Semper Fi!

[Dixiedog]

John Rickman here... My Father, a Proud Hardcore Korean War Marine... when I told him that I was going to follow in his footsteps and join the Corps after I came home from college... told me to join the Navy. He said that with the Navy, I'd "See the World" like he never got the chance while he served with the Marines. And was He ever right !!! My first 4 years as an Operations Specialist (Scope Dope) aboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) took me on 2 West-Pac Deployments to every Far-East Port I could ever think of.

When I changed Rates to Aviation Electronics Technician, the Commandant of the Corps pulled all the Marines out of the Naval Security Roles after the Bruit Barracks Bombing, leaving the CNO with no Naval Security Forces (No Marine Security on Navy Bases). The Commandant sent out his Best Security Police Instructors to train me and the first of many Navy Security Volunteers, and 3 to 6 months of Specialized Marine Corps Training later, the New Naval Security Forces (NSF) were born. Composed of both Sailors and Marines working as one Joint Force, for one Joint Mission.

I retired after 21 years in the Navy, not regretting one moment of the time that I served. But the most memorable time of my career, were of the Sailors and Marines that I served with as a member of the Naval Security Forces (NSF). Even though the Sailors and the Marines of the NSF all started out in different services, we all came together as One Unit to accomplish the mission. We Uniformed, Trained, Ate, Berthed, PT'ed, Sweated, Froze, Worked and Served Together as One Unit. Just as the (Multi-Force) SEALS do today.

Now Retired, In addition to my Family Tartan (MacKenzie), I wear the Leatherneck Tartan !!! NOT Only to honor those Sailors & Marines that I served with in the NSF, but to Honor the Greatest Marine I ever knew... My Father... SGT. John Wm. Rickman, Sr. (Radio Operator / USMC-Dec.).

Anchors Away & Semper Fi... To All Who Served To Keep Us Free!!!

[Dale Seago]

Step up vets! Tell us about your service and how it relates to / is expessed by kilting.

The fact that various setts have been designed for our armed forces (even though, probably appropriately, the respective service branches do not officially recognize them) affords me yet another way of expressing pride and affiliation. I have kilts now in both Leatherneck and US Army: I was an enlisted Marine before I fell to the Dark Side and got an Army commission.

[LANCER1562]

I served 4 years active duty U.S. Army Infantry. Besides my Clan tartan I also have a kilt from USA Kilts in the Army tartan. I'm planning to replace the pin I currently have on my USAK with 2nd Infantry Division lapel pin or maybe I'll just add it.

[cryerelizabeth]

I'm not currently in the service, but I think I'll brag on the rest of my family

To start off, my families military history goes back to the French and Indian War, do there's a lot going on between then and now.

My dad was (is) a marine, and I'm currently trying to get the leatherneck tartan, or the new marine cammie canvas fabric so that I can make him a kilt. (He worships the Sgt. Gritt magazine too)

My mom was in the air force.

My identical twin sisters (I'm a triplet, I'm fraternal and they are identical) have joined the national guard and have just left for North Georgia College and State University. I'm trying to get some Cunningham tartan for them to make them kilts.

I'm in the Civil Air Patrol right now. It's an Air Force Auxilary, but it's a civilian volunteer thing. Im the leadership officer, communications trainee, and deputy cadet commander trainee. It's great because I get to help young adults and teenagers learn military bearing and leadership skills and all other kinds of handy things . My sisters and I also had 4 years in a JROTC Honor Unit With Distinction.

My youngest sister has just signed her papers for the Marines, and will be leaving in July for her boot camp. She wants me to make her a leatherneck mini kilt.

There you have it ;) Thank you all the other vets on the forum and around the world for you services!

[Sir William]

The fact that various setts have been designed for our armed forces (even though, probably appropriately, the respective service branches do not officially recognize them) affords me yet another way of expressing pride and affiliation. I have kilts now in both Leatherneck and US Army: I was an enlisted Marine before I fell to the Dark Side and got an Army commission.

Well done! I was enlisted Marine before taking a Navy commission. But then I did an inter-service transfer back to the Marines.

After active duty I worked as both an Army and Air Force civilian.

I only have a Leatherneck tartan kilt though since that is the service I retired from.

[Inchessi]

Six years in the Marines. I proudly sport the Leatherneck Kilt.

Dixiedog, a friend was a bubblehead that joined the Navy to "See the World." They came up for air and mail his first two tours. When he tells the story, you laugh so hard tears roll.

[kiltimabar]

I had six years in the Navy, and though I like the Seabee and the Polaris tartans better than the Edzell, I was never in the Seabees or boomers, so I don't wear them.

I also think the Leatherneck tartan is one of the best ever but I would not presume to use it; I do wear the Cameron of Erracht for its association with the 79th NY Cameron Highlanders, which I belong to with the American Civil War Association. It has a similar color scheme to the Leatherneck, but of course not the same sett.

[creagdhubh]

Semper Fidelis!

Sergeant Kyle A. Smith Macpherson, USMC
1999-2008

[Woodsheal]

As an ex-Army officer, I love my kilt in the US Army tartan - 16 oz. from kilt maker Alexis Malcolm, who designed it. My only objection to the sett: she left out a red line for the artillery! (Maybe that could be rectified by a US Army Tartan #2, but then I'd have to buy another kilt!)

BTW, in the Army we had a little descriptive phrase to apply our Marine friends' battlefield tactics: "Hey diddle diddle, straight up the middle!"

Dontcha just love inter-service ribbing? Semper fi, leatherneck buddies...!

[Dale Seago]

BTW, in the Army we had a little descriptive phrase to apply our Marine friends' battlefield tactics: "Hey diddle diddle, straight up the middle!"

The Army musta stole it: The Marines have and apply the same descriptive phrase among themselves, TO themselves.