Quote Originally Posted by KiltedCoastie View Post
Interesting all the answers to the question. I might add another option. In CG Regs as in USN regs minature medals are part of the required uniform of a dinner dress jacket that was designed to mock a PC jacket.
Actually the mess jackets worn by the various services in the US are based on the mess jackets worn by the various British services. They're not modeled on the Prince Charlie coatee, which in all likelihood dates from the late 1930s.

If one wishes to wear a "mess jacket" instead of a coatee-- fine. But, what looks bad, and is in contravention of federal regulations concerning the wearing of US service uniforms, is showing up kilted in one's Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine/Coast Guard mess jacket, complete with buttons, badges, insignia of rank, etc.

All service regs are clear on this issue: former or retired personnel either wear the full uniform, or civilian attire. There is no middle ground, and no exception is made for kilt wearers.