Military patches for rank on kilt?

[Hawk]

I'd like to comment on this, but only as a Vet, here in the States. Is this something that he might wear only a few times a year, during Veterans ceremonies, or holidays?
I'm at work now and will comment more later today....

Hawk

[Downunder Kilt]

You are talking modern utikikilt style here, Most of those type kilts have a narrower apron than a a traditional style kilt. One has to decide whether you want the rank badges sewn on the right edge of the apron or a little further around to the right onto one of the pleats. Depending on the number of badges you are talking about, you could start about 3" from the bottom of the kilt and just go up in a vertical line from there. BobsYourUncle pics show where a line of badges would go on a traditionally made kilt

[ratspike]

Since it's a black kilt in what I'm assuming is a modern/cargo/utilikilt style, you might also consider a some velcro loop sewn on the kilt, then the patches or tabs could be stuck to it. Same idea as what you see on uniforms and tactical gear. On my camo kilts I sew a good sized piece of loop down in the bottom right corner of the apron, roughly where a kilt pin would go, but you could put it anywhere.

[Carl]

I've seen this done before by a paintball team here in Oregon a few years back that played in kilts. They sewed on patches (A team patch, event patches, name tapes and rank, etc.) to the front apron of their tartan kilts. I thought they looked rather good playing paintball in kilts but I just couldn't bring myself to sacrifice a kilt to do the same.
As a veteran I've gotta say I have never thought about doing something like this personally. But to each their own.

[Nathan]

This may be a difference between the Canadian and American military culture. Many of the people on this forum are ex military. In the Canadian Forces, there is a strong, strong, admonition against mixing civilian and military kit. I'm not a veteran but I am ex military.
As far as I know, like other ex soldiers, Canadian veterans are not permitted to wear their uniforms, in whole or in part, once they retire from the forces. They may wear some form of Legion or association uniform that consists of a blazer, often with a regimental patch sewn on, and trousers. Even Highland veterans don't wear kilts on Remembrance Day once they retire. They are, however permitted to wear the Legion or Vets association headdress which is a beret or Glengarry for the Army. They are also permitted to wear medals.

Any exceptions to the above such as special rules for veterans of a particular regiment, would still be subject to that association's own rules and wouldn't really be a free for all.

Even serving soldiers aren't allowed to wear their uniform or mess kit to their wedding or a black tie function without obtaining consent in writing from their unit via the chain of command.

I see American veterans on this forum incorporating elements of their former uniform such as unit badges etc...into their civie attire. Most military folks up here would frown upon this quite strenuously.

Obviously, if you were in a Kilted Regiment that wore the black watch tartan, there's nothing to stop you buying a civilian kilt in the same generic tartan.

Since you're American, Teffer, none of this Canuck stuff really concerns you too much. I just brought it up so I might learn if there is any parallel sentiment there. If your dad has no qualms about putting military rank insignia on his civilian attire, get creative. Lay it out in some kind of organized fashion and go to town.

[OC Richard]

Yes no badges or patches are worn on Scottish military kilts (save for the panels shown above worn by the former Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders).

And obviously Utilikilts are a recent purely civilian invention.

So, there is no tradition or protocol to guide you, and you can do it any way you wish, any way you think looks good.

Personally I don't care for the mixing of military and civilian dress, but who am I to say? I never was in the military... perhaps if I had been I would think about it differently.

[Truitt]

If there is a difference in the culture it is in how much people care to stick to the rules. With a few very specific exceptions, mixing military items with civilian wear is forbidden by all branches of the U.S. military unless the rules have changed in recent years. And veterans are restricted from wearing their uniforms except under very specific circumstances. Allowance is made for veterans to be able to wear their decorations with civilian attire on appropriate occasions.

Certain veterans' associations, such as the Scottish American Military Society (SAMS), have their own uniform guidelines.

As a U.S. veteran I would never mix military items with my civilian attire, and I personally believe it is bad form to do so.

[Riverkilt]

This may not help, but here's my late little brothers rank as a kilt pin addendum on my Leatherneck tartan kilt. I was a cold warrior in the USMC back in 65-66, a real yawner then...but I wear the kilt in his honor - he did over ten years before he died and was a D.I. in Sandy Eggo. Of course its collar insignia relocated but its meaningful to me.



I currently have another one on order to use on my Dress Blue Marine Corps tartan kilt in the same manner, for the same reason - to honor my brother's service rather than follow any rules someone else made up.

[OC Richard]

With a few very specific exceptions, mixing military items with civilian wear is forbidden by all branches of the U.S. military unless the rules have changed in recent years. And veterans are restricted from wearing their uniforms except under very specific circumstances.

As a U.S. veteran I would never mix military items with my civilian attire, and I personally believe it is bad form to do so.

So very interesting to hear you say so, because I see this mixing done at every Highland Games: US veterans wearing military shirts complete with rank insignia, name badge, medal ribbons, etc with a Scottish bonnet and kilts.

The only veteran I know well, a Korean War paratrooper, never wears anything military while in civvies but maintains a full Class A uniform for his funeral Honor Guard duties.

[DMack]

I have a leather vest with a large POW patch on the back along with the 3 unit patches from 3 different services. Along with the Vietnam Vet patch on the front... I always wear my ribbons on Memorial day and Veterans day all day long at work.
I also wore my Vietnam jungle jacket as a Pro-military statement at the very Liberial College I attended.