US Veterans, militaria, etc...

[Benning Boy]

I'm retired Army with 28 years of service. I don't wear anything associated with the Army uniform when kilted, or otherwise. Except a combat patch tattooed on my right shoulder, but I'm sure that doesn't count.

We have had a few here ask about wearing items of military uniform. They find it is basically verboten and then go ahead and wear whatever they want anyway. So, it's your thing, do what you wanna do.

AR 670-1 puts limits on the wear of medals by civilians. It is available as a pdf online -- easy to find. Near the bottom in chapter 23, paragraph 23-6 tells you what you may wear and when. Basically you can only wear your medals with your kilt if you are participating in something of a military nature. Attending a Highland Games doesn't count. You can't just make up a day you consider to be a military occasion. Wearing them on Armistice Day, or as we now call it Veterans Day, would be allowed. Also on Memorial Day, which is the day we remember deceased members of he armed forces, and Armed Forces Day on the third Saturday of May. That's about it. Any other time is questionable, although you might be able to justify wearing them on Army Day, April 6.

An enlisted dress coat of the current style could be converted into an Ike jack and make a sharp item to wear with your kilt. By converting it you would in effect be demilitarizing it as it is no longer of proper military cut. You'd also have to replace the buttons. When I first entered the Army, silver buttons were allowed as an optional item. Nowadays only gold buttons are authorized. I've considered putting my old silver buttons on my dark blue Ike jacket, and arguing that as they are no longer an authorized item of uniform, they are not forbidden for wear with civilian clothing, but that may be stretching things. Anyway, you could only doll up a version of the Ike jacket with medals and such on a few limited occasions.

Wear of the entire Army uniform is allow for retired and former soldiers. But it is to be worn in the proper way, as a serving soldier would, complete with regulation haircut and clean shaven. As I'm now a shaggy old dog, I can't wear the uniform. Old soldiers should keep this in mind.

Viet Nam vets seem to be the worst about wearing their items of uniform in unauthorized ways, and most likely to get militant about it. Don't follow their lead.