Quote Originally Posted by skruse View Post
This type of discussion is akin to a 1940s perspective: males only may wear trousers, females only may wear anything that resembles a skirt. Females may not wear trousers, males only may not wear "skirts". Any variation is considered deviant. I just wore my formal kilt to a winter formal. I received many compliments and questions. I too was a USDI-National Park Ranger. Uniforms are a big part of NPS identity and you are expected to wear the uniform correctly, even as a backcountry ranger or during winter. A kilt somehow would remove the "macho" ideal of a ranger. NPS rangers are commissioned federal officers. I cannot imagine making a custodial arrest in my kilt. I could do it, but public perception would empower a lack of authority. Perhaps as part of a uniform for formal events. Otherwise NPS uniforms are a holdover from the Marines with cadaver gray shirts suitable for picking up garbage, horse patrol or visits from high ranking politicians.
I'm sorry, but I respectfully disagree with some of your comments regarding the NPS uniform. Whilst I'm not a big fan of the polyester uniforms myself, nevertheless, the NPS uniform does have a proud pedigree, although not from the US Marines. In fact, the uniform comes from the US Army, as soldiers stationed at Ft. Yellowstone in the late 19th century were the "first" park rangers.

You might want to take a look at this NPS publication:

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/o...man2/index.htm

In addition, Charles Farabee's National Park Ranger: an American Icon is also worth perusing for information on the history of ranger uniforms through the years, and Harvey Meyerson's Nature's Army discusses the role of the US Army as the first custodians of our national parks.

I can't say any of my fellow rangers viewed the uniform as particularly "macho", but we were very aware of the long history behind it, even though we hated the current "lowest bidder" version. I do agree that a kilt might have a place as part of an honour guard/pipe band/etc.

Regards,

Todd