Wearing ex military issue and items

**kilted redleg** · 3rd October 22, 08:20 AM

I have a Robert Mackie glengarry that was made for me to to commemorate my joining of the US Army some 40+ years ago. I asked for dicing in the colors of black and gold the traditional army colors according to the army college of heraldry. The best part of this is I was looking at some photos of the West Point Cadet pipes and drum band, it's the same glengarry they wear! lol. Any body questions me I'll show them a copy of my DD 214 [honorable discharge papers] which entitles me to wear anything black and gold. So long as I don't A) misrepresent my rank and B) give myself awards I did not earn - stolen valor.

**ObiSeanKenobi** · 3rd October 22, 08:21 AM

Another former US Soldier chiming in here—this is all my own opinion and perspective, but I know it, anecdotally, to be shared with at least a few other former servicemembers.

There's no problem in the US with wearing surplus military gear in civilian contexts. Fatigues, boots, and headgear seem to be especially common for a variety of reasons. I can't say that I've ever seen a civilian wear any component of a Class A uniform. I also don't see any issue whatsoever in wearing retired uniform patterns or components—If I saw a guy walk down the street in full woodland camo BDUs, I'd assume he's part of a militia group (or maybe just a little nutty) but not US military.

However, when a civilian dresses up in full current uniform (fatigues or otherwise), the obvious intent is to misappropriate the valor associated with that uniform. Likewise, certain elements of a uniform hold special significance, such as colored berets. If I ever saw a maroon, green, tan, grey, or blue beret (with flash and with or without a unit crest) on anyone I knew had not served in any of the associated divisions, even in a civilian wear context, I'd be upset.

So I guess my perhaps inconsistent opinion is that:

piecemeal usage of individual uniform components is acceptable
retired uniform components or components from disbanded units are acceptable
full uniform cosplay is unacceptable
civilian use of components from elite specialty divisions or regiments is unacceptable

**imbrius** · 3rd October 22, 08:29 AM

My best pair of shiny dress shoes were issued to me on the occasion of my enlistment in the United States Air Force. I never completed basic training due to medical issues. However, because of many, many paperwork snags, it turned out that the unit to which the shoes (and boots) were to be returned no longer existed and it made many fewer headaches for everyone if the shoes and boots just "disappeared" (into my closet, with the encouragement of our unit clerk / secretary).

So to this day, I have a very nice pair of Bates Lites dress shoes and an unknown make of arctic warfare combat boots that are excellent for hiking in winter. The only other things I kept were my dog tags, service dress nameplate and "U.S." collar insignia. None of those things are ever worn; I have them only as a memento that I tried.

**Father Bill** · 3rd October 22, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by ObiSeanKenobi

*snip* certain elements of a uniform hold special significance, such as colored berets. If I ever saw a maroon, green, tan, grey, or blue beret (with flash and with or without a unit crest) on anyone I knew had not served in any of the associated divisions, even in a civilian wear context, I'd be upset.*snip*

Interesting, since I have a maroon beret that was formerly part of my Boy Scouts Canada uniform when we wore grey shirts for some years.

Hmm! Of course, it has a "Scouts Canada" badge on the front of it, but even as a retired commissioner, I wouldn't be inclined to wear it with the badge, but might wear it if I removed that badge.

Hmm!

**ObiSeanKenobi** · 3rd October 22, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

Interesting, since I have a maroon beret that was formerly part of my Boy Scouts Canada uniform when we wore grey shirts for some years.

Hmm! Of course, it has a "Scouts Canada" badge on the front of it, but even as a retired commissioner, I wouldn't be inclined to wear it with the badge, but might wear it if I removed that badge.

Hmm!

I think to me the difference is the distinctive shield-shaped flash on the front of the beret for US military uniforms. I'm not sure if the BSC beret bears such a device or if the badge is simply affixed to the colored body of the beret, but from my admittedly brief research it looks like other similar Scouts uniform berets have a badge affixed to the beret without a flash or patch behind it.

**FossilHunter** · 4th October 22, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by kilted redleg

Congratulations alpha your simple question has kicked off a great discussion in the rabble - well done.
So here's my question regarding this discussion. I served in the US Army in 1973 - 79 and the colors of our dress uniform for Spring and Winter was called "Dress Greens." So say that I go to Glengarry hats a purchase a dark green balmoral hat that matches the color of my dress uniform, however in Canada apparently that color cap is reserved for "special forces." http://www.glengarryhats.com/balmora...moralgreen.php
Would I be "disrespecting" Canadian special forces by wearing this cap with the US Army clan cap badge on it, or better yet I purchase a tam-o-shanter and put my old army unit patch on it is that considered a faux pas and stepping on someone's toes in either the UK or Canada?

Do Canadian special forces wear a balmoral bonnet in that color or a beret?

If it’s a beret then it’s not the same hat and I would think it shouldn’t be an issue.

**Jock Scot** · 4th October 22, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by FossilHunter

Do Canadian special forces wear a balmoral bonnet in that color or a beret?

If it’s a beret then it’s not the same hat and I would think it shouldn’t be an issue.

If you are talking about a green beret, then depending on the shade of green, could cause upset in the UK. The Royal Marines, the assorted Rifle units, and the Intelligence Corps to name just some with their own shade of green. However, I think a green balmoral would probably not cause any upset particularly if the rather severe shaving, shrinking and military "tailoring" that seems so common outwith these shores is avoided. A modest "jocking" is one thing, but I think the military look is best avoided. We are, after all, talking about civilian attire here.

**McMurdo** · 4th October 22, 07:49 PM

There are a couple of military items in this outfit. Namely the kilt which is from the Great War period and the sporran cantle. I see no problem wearing either. The kilt comes out in the colder months of course while the sporran has become my favourite.

**plaid preacher** · 5th October 22, 06:51 AM

Originally Posted by FossilHunter

Do Canadian special forces wear a balmoral bonnet in that color or a beret? 
 
If it’s a beret then it’s not the same hat and I would think it shouldn’t be an issue.

FossilHunter - I was trying to avoid this conversation; but your question is apt.&nbsp; There is no special forces bonnet.&nbsp; Indeed, of you look at the listing carefully it is "special forces green" not a "special forces bonnet".&nbsp; Furthermore, I would suggest that Glengarry Hats is attempting to market to folks in the US who equate special forces with Green Berets.&nbsp; The truth is in Canada, all standard issue army berets are green and everyone gets one.&nbsp; Canadian Special Forces berets are sand. (I hope to photo sticks) https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadi...zvogqbavvrgvzn

**FossilHunter** · 5th October 22, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by plaid preacher

FossilHunter - I was trying to avoid this conversation; but your question is apt.&nbsp; There is no special forces bonnet.&nbsp; Indeed, of you look at the listing carefully it is "special forces green" not a "special forces bonnet".&nbsp; Furthermore, I would suggest that Glengarry Hats is attempting to market to folks in the US who equate special forces with Green Berets.&nbsp; The truth is in Canada, all standard issue army berets are green and everyone gets one.&nbsp; Canadian Special Forces berets are sand. (I hope to photo sticks) https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadi...zvogqbavvrgvzn

Indeed. My thought is that as a bonnet is not a beret, one should only be considering whether someone might assume they were pretending to belong to a bonnet wearing unit they didn’t belong to (e.g. a red hackle on a navy bonnet).

If someone is offended that one is wearing a somewhat similar hat that happens to be a certain color, I wouldn’t be bothered by it. You can’t please everyone and by simply avoiding berets of a similar color, I think one has done their due diligence. I don’t think it extends to every hat style in existence.