Wearing of miniature medals with PC?

[Birddog]

Like I said, Herman, he should point out that it is nothing more than interservice rivalry. I checked his profile before I posted anything to confirm this, but found nothing. I can take a ribbing from a squid, but not an insult from someone who aint a vet. Been a long day, maybe I need to just go to bed.
AA, it just isn't that simple, sadly, My old unit would accept wearing ball caps while we were flying; my new one won't even let me roll my sleeves up two inches! All up to the commander of the unit.

[Carolina Kiltman]

I live near Ft. Bragg, NC. Probably more military and ex-military per sq mile here than anywhere other than Washington DC. Also it has been a looong time since I was on active duty in the Navy. (We used round shot and rammers back then) So I can only report what I have seen. At local games, I have seen a lot of ribbons worn with kilts. In our local organization (Cape Fear Valley Scottish Clans) we have a Lt.Col who wears his rank with a kilt as well when attending group functions. (Of course this was as commander of the Colour Guard for a parade.) At our Burns Night celebrations, lots of medals are in evidence. Just wanted to say, this discussion all brings back memories!

[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

[Mr. MacDougall]

Hey, gang. As it happens, "Air Farce" was a typo, and I apologize if anyone took it otherwise. It wasn't my intent. However... now that I've made the typo... I may well use it in earnest for teasing, later. And yes; I served five years as a Hospital Corpsman of the United States Navy.


And now, back on topic... at this past year's Northern Arizona Celtic Heritage Society's Burns Night, I chose to wear a fly plaid with my Navy tartan kilt, rather than miniature medals. I'm thinking about doing the opposite, this coming year.

[LANCER1562]

A couple of years ago, I attended a Hogmanay celebration and a Burns Night at a local pub and at both functions there was a serving US Army Command Sgt. Major who was wearing mini medals on his PC with his Mackenzie tartan kilt. Because the events were held off-base it was probably permitted by regulations.

As has been stated before, check with your CO.

[Conroy]

From mcvarmit's Post

"as for veterans who aren't on active duty, such as myself, i wear what i damn well please, weather it be ribbons, mini's or gongs."

I also have been out of uniform for over 40 years and agree with you. I wear mini's at both kilted and other formal occasions. I am proud of my service and it is a way to show that pride.

[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.

[Mr. MacDougall]

As I've said before in threads about wearing our decorations in public, I'm in favor of it. I wear my aircrew and surface warfare badges on my Navy tartan kilt as kilt pins, and have my aircrew wings embroidered on a name patch I most often wear with the flight jacket that is my major item of wintertime dress.

It's getting to the point that those of us who've seen the elephant are a minority. There was a time when everyone's brother / father / uncle / whatever had served in World War Two, or Korea, or Viet Nam, but as those conflicts get further behind us, people are losing touch with the warriors among them... particularly as those of us who served later tend to be very modest, and quiet about our service.

Civilians don't understand what it is to see that elephant, and they can't even begin to, unless there are people who are willing to talk to them about it, to explain what can be explained, and field the thousand and one stupid questions. That's part of why I make myself visible... not to grandstand, but, hopefully, to help build a bridge between warriors of the past, and those who may make that decision to serve, in the future... or just to help someone who wants to understand to take that first step, and have someone to ask.