of Service. I wonder if it was a Decorated veteran who wrote the instructions, for the proper way to mount and display Awards of Service and Valor. These are my personal thoughts and are NOT meant to offend ANYONE.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I believe the reference is to the Stolen Valor Act, 18 USC 704, as amended in 2005, which forbids, among other acts, the wearing, or falsely claiming to have been awarded, decorations and medals to which one is not entitled.

The Stolen Valor act makes the wearing of military decorations and medals by those who did not receive them, a criminal act.

It does not prohibit the wearing of medals, per se, by private citizens, although it does clearly restrict the wearing of military decorations and medals to those who are lawfully entitled to same. Having wasted several hours of my researcher's time this morning, it would appear that there is no U.S. Government regulation, other than the Stolen Valor Act, relating to, or regulating, the wearing of orders, decorations, and medals by private citizens. That being the case, a private citizen not wearing the uniform of one of the various military or naval forces of the United States, may wear any medals, to which they are lawfully entitled, in any manner they may choose.