Not appropriate for a soldier?

[auld argonian]

Years ago when mustaches were still "out" and a clean shaven look was in, a buddy of mine was in ROTC - a sort of pre-military organization for those in grades 9-12 here in the States - and he had a mustache. He was the only guy in high school who was capable of growing a mustache at the time and was rightly proud of it. His superior stopped in front of him during inspection and told him that no one in the unit was supposed to have a mustache. My buddy replied something to the effect of: "Sir, my father has a mustache; his father had a mustache and his father had a mustache. Sir, it is a TRADITION, Sir...and I am expected to uphold the tradition." It was a load of B.S. but they bought it and Carl kept his mustache with no further comment from the ROTC commander.

I don't know what kind of stake you have in belonging to this organization but I would look at this as an experiment. I would suggest wearing your kilt to the meetings and bringing a pair of trousers along and changing from the kilt to the trousers (in the men's room, of course) just before the meeting begins. Sit throught the meeting in trousers and then, when it's over, change back...make it clear that the wearing of the trousers is a concession to the Air Defence Guild and that you will wear them only on their time, not yours. I would try this a couple of times and then perhaps "accidentally" arrive at the very last minute with no time to change before the meeting begins. They will either let it go or stop and wait for you to change into what they consider "appropriate" garb. It would be worth finding out if it was a real objection that they have or just the whim of the officer in question.

It's a shame that they won't consider the tradition of the wearing of the kilt in the military...perhaps they would commission their own tartan (show them the Canadian Air Force tartan - it's very nice) if they got the message.

Best of luck, though...the military runs the way it does for a reason and trying to force changes usually come to naught.

best

AA