Should I Wear My Kilt?

**seanachie** · 7th December 12, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by ShawnT

My best friend of 7 years is graduating from Army basic training in a few weeks and I had planned to wear my kilt to the ceremony. After talking with a few family friends I'm starting to second guess my decision. I am not ashamed of my kilt and understand I wear it to express pride in my heritage but I also don't want the soldiers graduating or their families to get the idea that I am mocking them or the military. Any advice?

Wow! A ceremony for graduating boot camp. I seem to remember a top to bottom cleaning of the barracks and a march with all my gear across base to the Security Police Academy barracks. I can't imagine the level of formality would preclude you wearing a kilt.

**flyrod6057** · 7th December 12, 09:29 PM

Wear the kilt, if you feel so inclined. You needn't be concerned about being a distraction; all of the moms, dads, and girlfriends are going to be looking for their soldier. As soon as the graduation is over, everyone heads for the hills. You could show up in a clown suit and no one would notice. Having attended dozens of boot camp graduations, I can tell you that whatever you choose to wear will be fine.

**Really a McQueen** · 7th December 12, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by seanachie

... I seem to remember a top to bottom cleaning of the barracks and a march with all my gear across base to the Security Police Academy barracks. ...

Sounds like you spent some time at Lackland. Although a lifetime after my mother went through there. In her day, your people were nicknamed 'apes'. But that was back in 1950.

**ShawnT** · 9th December 12, 01:50 PM

Thanks for all of the help you guys. I've decided since there are 2 days to the ceremony, a family day and the actual ceremony, that on family day I'll dress normally and bring my kilt and see what my friend wants me to wear to the ceremony. This is not a matter of not feeling comfortable in my kilt. I've worn it to high school, college, and much more so I'm perfectly fine wearing it. However I feel like this is my friends special day and I should do what he wants. And if he wants me to wear it then I have a solid defense to anyone who wants to make a big deal out of it.

**Cranky** · 10th December 12, 04:14 AM

I bet the friend would love to see the kilt. Let us know what happens.

**eagle43172** · 10th December 12, 08:48 AM

So far no one has asked a couple of questions that I think are fairly important:
1. Where is the basic training held
2. Where do you live.

In the 80's I commanded a BT company at Fort Benning, Georgia. January in that part of the state can get fairly cold, one year I woke up on January 4th to 4 degrees F with the daily high remaing below freezing. My Senior Drill Sergeant called to ask if he could cancel morning PT! Most of the Army BT posts are located in areas of the south where that can still happen (global warming not withstanding.) If you are from southern California or Hawaii, are you prepared to wear a kilt in that kind of weather. Even if you are from Montana or Vermont, do you regularly put your kilt on in the dead of winter to sit on metal bleachers?

Do what you think is best, but weigh things out well.