Military tartans

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 1st August 06, 11:33 AM

Thanks for chiming in guys. I realize the comparison to camo is not a great comparison, but I could not think of another off the top of my head. The whole thought just came to me as I was driving home yesterday when I was stuck in traffic and letting my mind wander.

And I probably worded it too strongly by saying the "right" to wear a tartan. I was more looking for others opinions on the topic. I would feel comfortable wearing any of them just to show my support and respect for our troops, past and present. But I could also wear the Air Force tartan to respect my uncle who retired from the USAF, the Army tartan to show respect for my wife's father who is a retired CWO from the Army, and the Navy tartan to honor my grandfather on my father's side, who served in the Navy in WWII.

And Todd, sorry again! I promise to remember the Heraldry and Tartans sub-forum next time! Mea culpa!

**WolfPiper** · 1st August 06, 06:41 PM

It is my understanding that Marines tend to be a little more sensitive about posers that your typical US serviceman. Although the USMC has not officially sanctioned it as "official," I have met several marines who could identify it at a glance.

When my band decided to use the Leatherneck tartan, we sent a letter to the commandant of the Corps seeking his blessing and we have his reply framed in our office. As I was not a member of the band at the time and I never thought to ask, I do not know the reson for the choice.

Once we had a group of (somewhat drunk and rowdy) marines ask us why we dared to wear "their kilts," we explained that we did so with the blessing of the Commandant of the Corps. Than seemed to amuse them and they offered to buy us drinks. Then we told them that we were guests of the bar (It was St. Patrick's day) and were drinking for free. We set them us for a round and suddenly they thought we were pretty great!

**Southern Breeze** · 1st August 06, 06:54 PM

I feel that one can wear any tartan they like as long as they do so with respect and knowledge of the tartan and it's background. Having said that I would never wear one of the U.S service tartans out of respect. I do however wear The Black Watch when I play at a funeral and hope to soon replace that with the clergy tartan.

**macwilkin** · 1st August 06, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Southern Breeze

I feel that one can wear any tartan they like as long as they do so with respect and knowledge of the tartan and it's background. Having said that I would never wear one of the U.S service tartans out of respect. I do however wear the Blackwatch when I play at a funeral and hope to soon replace that with the clergy tartan.

Just as an FYI, I see this a lot around here, but the Regiment's name, as well as the tartan is "The Black Watch", two words, not one. No offence meant, just thought I'd mention that in this section.

Cheers,

Todd

**Southern Breeze** · 1st August 06, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Just as an FYI, I see this a lot around here, but the Regiment's name, as well as the tartan is "The Black Watch", two words, not one. No offence meant, just thought I'd mention that in this section.

Cheers,

Todd

Picky,picky, picky. No offense taken. We really should watch how we use that name out of respect for the regiment.

One other thing- that's three words, not two.

**macwilkin** · 2nd August 06, 03:29 AM

Originally Posted by Southern Breeze

Picky,picky, picky. No offense taken. We really should watch how we use that name out of respect for the regiment.

One other thing- that's three words, not two.

Touche. :rolleyes:

T.

**SingleBarrelBourbon** · 2nd August 06, 05:17 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

...
Keep in mind that with all of the US military tartans, the only one that I know of that is actually officially sanctioned by the military is the Coast Guard tartan. All of the other ones are fashion tartans. That means that someone designed them with that particular branch of military in mind, with the intent of honoring and representing that military branch, but the tartans themselves have no official standing with the military whatsoever.
...

Aye,
Matt

Everyone, please note that the Polaris tartan is recognized by the US Navy in that it is the official tartan of the US Naval Academy Pipe Band.

From the ElectricScotland website, www.electricscotland.com, "The Polaris tartan was designed for the officers and men of the American Submarine base at the Holy Loch - making the Polaris submarine the first ship in history to have its own tartan. The idea came from Captain Walter F Schlech, Commander of the submarine base. It proved very popular with the men who served there, as it provided a very powerful symbol of there newly found link with Scotland." More including discussion of the design and what the actual colors used are included at the site.

**macwilkin** · 2nd August 06, 09:19 AM

Two more tartans associated with the US Military:

The West Point tartan, worn by the Pipes and Drums of the US Military Academy at West Point, New York:

http://www.usma.edu/USCC/dca/clubs/C...Info/pipd.html

And the tartan for the 7th US Cavalry Regiment*, which at one time, had a pipe band:

http://www.us7thcavalry.com/7-cav-k.htm

*At one time, the pipers of the 7th Cavalry wore saffron kilts, as their uniforms were based on the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Inniskilling Fusilers of the British Army. It appears that the tartan was adopted sometime in the 1990's, although the information is not clear.

On the US Coast Guard Pipe Band's web site, there is a reference to other Army Pipe Bands:

the modern era has seen official recognition of U.S. Army pipe bands wearing uniform kilts with U.S. military uniforms organized by the 2nd infantry Division, the 5th Infantry Division, the 8th Infantry Division, the 31st infantry Division, the 42nd Infantry Division, and the Sixth Army. The U.S. Army currently recognizes the right of members of the pipe bands of 91stDivision, U.S. Army Reserve, California National Guard and Oregon National Guard Reserve to wear kilts of a prescribed pattern with their Army uniforms.*

-- http://www.uscgpipeband.org/pages/faq.html

The 91st Division Band's web site has this to say:

In addition to the traditional brass, woodwind and percussion sections, the 91st Division Band is distinctive in that it also features a bagpipe section. There is only one other Army band in the United States with a bagpipe contingent: the band of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

-- http://www.usarc.army.mil/91div/band.asp

The story continues...

Cheers,

Todd