To wear or not to wear...Royal Marines Beret

[Birddog]

I'd say wear the beret with the badge that was given to you or wear the EGA that you also are entitled to wear.

I have a Sorta Kinda Maybe similar issue.... as you know I was in the USAF, but when I was on a SF Combat FOB I was attached to the 25th ID and wore the patch on my BDUs in the combat zone. Im very proud of this service yet I'm hesitant to wear or display the patch on anything (hats, Shirts, or display cases) here stateside. What are your thoughts Birddog?

Something I never hesitate to do is display and proudly wear my old USAF FireDawg badge. Guns and Hoses Baby!!!!

Also, if you were to wear a USAF tartan, what would you personally wear as a cap badge?

Well, you were attached to them, so I feel where it with pride. I certainly would not hesitate to put the patch in a shadow box.

As far as wearing the AF tartan, you were a firedawg, is there a smaller badge that you could use as a cap badge? Otherwise, I would go with your clan, I suppose. Perhaps a small firefighters cross...Alot of possibilities.
Kevin

[jbaker42j]

Thanks for the input CelticSire and Kevin. yeah I could probably order a smaller version of the badge. I think it would look pretty sharp.

I'll probably put the 25th ID badge in my shadow box along with my other patches, badges, and metals.

I just got back from joint Beach Rescue training with the Fire Dept and Police Department and a Police recruit took one look at my memorial tattoo (Helmet, Rifle, Boots, and Tags) on my forearm and said "So were you in the military?" and I quickly said "I was in the US Air Force!" to which he replied "Oh, I thought you were in the miltary."

You know a Leatherneck just can't resist. Anyway, I didn't even have to say anything because my PD buddy who was Security Forces in the AF and his Sgt, who spend 20 in the Navy came up and gave him some ribbing and it quickly turned into a Squids vs Jarheads event. This is what happens when you get a bunch of Firefighters and Cops together, especially ones that served in all different branches. HA! But I am proud to work any vet, any branch, any day!

[jbaker42j]

wow, I sorta just hijacked your Thread...sorry bro.


Get back to the good man's issue!!! The Royal Marines Beret!

[Hillwalker]

Oops… sorry for venting, now back to the thread.

It sounds like to me that the beret was more like a gift for working with and making friends with others in that unit. I personally would not wear the beret because I did not earn it. I think that you have to earn something in order to wear it. However, I would have it displayed in my home somewhere.

I earned my Air Assault wings so I have them plastered all over the place. I worked with other branches of the service and foreign units; but I would never wear their gear because I simply did not do all of the things that they did in order to earn the right to wear them.

However, I will stick to my usually disclaimer: “End the end this is a free country, you can do what you like.”

[CelticSire]

I earned my Air Assault wings so I have them plastered all over the place.

Typical for a bullwinkle badge holder.

(A little good-natured ribbing from a fellow Air Assault (and Airborne) wing wearer. Remember five-and-dimes?)

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

I wouldn't wear the beret, but would keep it as a souvenir. That's just personal.

You can always get a balmoral and wear whatever badges you want on it. You can go for a Monty (Fieldmarshall Montgomery) and wear a couple of unit's badges.

[Birddog]

At this point, I think the thread is digressing into inter service rivalry. Come now, not everyone can be a Marine; the rest of you don't have to be jealous!

I thank everyone for their opinions, those for and those against. But I will go with the words from the Royal Marines that were querried, and wear the beret with the badge. After all, they are the lads that saw fit to honour me with being an honourary Royal Marine. I end this thread by saying Thank You to all of the veterans and service members who have answered the call, and that goes for every nation represented on this forum. Keep your heads up, your backs straight, and your rifle clean.
Kevin "Birddog" Driscoll
MSgt, USAF

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

Actually, it was rather humourous when the US army switched to berets as I believe it created quite a stir based upon colour choices. So, It wouldn't surprise me that the USMC might discount berets based upon such comments: "Too foreign and Feminine looking."

British military berets are rather multihued in their character. US SF is green from its relationship to British Commando Units.

Well, at least the standard US army beret is not the "snot beret" of the British intelligence corps.

[McMurdo]

As the Original poster has asked this thread is now closed