Wearing Your Medals With Your Kilt

[sydnie7]

[snip] Miniature medals are only worn on the uniform or civilian attire in the evening. . . Ribbons, insignia of rank, and trade badges are not intended to be worn on civilian attire. . . [snip]

I kind of expected this to come up again when I posted pics of our recent outing. I've mentioned mini-medals to Bob but he prefers the more subdued, or less "look at me" look, of ribbons. I'm of the school that says, he was awarded them, he can wear them pretty much any way he chooses (within respectable reason). Tell me this doesn't look good:



(Well, at least Bob looks good!)

[fortcollinsjerry]

And yes, after 33 years in the Corps, several conflicts, I have a lot of medals. Close to half of them are "I been there" medals. Some were awarded for superior performance and a couple for doing stupid things in dangerous circumstances. But - Can the average civilian recognize the significance of the different awards? NO.

33 years that's quite a career brother! HoRah! -when did you goin?

The only time that I would feel comfortable wearing my awards, would be at a gathering of other servicemen. When wearing their stuff.
I thought the same way a few years ago till I wore mine at a Robert Burn's diner. Several civilians admired them and the host, who was a retired Brit military type congratulated me as a peer.
Would I wear my “gongs” to watch a parade? No. Would I wear them at a Marine Corps Birthday Ball with my full PC.

I'm ordering a new set

I think a set of minitures look smashing on a formal jacket

[Teufel Hunden]

This thread has taken an interesting turn.

The current question seems to be heading towards: Would you encourage a young man to join the Armed Forces?

Other political questions also need to be asked. Should the US bring back the draft? Yes! Should there be any draft deferments? NO!

What say you?

I encourage people to do the research on all the branches, and make the best informed decision they can. For people asking about the Marine Corps, i tell them if they have to ask me why they should join it, they probably shouldn't join at all.

If someone is truly looking for direction right out of HS, I might point out that 4 years of military service might be something they should look into, but i wouldn't press the issue beyond that.

As for the draft, my answer is a resounding NO. Unless the country is in need of one, such as in WWII, I absolutely think we should avoid a draft where ever possible. I think we've had resounding success with our all volunteer force, and we should not turn away from that. Being the Plt. Sgt. I was, i'm not so sure i would have wanted draftees under me, especially in places like Ramadi and Fallujah.

I could see requiring some type of non-uniformed service, such as working for a government entity (be it state or federal) for a certain period of time but I think the military needs to be left to those who want to serve, unless dire circumstances require a change.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Not all ribbons awarded to U.S. Service personnel are indicative of having received a medal. Efficiency, training, etc. ribbons are just that-- ribbons that are worn on the uniform after all other medals.

So a ribbon for basic training, completing specialist branch training etc? is that the jist that you are getting at?
Marksman ribbon etc?

interesting...

Ribbons, insignia of rank, and trade badges are not intended to be worn on civilian attire.

Thats because my filthy dirty branch badges doesnt look good after I have been in the bilge, and or its coated in waste lube oil...

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

So a ribbon for basic training, completing specialist branch training etc [wouldn't be worn on a civilian jacket]? is that the jist that you are getting at?
Marksman ribbon etc?

interesting...

In a nut shell, yes. Ribbons are only properly worn on military and band uniforms. They are not intended to be worn with civilian attire. With civilian attire one wears the medal, or nothing at all. Full-size medals are worn during the day, and miniature medals are worn in the evening.

With civilian attire the full-size medals are worn on the left side of the jacket with the bottom edge of the medals at least one inch above the breast pocket. If your jacket doesn't have a breast pocket then the top edge of the ribbons attached to the medal should be one inch below the notch of the lapel. To achieve a balanced effect you may have to slightly adjust the placement of your medals due to factors such as your height, etc.

With miniature medals it is always best to have the top of the ribbons no lower than one inch below the notch of the lapel.

Both full-size and miniature medals should be pinned to the left lapel when in civilian attire.

Highland attire isn't a military uniform; when kilted one should follow civilian guidelines when wearing medals, and not try to turn their jacket into a "uniform".

[Colonel MacNeal]

What's the expert opinion on the miniature "Jump Wings", "Submarine Dolphins", "Combat Infrantry Badges" etc. that are intended to be worn above the miniature medals? Any/all awarded? Just one or two? None?

[Cerebite]

What's the expert opinion on the miniature "Jump Wings", "Submarine Dolphins", "Combat Infrantry Badges" etc. that are intended to be worn above the miniature medals? Any/all awarded? Just one or two? None?

Yes, miniature warfare pins [as the Navy calls them] should be worn with the miniature medals as should command/ SEL insignia if authorized either currently or previously [do the non -Naval services employ those?].

As to the number the Navy limits it to one above the ribbons and one below regardless of how many have been earned. The precedence is by either the current, or most recent, command [e.g. SW over AW while on a ship, AW over SW while at an air wing] or by the rigor of the qualification [e.g. SW or SS over DV].
For the other services I think that the pins stack above the ribbons but I am not certain and I do not recall ever seeing more than 2 or three at a time.

v/r
Chief [which BTW is one of those military titles that is present in all branches of the US Military, lots of fun at a Joint command]

[-B-]

Please fly your medals as I like to see and know whom has fought for freedom.

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

Like a lot of you, I never felt the need to put on a lot of the hardware. When I got back from Vietnam in 1970, I put a USARV unit crest on my Legion cap, and that was all. I served a bit less than two years and don't have that many anyway.

Since last year, though, I've looked at things a bit differently. I now have a 'Welcome Home" sticker with a Vietnam service ribbon representation on my truck window. I've come to believe things like this are part of never letting others forget, and remembering and respecting those who didn't come home. Three different times at Highland Games, someone else about my age has come up, stuck out his hand, and said "Welcome home, brother". Nothing more was said or needed to be said. The connection was made.

Our high school has a Veteran's Day assembly, with all veterans invited and honored. After 39 years, last November I dug out my uniform and all the stuff that went on it. (Much of a bargain I could remember how it went on.)
The reaction from the other vets was, "I can't believe you can still get that thing on". But the students were really interested. They asked lots of questions, some of which I wasn't comfortable with, but got through. Several insisted on pictures with the 'old guy', especially the ROTC kids.

Wearing these things now has less to do with what I did, and more about a way to continue patriotic service by keeping people aware that most of what they enjoy in this country today was paid for in blood.

Yes, I'll wear them now when appropriate. Maybe they will generate some more questions. I hope so.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Originally Posted by ###KILTEDKIWI###
So a ribbon for basic training, completing specialist branch training etc [wouldn't be worn on a civilian jacket]? is that the jist that you are getting at?
Marksman ribbon etc?

interesting...

In a nut shell, yes. Ribbons are only properly worn on military and band uniforms.

All we got for "passing out" of basic and branch training, then becoming ships company, was not being referred to as "skin" (derogatory term for a newbie) and OD (Odinary rate) toe rag...

They are not intended to be worn with civilian attire. With civilian attire one wears the medal, or nothing at all. Full-size medals are worn during the day, and miniature medals are worn in the evening.

hmm...not even going to get into the ANZAC day thing again.