Jock,

Couldn't agree more, except that American military units typially (there are exceptions) and sadly don't have an official tie, though many have an "Association" tie of sorts. We tend to wear various badges or pins to show our military service.

The Marine Corps doesn't have an "official" regimental tie, though there are plenty with our "cap badge" (the Eagle, Globe and Anchor) that can be had. One of the uniform tailors in Quantico Town once (and may still do so) sold a "regimental" green-based striped tie but I've only seen a handful of people wear one in the 30 years since I got mine. I recently saw a blue-based USMC regimental tie sold at the Pentagon - again, very unofficial.

That said, when I went to Scotland recently, I wore my Marine Corps Heritage Association tie and the blue-base tie mentioned above. The Heritage tie is more subtle than the typical USMC tie as it shows the early Marine Corps emblem (before the EGA) which is now displayed on the uniform buttons.