Wearing of miniature medals with PC?

[TheSp8]

For Soldiers, AR 670-1 says miniature medals are authorized for wear on formal civilian attire at formal social functions when wear of the uniform is inappropriate or unauthorized. I don't know the regulation for Air Force but would imagine it is similar. I fully intend to wear mine after retirement.

YMOS,
Tony

[TheKiltedCoder]

For Soldiers, AR 670-1 says miniature medals are authorized for wear on formal civilian attire at formal social functions when wear of the uniform is inappropriate or unauthorized. I don't know the regulation for Air Force but would imagine it is similar. I fully intend to wear mine after retirement.

YMOS,
Tony

Good Morning, Tony,

Thanks! I knew there was a reg for that somewhere, and that I'd actually read it at some point. I was about to have to take an hour or so and try to dig it out of the Army web site, and you've already found it.

Thanks,

Brian

[An t-Ileach]

If this isn't restricted to the USA, Queen's Regulations - and I'd guess that therefore it's the same for Australia, Canada, and NZ - only allow the wearing of miniatures with full evening dress and mess dress. So, one could wear them, I suppose, with whatever would count as full evening dress with the kilt (I would imagine that would mean fly plaid and the rest of the gear). The only acceptable mess kit with the kilt would be if one were serving with a kilted unit. Otherwise, one has to wear the medals themselves, preferably court mounted, as is required with dinner jacket or lounge suit.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

If this isn't restricted to the USA, Queen's Regulations - and I'd guess that therefore it's the same for Australia, Canada, and NZ - only allow the wearing of miniatures with full evening dress and mess dress. So, one could wear them, I suppose, with whatever would count as full evening dress with the kilt (I would imagine that would mean fly plaid and the rest of the gear). The only acceptable mess kit with the kilt would be if one were serving with a kilted unit. Otherwise, one has to wear the medals themselves, preferably court mounted, as is required with dinner jacket or lounge suit.

Queen's Regulations only apply to the military, and can (and do) vary slightly within the Commonwealth and "Her dominions beyond the seas".

St. James's Palace has issued slightly different instructions for civilians wearing Orders, Decorations, and Medals in the presence of the Sovereign. These rules were neatly codified by Mr. Stephen Connolley, and published in a handy guide book by Spink about 20 years ago. This set of regulations has now become the world-wide standard for the wearing of Orders, Decorations, and Medals by civilians:

Briefly it states that miniature medals are worn only with white tie or black tie. They are only to be worn in the evening, and never during the day.

Full size medals are only worn during the day on either an overcoat or on the jacket of the suit. They are never worn at night.

The civilian regulations further state that medals (full size or miniature) should NOT be worn unless the invitation to the event specifically states otherwise.

Likewise insignia of military rank (present or former) should not be worn on civilian clothing.

There are finer details discussed in the guide, but these are the basics, and frankly I don't care if the wee man in the back in the lime-green velvet Montrose with his Master Sergeant's chevrons velcro-ed to his sleeves has an objection or not. Like he's undoubtedly busting his bladder to say, "this is America and we can do what we want". And of course, he's right. He can do whatever he wants, including making a complete *** of himself next time he's out in public, festooned with medals, and looking for all the world like Hermann Goering's Christmas tree.