Military patches for rank on kilt?

**Riverkilt** · 4th December 13, 10:12 PM

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.

**The Wizard of BC** · 4th December 13, 11:55 PM

As a former US Marine Corps and US Army Officer I do not, nor will I ever, wear rank insignia with civilian attire.

The closest I will ever come is this.

And this, when attending a military event, and the invitation specifies Miniature medals.

I do have my D.I cover but there is nothing on it and it is not worn.
I also have my Cav hat. The only thing on it are my wings.

This is my personal decision and I do not require, or expect, others to do the same.

I still have all that stuff. It's in a box and perhaps one day someone will put it all in a triangular box with a flag and a few spent rounds.

**Chas** · 5th December 13, 04:52 AM

The trouble with military rank badges is that they are large - they are after all designed to identify a person at a distance. Far too large to be worn on a kilt.

On the other hand most ranks are available as collar dogs (as shown by Riverkilt) or miniatures in the form of sweetheart broaches. Many regiments sell such things just for the spouse or loved ones to wear.

If the man served, I for one, see nothing wrong with him being proud of his service and showing it off.

**Nathan** · 5th December 13, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

T]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.

With the utmost respect to you and your brother, and I mean that sincerely, the military has a lot to do with following rules someone else made up. A lot of those rules have to do with dressing how they tell you, eating when they tell you and putting yourself into harms way. I completely empathize with your desire to honour his service and sacrifice. That's why in the Commonwealth we wear the poppy. It symbolizes exactly that. Do Americans have any equivalent symbol?

I don't want to get too sanctimonius as I sometimes wear a military kilt, but it's also in my family tartan and when worn with civilian attire, it's military origin is not obvious.

The issue here is that anyone who recognized what the kit was and stood for would be quick to admonish you for wearing it with civvies and it would go over most other people's heads.

For example, I have my old sporran badge from the unit but would never affix it to a civilian sporran for that reason.

Just my 5 cents. Canada phased out the penny.

**Teffer** · 5th December 13, 09:09 AM

Thank you so much for the many and varied contributions. My SD was career military, and this would be for him to wear to veterans events that don't require formal dress ( like a vets BBQ) or to the Highland Festival. As to whether or not its proper, this was his idea, so I'm going to trust in his instincts and knowledge. When I have it done, I'll post a picture. In the meantime, I love the pictures and the contributions. Thank you so much for the warm welcome.

**Geoff Withnell** · 5th December 13, 11:30 AM

Different services and nations have different traditions. USMC gives a wide latitude and wearing ribbons, medals and badges, but says, so far as I could tell, nothing about rank insignia. I personally wear my ribbons and badges on suitable occasions, and miniature medals for evening wear, since about the only black tie events I go to are military in nature. I don't wear rank insignia because I no longer hold rank. Someone who is retired and still entitled to be addressed by their rank may feel diffrently.

**Riverkilt** · 5th December 13, 12:39 PM

I have a jacket to honor my little brother too. It has his stripes with a back band across them with "Rest in Peace" on the black band. Intent is to honor him and the RIP band makes it clear its a memorial.

**Derek Conley** · 5th December 13, 12:44 PM

Also as a veteran Marine, I'd like to point out there are plenty of shirts sold with "Sgt of Marines" or "Corporal of Marines", etc, from a rather popular vendor; I get their catalogue every few months and have ordered from them often over the years. I have seen veteran Marines wearing these shirts and I've no problem with it whatsoever. I mention that simply due to the similarity.

Were I to see someone wearing a military-inspired kilt with rank insignia, I wouldn't mind provided they could explain why they had the rank displayed, and that it was done in a tasteful manner.