US military insignia

[BBNC]

Can you cite the section of the law or post a link to the section that states this?

Friday, here is a section of the US Code I found pertaining to the Army. I'm sure it would be pretty much the same for other services. I read an interesting article on Ask.com about someone who was prosecuted, fined, and jailed for impersonating a naval officer with the intent to defraud.

d. In accordance with chapter 45, section 771, title 10, United States Code (10 USC 771), no person except a member of the U.S. Army may wear the uniform, or a distinctive part of the uniform of the U.S. Army unless otherwise authorized by law. Additionally, no person except a member of the U.S. Army may wear a uniform, any part of which is similar to a distinctive part of the U.S. Army uniform. This includes the distinctive uniforms and uniform items listed in paragraph 1–12 of this regulation. Paragraph 1–12 goes on to define "Distinctive uniforms and uniform items:"
a. The following uniform items are distinctive and will not be sold to or worn by unauthorized personnel:

• (1) All Army headgear, when worn with insignia.
• (2) Badges and tabs (identification, marksmanship, combat, and special skill).
• (3) Uniform buttons (U.S. Army or Corps of Engineers).
• (4) Decorations, service medals, service and training ribbons, and other awards and their appurtenances.
• (5) Insignia of any design or color that the Army has adopted.

[davidlpope]

As far as Highland dress goes, I usually only wear my miniature medals with black tie and that's it (and I don't even do that all the time). I haven't worn my rifle expert badge, pistol expert badge, ribbons and parachutist wings since I was on active-duty in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Semper Fi!

Same thinking here. It always seems a bit gaudy when I run into folks at highland games wearing lots of military awards, ribbons, pins, etc. with casual kilted clothing. I have a couple neckties which feature the USMC colors or the EGA. To me this is a much more tasteful way of emphasizing what I have in common with other folks I run into (if they're Marines), instead of showing off personal awards, how good of a shot I was with a rifle, etc.

[Scout]

As far as Highland dress goes, I usually only wear my miniature medals with black tie and that's it (and I don't even do that all the time). I haven't worn my rifle expert badge, pistol expert badge, ribbons and parachutist wings since I was on active-duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. Semper Fi!

I agree. As a retired Army officer there are occasions that call for me to be in uniform when I wear all of my decorations, qualifications badges, tabs, etc. In civilian black tie attire however, I only wear my miniature medals. I may be nit-picking but the way I interpret the custom of wearing decorations with civilian clothing is that it's decorations that are supposed to be worn, not qualification badges. To my way of thinking it goes with the whole concept of understated elegance of dressing in black tie to begin with.

Just my $.02 worth. Your mileage may vary.

[unixken]

I agree. As a retired Army officer there are occasions that call for me to be in uniform when I wear all of my decorations, qualifications badges, tabs, etc. In civilian black tie attire however, I only wear my miniature medals. I may be nit-picking but the way I interpret the custom of wearing decorations with civilian clothing is that it's decorations that are supposed to be worn, not qualification badges. To my way of thinking it goes with the whole concept of understated elegance of dressing in black tie to begin with.

Just my $.02 worth. Your mileage may vary.

I am fortunate that through the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (the civilian, all-volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard - not to be confused with the paid Reservists), I have ample regular opportunities to continue wearing the uniform of the U.S. Coast Guard. In it's details, the active duty uses mainly gold buttons and appointments, the auxiliary mainly silver. (There are other details that differ, such as the cap device, color of the name tag, and so on, but the uniforms are otherwise indistinguishable.) I am authorized to continue wearing all of the awards and qualifications I earned when I was part of "the gold side" (active duty), in addition to those I am earning as an auxiliarist, on my uniform.

In civilian clothing (kilted or otherwise), I limit myself to mini-medals when appropriate, and I have a Coast Guard fraternity ball cap with a rack of my mini-ribbons, a miniature set of my wings, and my "ruptured duck" retirement pin stuck on, that I break out on patriotic holidays, but that's about it.

[Friday]

Friday, here is a section of the US Code I found pertaining to the Army. I'm sure it would be pretty much the same for other services. I read an interesting article on Ask.com about someone who was prosecuted, fined, and jailed for impersonating a naval officer with the intent to defraud.

d. In accordance with chapter 45, section 771, title 10, United States Code (10 USC 771), no person except a member of the U.S. Army may wear the uniform, or a distinctive part of the uniform of the U.S. Army unless otherwise authorized by law. Additionally, no person except a member of the U.S. Army may wear a uniform, any part of which is similar to a distinctive part of the U.S. Army uniform. This includes the distinctive uniforms and uniform items listed in paragraph 1–12 of this regulation. Paragraph 1–12 goes on to define "Distinctive uniforms and uniform items:"
a. The following uniform items are distinctive and will not be sold to or worn by unauthorized personnel:

• (1) All Army headgear, when worn with insignia.
• (2) Badges and tabs (identification, marksmanship, combat, and special skill).
• (3) Uniform buttons (U.S. Army or Corps of Engineers).
• (4) Decorations, service medals, service and training ribbons, and other awards and their appurtenances.
• (5) Insignia of any design or color that the Army has adopted.

What I see and it would be interesting to hear a lawyer argue this, the main hing of this is "unauthorized personnel" and "unless otherwise authorized by law." However, the US Veterans Administration, an arm of the Federal Government has, since 2006, requested/reminded veterans to wear their medals as part of the Veterans Pride Initiative. The Veterans Pride Initiative asks veterans to wear their medals on Independence Day, Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and when attending other patriotic events. The VA "encourages the 24 million living Americans who have served in the armed forces to display their medals on the Fourth of July by pinning them on their civilian clothing over their left breast".

I believe that this is authorization by the United States Federal Government for veterans to wear and display their medals. It is my opinion that above is aimed more toward the stolen valor act and wearing of military medal by those who did not serve or did not earn or be awarded medals they wear.

Edit: The US Military Discharge (DD 214) section 24 lists ( old copy and the wording may not be exact) Commendations, medals, awards . . . awarded or authorized.

[Starhunter451]

For me and probably those that do really care, Sorry for the idiots that have no idea what it is like.

I am an Army vet, but did not serve in combat. Not saying that I am not proud to being those that were training others.

[Friday]

Starhunter451 be proud, as other veterans should be, you served and stood ready to come to the aid of any service member in need regardless of the country or circumstance. Those that did and do serve in combat zones are fully aware of all that stand ready to support them and recognize you as a brother/sister in arms.

Thank you and all for your service.

[Starhunter451]

Starhunter451 be proud, as other veterans should be, you served and stood ready to come to the aid of any service member in need regardless of the country or circumstance. Those that did and do serve in combat zones are fully aware of all that stand ready to support them and recognize you as a brother/sister in arms.
Thank you and all for your service.

The community we live in tends to be the type that supports the military. Partially because they are concervative. Makes it hard to wear a kilt in public sometimes.

All gave some, Some gave All!

[Geoff Withnell]

I don't typically wear my ribbons, etc, when just at a highland games in casual clothing. OTOH, I do wear my ribbons when I feel it is appropriate for day wear. For example, pretty much all day on Veteran's Day. I normally wear a dress shirt, or collared khaki shirt, since putting medals on a polo shirt seems strange to me. I pretty much ALWAYS have an EGA about my person somewhere if I am out of the house, if only the one on my ring. But the ribbons, or mini-medals only come out for "appropriate military or patriotic occasions". Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever worn full size medals, even when I was active duty.

Same thinking here. It always seems a bit gaudy when I run into folks at highland games wearing lots of military awards, ribbons, pins, etc. with casual kilted clothing. I have a couple neckties which feature the USMC colors or the EGA. To me this is a much more tasteful way of emphasizing what I have in common with other folks I run into (if they're Marines), instead of showing off personal awards, how good of a shot I was with a rifle, etc.

[Starhunter451]

I only wore them on my class-A. No need otherwise. Well on the B.