CLSNA' LamontCentral Forum

Drac · Senior Member

Kilts with military uniforms

Coinneach · Past President - CLSNA

So you're going to wear the kilt (Paperback)

by J. Charles Thompson (Author)

This book will answer alot of your questions, its been around longer than me.

Knockdow · Guru

There is a group in the NW, SAM (Scottish American Military) society that is active at most of the games. I think they are mostly retired judging by there ages biggrin

but they wear there military tops with medals and regalia with their kilts. I bet they can help you

Drac · Senior Member

Thanks to both of you.

I have added the book to my Amazon account.

I will be contacting the local Post as they have one in Dallas about the uniform issues.

Jim

Wood Badger · Senior Member

As a member of the American Legion, I have sent your question on to A. L. HQ to see what they say.
OK so that will take care of the offical...My perspective is this...If you are Active Duty, and are invited to a forma function, put on the proper uniform (no Kilt) it saves the trouble of some uniform guru questioning you about the proper way to ware a uniform. If you are a Veteran or Retired, then I say ware the Kilt with a Military Top and PROUDLY ware your Medals, you earned them. Not sure of the black or white tie...I don't think their is a specific meaning to it, just the preference of the Host of the function. If black tie, you ware a black bowtie.
Just joined Clan Lamont in February, and signed up on this sight today so I am not sure if this helps you out, when I hear from The Legion HQ I will let you know what they say.

David · President - CLSNA

Hey Richard!

Glad you came on board. I look forward to seeing more posts from you.

MacPatrick · Senior Member

Welcome to the forum Wood Badger,

Attached is a copy of a photo that shows military medals being worn with the kilt at a civilian function. The gentlemen on the left is a USMC veteran and is wearing the Leatherneck Tartan. He is wearing the medals correctly. The gentlemen with the two medals is wearing them incorrectly. I know I shouldn't be talking about correctness as I am wearing a day sporran with formal wear, but at that time it was the only one I had. At least I am wearing my Lamont kilt.

Hope this helps you out.

-- Edited by MacPatrick on Wednesday 1st of April 2009 07:27:03 AM

-- Edited by MacPatrick on Wednesday 1st of April 2009 07:28:28 AM

Wood Badger · Senior Member

Drac,
So hear is what I found out for the American Legion...If you retired from the military, you can ware the uniform as though you were active, and only at functions that is intended to be for military function, or attended primarily by Military, former Military. If you separated from the military after your contract is up, you can as long as you were in during a declared or non-declared war. Again, you ware the uniform as though you were in the Military and only at the function intended for Military, or attended primarily by Military, former Military.
Privet formal functions former Military can if they choose ware any Federal Medals that they have been awarded on the formal Tux that you would ware.
For further clarification my suggestion is to go online, google the Branch of service you were in and add "Uniform Regulations" (i.e.: for me it would be...Air Force Uniform Regulations) when the regulation comes up look for the section on "Retried, Separated personnel" I hope this helps. The regulation is clear and simple to read through, I did not see anything related to Kilts...so I am guessing that a Kilt with the uniform is a "No-Go."
Also after reading what I did, the best option is to purchase a "Prince Charlie jacket” I found that for a low cost you can purchase one from Sport Kilt, I have not purchased any thing from them, but the cost was the lowest than other sites I have been on.

kvnturner · Veteran Member

Hi, i am not sure if this is going to help or not as I am in the UK. I have recently completed my military engagement and have several decorations both fullsize and Minature. the wearing of minature medals with civvy clothing is accepted at any avent providing that the person wearing them is entitlede to do so. I explain, in the UK it is against the Law to wear medals that you have not earned, A famous designer came a croper a few years ago when the Military veterans Association put in a complaint and won. They had to withdraw all the designs and take off the ribbons and medals (I agree, I work had in harsh conditions to have them awarded), these medals can be worn at black tie and official events (Where a suite would be worn or a blaser I usually only wear them on veterans day and armestice day). you can also wear your fathers medals, they should be worn on the right hand side of the jacket, I personaly have never worn my fathers, i have enough of my own and my dads are worth more than I can possibly imagine should I lose them.
Medals ahould be worn above the left top pocket and hung in Swing fasion or Court mounted.
I only wore 3 of mine at the Gathering this year and there is a copy on my welcome page.
I hope that this helps and that I have not confused you with international regulations.
Yours aye
Kev Turner

James · Senior Member

Ok. I broke out the US Army Officer's Guide and nowhere in there is there any mention of a kilt worn as part of a US uniform. It does say that it is vitally important for an officer at a formal function to wear the dress uniform properly (as per regulation). But I don't have anything about retirees. So no help whatsoever!

Knockdow · Guru

There is a group that is real active in the Pacific NW. SAM Scottish American Military society. These guys come to all the highland games in their military shirts & medals.
http://www.post1889.org/

they present the flags at the opening ceremonies.

not sure if this helps, I was never in the service.

MacPatrick · Senior Member

I regularly see guys wearing an open necked Kakhi military uniform shirt with all of their ribbons and badges on the shirt, no rank showing, at the games with their kilt.

At the formal events, they wear the miniature medals on the Prince Charlie or Argyle jackets with their kilts and etc. These are all non-military events. I see quite a few of these at the formal events. I don't have any pictures other than the one I posted. But I will get some at the next event I attend.

-- Edited by MacPatrick on Friday 28th of August 2009 08:31:23 AM

piperut · Newbie

Actually, the person wearing the medals on the label is wearing them correctly, and the person wearing the medals as they would be on a uniform is wearing them incorrectly:

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.

piperut · Newbie

There are a number of things to consider about wearing medals on the Prince Charlie or Argyle Jacket.

The Veteran's Administration has been encouraging veterans to wear their medals.

It has become customary in the Scottish Community to wear the miniature medals on the Prince Charlie blouse the way you would on a uniform blouse. Most people seem to prefer to wear the medals the way they would on a uniform.

Medals as label pins is technically proper in accordance with the regulations. Medals in civilian attire worn as you would in the military is not actually proper.

On the Argyle Jacket, the miniature medals don't look right, so people tend to wear their full size medals. You are also allowed to wear one "Heraldary Medal" if you desire in the Marine Corps, but it has to be all the way to the wearer's left as the least senior medal. (Heraldry medal such as: A medal for membership in Son's or Daughter's of the American Revolution, etc.)

There is a "Leatherneck Babpipe Band": http://www.leatherneckpipeband.com/

You will see pipers and drummers wearing the kilt with he Marine Corps Dress Blues. This is not really authorized by the MCO on uniforms. This is not really authorized by the MCO, but nobody really complains about it.

Drac · Senior Member

A bit of an old post resurfacing :D

The main point was the times I see actual uniform uppers with kilt for lowers. The jackets (Navy one looks like a PC) have rank and service stripes.

As for metals I had researched and Navy regs say that only minis are allowed in civilian cloths. Though technically that is suppose to be for retirees but no one seems to make a fuss.

Jim

LaCalif2 · Senior Member

Sometimes it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Those of us who put our lives on the line for our country shouldn't worry about someone berating us for our placement or wearing of awards and decorations. For over 5 years I dodged booby traps, malaria, snakes, bad water, rockets, various guns and picked up the parts of many soldiers who are not around to display their awards. Wear them proudly and remember those who cannot. If someone gives you a hard time they must be jealous and jealousy is the sheerest form of flattery. Proud to have served 35 years.

Tom Lambie
CMSgt Retired

piperut · Newbie

As Tom Lambie pointed out, nobody really seems to make a fuss about wearing the medals on a Charlie or an Argyle.

Most people wear the mini medals on the Charlie, and full size on the Argyle (although as Tom Lambie pointed out, it really should be mini medals).
Also most people wear the medals on the Charlie or the Argyle the way the would on a uniform blouse, although in civilian attire they really should be worn as label pins.

I have actually worn all of the above at various functions in Utah. The only comment I ever had was when I wore the medals as label pins on a Prince Charlie Blouse, and one of the people in the Scotish Community mentioned I was wearing the medals the way you would on civilian attire.

Common practice here is to consider the Prince Charlie and Argyle blouses as uniform blouses, and wear the medals the way you would in the military. This is retired, veterans, active duty and reservists.

The Veterans Administration has released a few Press Releases encouraging Veterans to wear medals. The latest one I could find is at: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1335

What follows is from that webpage:

Veterans Encouraged to Wear Military Medals on Memorial Day

May 22, 2007

Nicholson: Show Pride, Teach Younger Generations

WASHINGTON – To show their pride in military service and teach younger generations about the value of serving our nation, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson urged veterans across the country to pin on their military medals on Memorial Day, May 28.

"Wearing their medals demonstrates the deep pride our veterans have in their military service,” said Nicholson. “It also reminds all American citizens -- especially the young -- about the sacrifices our veterans have made for their freedom.”

He encouraged veterans to display their medals no matter what they are doing on Memorial Day, but especially when attending public events. Nicholson said he believes the movement will become a tradition. Nicholson first urged veterans to wear their military decorations last Veterans Day under a program called "Veterans Pride Initiative.”

About 24 million living Americans have served in the armed forces, with nearly 18 million wearing the uniforms of the U.S. military during times of war and conflict.

Nicholson said he hopes veterans will wear their medals on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Veterans Day, and when attending other patriotic events. Major U.S. veterans organizations have endorsed the Veterans Pride Initiative.

Additional information about the initiative is featured at VA's Web site at http://www.va.gov/veteranspride/, where veterans can also learn how to replace mislaid medals or confirm the decorations to which they are entitled.

Knockdow · Guru

Well said Tom!!

EoinDubh · Senior Member

I served two tours in the Army with overseas deployments to Thule, Greenland and Viet Nam. Fro Scottish formal I wear my old Class A greens that have been modified into a kilt jacket - think WWII Eisenhower jacket - and the medals that I was awarded. If DOD has a problem with that it is their problem.

-- Edited by EoinDubh on Thursday 23rd of June 2022 12:14:12 PM

Mabee_46 · Newbie

I was wondering if you guys have something for yoga? I use Carbon38 sports ware and I’m pretty satisfied with that at the moment. They are super comfy, but I also wanted to explore what else is there you know I would really appreciate If you can tell me about it.