US military insignia

[Geoff Withnell]

The United States Marine Corps regulations specifically ALLOWS the wearing of ribbons and medals. I quote:

5105. DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBON BARS, AND LAPEL BUTTONS WORN ON CIVILIAN CLOTHING

1. Decorations, medals, appropriate ribbon bars, or lapel buttons may be worn on civilian clothes at the individual's discretion. Individuals should ensure that the occasion and the manner of wearing will not reflect discredit on the award.

[creagdhubh]

The United States Marine Corps regulations specifically ALLOWS the wearing of ribbons and medals. I quote:

5105. DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBON BARS, AND LAPEL BUTTONS WORN ON CIVILIAN CLOTHING

1. Decorations, medals, appropriate ribbon bars, or lapel buttons may be worn on civilian clothes at the individual's discretion. Individuals should ensure that the occasion and the manner of wearing will not reflect discredit on the award.

As far as Highland dress goes, I usually only wear my miniature medals with black tie and that's it (and I don't even do that all the time). I haven't worn my rifle expert badge, pistol expert badge, ribbons and parachutist wings since I was on active-duty in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Semper Fi!

[unixken]

Here's the most concise summary I can find, for all U.S. Military branches. This, from http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theor.../medalwear.htm

Army. Army Regulation 670-1, paragraph 30-6, says that former members of the Army (including active duty, reserves, or Army National Guard), may wear medals on "appropriate" civilian clothing on Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, and Armed Forces Day, as well as at "formal occasions of ceremony and social functions of a military nature." "Appropriate" civilian clothes includes clothes designed for veteran and patriotic organizations, such as VFW or American Legion uniforms. You can wear either the full-size or miniature-size medals. You should place the medals and decorations in approximately the same location and in the same manner as for the Army uniform, so they look similar to medals worn on the Army uniform.

Air Force. Air Force Instruction 36-2903, paragraph 4-4 says that honorably discharged and retired Air Force members may wear full-size or miniature medals on civilian suits on appropriate occasions such as Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day. Female members may wear full-size or miniature medals on equivalent dress. As with the Army, medals should be placed in the approximate same location and in the manner they are placed on the Air Force Uniform.

Navy. The Navy Uniform Regulations, Chapter 6, paragraph 61002, subparagraph 7 includes the requirements for wearing Navy decorations on civilian clothes. The regulation authorizes the wear of miniature medals and Miniature Breast Insignia on civilian evening dress (white tie) or civilian dinner dress (black tie) in the same manner as for dinner dress jackets. For non-dress-up affairs, you may wear miniature replicas of ribbons made in the form of lapel buttons, or ribbons made in rosette form, on the left lapel of civilian clothes. You may also wear miniature distinguished marksmanship and pistol shot badges as a lapel pin or as part of a tie clasp on civilian clothing.

Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Uniform Regulation, MCO P1020.34G, says that decorations, medals, appropriate ribbon bars, or lapel buttons may be worn on civilian clothes at the individual’s discretion. Individuals should ensure that the occasion and the manner of wearing will not reflect discredit on the award. Miniature medals may be worn with civilian evening dress. For non-evening dress, miniature replicas of ribbons made in the form of enameled lapel buttons, or ribbons made in rosette form, may be worn on the left lapel of civilian clothes.

Coast Guard. The Coast Guard Uniform Regulation, Table 3.G.1, allows the wear of miniature medals with civilian evening dress (white tie). You should wear them in the same manner as prescribed for Formal Dress uniform, and with civilian dinner dress (black tie) in the same manner as prescribed for Dinner Dress uniforms. Miniature ribbon replicas may be worn on the left lapel of other civilian clothes.

[Chas]

Surely the military regulations cover military personnel ONLY. Once a man leaves the service, he cannot be forced to comply with regulations designed for someone else. What an ex-serviceman does with insignia is purely down to good taste and morals.

Regards

Chas

[Dusty]

The other day I broke my kilt pin. I panicked as I was late for a function and did not have another kilt pin. What to do? I was wearing my US Army Tartan kilt and thought why not wear my SFC rank with my Retired US Army pin below it. I thought it look great and several people said it did also.

[unixken]

Surely the military regulations cover military personnel ONLY. Once a man leaves the service, he cannot be forced to comply with regulations designed for someone else. What an ex-serviceman does with insignia is purely down to good taste and morals.

Regards

Chas

Chas, the regs don't cover "the person". They cover "the uniform"... what it is, how, and when it should be worn. Be the person's status as active duty, veteran, or retired, the uniform is treated with the same level of respect.

Ken

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Many of my military medals came with a lapel pin which is like a metal miniature of the associated ribbon. Those should be fine, wearing them of course in a manner so as not to reflect any dishonor.

[unixken]

Many of my military medals came with a lapel pin which is like a metal miniature of the associated ribbon. Those should be fine, wearing them of course in a manner so as not to reflect any dishonor.

Those would be the miniatures that a few of us have described, above. See the brief summary that I posted in post #13 above, to see what your branch of service allows for the minis (though generally allowed on civilian clothing, your branch may offer additional restrictions (such as level of formality of dress. etc.)

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Those would be the miniatures that a few of us have described, above. See the brief summary that I posted in post #13 above, to see what your branch of service allows for the minis (though generally allowed on civilian clothing, your branch may offer additional restrictions (such as level of formality of dress. etc.)

These aren't miniature medals (which I have for formal wear when requested) but just the ribbon.

[unixken]

Ah. Sorry about that. I mis-read your post. You are correct. The enameled lapel pins are not the same as mini-medals, and are ok for wear with civilian apparel.