US Veterans, militaria, etc...

[Arnot]

I am a tad hazy in US Military terminology and you may have already mentioned it in American! But the British Services "wooly pully" is a fine smart casual addition to one's kilt attire.

I agree. I wore one today in fact. It is olive green and is a V-neck. I wear the standard issue one as well. I also wear my US Army black one.

[The Q]

I am a tad hazy in US Military terminology and you may have already mentioned it in American! But the British Services "wooly pully" is a fine smart casual addition to one's kilt attire.

Since the RAF have now accepted the RAF tartan for their bands, Sadly wearing my old "wooly pully" might well appear too Military when I finally get an RAF Kilt...

The RAF "wooly pully" is round necked designed to be worn without a tie.... which is why they promptly made us wear a tie with it, downright uncomfortable, the knot of the tie being pushed into your throat by the edge of the pullover...

[Benning Boy]

I'm retired Army with 28 years of service. I don't wear anything associated with the Army uniform when kilted, or otherwise. Except a combat patch tattooed on my right shoulder, but I'm sure that doesn't count.

We have had a few here ask about wearing items of military uniform. They find it is basically verboten and then go ahead and wear whatever they want anyway. So, it's your thing, do what you wanna do.

AR 670-1 puts limits on the wear of medals by civilians. It is available as a pdf online -- easy to find. Near the bottom in chapter 23, paragraph 23-6 tells you what you may wear and when. Basically you can only wear your medals with your kilt if you are participating in something of a military nature. Attending a Highland Games doesn't count. You can't just make up a day you consider to be a military occasion. Wearing them on Armistice Day, or as we now call it Veterans Day, would be allowed. Also on Memorial Day, which is the day we remember deceased members of he armed forces, and Armed Forces Day on the third Saturday of May. That's about it. Any other time is questionable, although you might be able to justify wearing them on Army Day, April 6.

An enlisted dress coat of the current style could be converted into an Ike jack and make a sharp item to wear with your kilt. By converting it you would in effect be demilitarizing it as it is no longer of proper military cut. You'd also have to replace the buttons. When I first entered the Army, silver buttons were allowed as an optional item. Nowadays only gold buttons are authorized. I've considered putting my old silver buttons on my dark blue Ike jacket, and arguing that as they are no longer an authorized item of uniform, they are not forbidden for wear with civilian clothing, but that may be stretching things. Anyway, you could only doll up a version of the Ike jacket with medals and such on a few limited occasions.

Wear of the entire Army uniform is allow for retired and former soldiers. But it is to be worn in the proper way, as a serving soldier would, complete with regulation haircut and clean shaven. As I'm now a shaggy old dog, I can't wear the uniform. Old soldiers should keep this in mind.

Viet Nam vets seem to be the worst about wearing their items of uniform in unauthorized ways, and most likely to get militant about it. Don't follow their lead.

[davidlpope]

I wear miniature medals for black tie events when everyone else will be wearing them.

I don't wear any other military ribbons, pins, medals, dewdads, geegaws, etc.

I do have several ties which feature subtle EGAs that I wear sometimes with my kilt, since there is not an official USMC necktie.

I think this is a case where less is more and it's better to be subtle. Otherwise, it seems that you're intentionally trying to draw attention to yourself, which is just plain tacky.

[Reiver]

Sir William,
I went to the SAMS website to see if I can get a handle on this phenomena.

From the history section it says basically that some guys were walking around in kilts/medals and noticed each other...they got together and made an organization so they could...walk around in kilts with medals on.

I understand veteran organizations but fail to see a military link with the kilt allowing for that display.

Sorry to beat a dead horse but I find it ostentatious to say the least.

BTW, I'm sure the org. does some very good deeds...scholarship/citizenship related etc.
I appreciate that.

[Sir William]

Sir William,
I went to the SAMS website to see if I can get a handle on this phenomena.

From the history section it says basically that some guys were walking around in kilts/medals and noticed each other...they got together and made an organization so they could...walk around in kilts with medals on.

I understand veteran organizations but fail to see a military link with the kilt allowing for that display.

Sorry to beat a dead horse but I find it ostentatious to say the least.

BTW, I'm sure the org. does some very good deeds...scholarship/citizenship related etc.
I appreciate that.

First off, SAMS has been around for about 30 years, so it is not a phenomena or a fad.

Perhaps the phenomena is that when someone puts on a kilt they feel the need to add military accoutrement: ribbons, badges, patches, swords, dirks, flintlock pistols, etc. I suspect the martial history of various Scottish regiments has something to do with it.

SAMS was founded as a veterans' organization, not unlike the VFW, American Legion, the Marine Corps League, and others, for those former, retired and current military members who have a Scottish connection. Posts and Camps are formed where sufficient members live, and each post or camp establishes it's own uniform, the only consistency of which is that a kilt is worn.

Most SAMS posts and camps provide color guards at Scottish Games (Celtic Festivals, etc), perform memorial ceremonies on Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc, (my local post does a lot of ceremonies in the DC area on these days). My post is also heavily engaged in Wounded Warrior, Honor Flight, and Quilts of Valor. As you noted, they are also engaged in recognizing and encouraging scholarship and leadership.

SAMS may not be your cup of tea, but like other veteran organizations they do a lot in supporting the military and veterans. They just happen to wear a kilt, in addition to their ribbons or medals, while doing it.

[Reiver]

Ok, forward march.
Question....when the SAMS gents posted the colors at our Highland games in Phoenix they also used British Regulation marching moves ....and a mix of commands.
What is that about?
BTW, looking at your coat of arms etc.....the majority of the Highland Scots in the Colonies fought for the Crown...the lowland and borderer's were primarily rebels. I suggest 'The Road to Guilford Courthouse' as an indicator of such. Covers the Scots in the Carolina's/Virginia etc.
Maybe that's why the Brit marching moves....

[Sir William]

Ok, forward march.
Question....when the SAMS gents posted the colors at our Highland games in Phoenix they also used British Regulation marching moves ....and a mix of commands.
What is that about?

Totally up the Post. Ours uses US commands.

BTW, looking at your coat of arms etc.....the majority of the Highland Scots in the Colonies fought for the Crown...the lowland and borderer's were primarily rebels. I suggest 'The Road to Guilford Courthouse' as an indicator of such. Covers the Scots in the Carolina's/Virginia etc.
Maybe that's why the Brit marching moves....

Couldn't agree more! Personally, I don't like the frontiersman emblem they use (supposed to indicate the Over Mountain men who fought at King's Mountain). I didn't design them and had no input (already being used when I joined in 1982).