Rank Insignia Pins on Flashes

[The Wizard of BC]

I have stayed out of this discussion simply to give my brother Marines their say.

Now I think perhaps I'll add my 2 cents worth.

First let me give you my qualifications to speak on this topic.

I was born in the Corps. At the old Santa Margarita Hospital, Camp Pendelton. My father was a Marine and I spent my entire childhood on Marine and Navy bases around the world.

I learned to count watching my father drill troops on the old gridiron at Parris Island, and I can remember the then Capt. John Glenn take off from Cherry Point in an old A4D Skyray to set the coast to coast record which first brought him to the public eye.

While in College I volunteered to go in place of my brother who upon turning 18 got a really low draft number and who is a totally gentle soul who's life dream was to spend his days on his farm.

I had to go to boot in San Diego 'cause my dad was still under the hat at Parris Island. I served at Millington, Penscola, Cherry Point, New River and Finally at Kaneohe Bay as a Crew Chief on CH-53's. I served a total of 25 months in V-N. 21 of those consecutively. The Peace treaty was signed in '73 but I was still there in '75.

I rose in rank from Pvt. to Sgt. in 4years and was up for SSgt when I was selected to fly simply because the Corps was running out of pilots near the end of the war. I was promoted and was a Capt. on the day I flew one of the last missions out of V-N in Apr. '75.

After V-N I went back to college to get my Masters Degree. After a few years in civilian life, I walked into an Army Recruiter and asked to go to Flight School as a Warrant Officer. I flew just about everything that spins on top ending as an AH-64 Pilot during Desert Storm.

So I have a little experience behind me when I tell you that there is one thing that I found very different and strange in the change from the USMC to The Army. I never did get used to all the stuff The Army wears on its uniform. Every time I looked in a mirror I thought I looked like a Christmas Tree compared to the classic simplicity of my Marine uniform.

To a Marine there is one thing on our uniform that matters above all else. Our Eagle Globe and Anchor. We wear rank insignia only, to know at a glance, where we are in the chain of command, but we all earned the Eagle Globe and Anchor the hard way.

Now I fully understand that Marines today are different than Marines from my day. Just as Marines in V-N were different from Marines in the WWII of my father.
But one thing never changes. We don't need rank insignia or a chest full of medals or branch, unit, or operation patches to identify another Marine. Even today if you see service members you can tell the Marines apart from all others. You can tell from the simplicity of decoration on their uniforms. To an untrained eye it is hard to tell one Marine from another. To civilians it is hard to tell what branch of the military we are in because usually the only thing you see is a simple Eagle Globe and Anchor. Rank insignia is very subdued or missing entirely in combat.

I guess I take this concept of simplicity to my kilt outfits too. I don't need a cromach or laird's plaid to make my outfit. I have the kilt. I need nothing more.
I will sometimes, at an X Marks event, wear my bonnet with my three dandelion leaves, but that is only so everyone knows who to blame. Otherwise it lives on one of the manikins in my store.

I was a LCpl. I am no longer. I was a Capt, but now I outrank Capt's because I'm a PFC. (Proud f*****g Civilian) If I see someone with rank insignia and civilian gear I automatically assume I'm seeing an Ex-Army person. I would not expect to see Rank Insignia on a former Marine in civvies. It just isn't that important to a Marine. The Corps taught me the KISS principle. They also taught me, by example, that we don't need all the goo-gaa's, all the bright & shiney's to prove who we are.

Yes, Marines are different. And one Marine can always tell another Marine. I still cringe every time some Hollywood type says "Lock and Load". It is evident they never spent time on the annual qualification range. Marines know that the proper usage is "With a 5 round magazine, Load and Lock."

You don't need to wear your chevrons to prove to me that you are my brother. You know the lingo, you know what is right, you earned your EGA just like I did.
You don't need a Clan Crest on every item of your kilt outfit. You already put on the kilt just like I did.

Keep it simple and let who you are speak for you.

[Leatherneck Donald]

So, to answer your OP - pins on flashes are a strange idea.
Rank insignia on civilian attire, especially Highland attire, is a bad idea.
If you must wear a pin that you think is too small for a kilt pin, wear it on your lapel and please limit this to one small pin on the left lapel.

Attachment 19017

Through the feedback, I pretty much came to this conclusion, but you wrap it up very nicely. Thanks. BTW, that is a great photo... very dapper

[Nathan]

Through the feedback, I pretty much came to this conclusion, but you wrap it up very nicely. Thanks. BTW, that is a great photo... very dapper

Thanks for the compliment on the photo! I should also note that i'm wearing my Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental necktie in that photo. You've probably considered a USMC necktie, but in case you haven't here's a link.

http://www.marineshop.net/browse.cfm/ties/2,461.html

I think they're all quite nice looking. I believe Kyle (Creagdubh) has a USMC tie of some design that he wears with his kilt from time to time.

[tundramanq]

I use my silver E6 US Navy eagle and chevrons ball cap device as a kilt pin. Never any odd looks or negative comments.

[creagdhubh]

I have stayed out of this discussion simply to give my brother Marines their say.

Now I think perhaps I'll add my 2 cents worth.

First let me give you my qualifications to speak on this topic.

I was born in the Corps. At the old Santa Margarita Hospital, Camp Pendelton. My father was a Marine and I spent my entire childhood on Marine and Navy bases around the world.

I learned to count watching my father drill troops on the old gridiron at Parris Island, and I can remember the then Capt. John Glenn take off from Cherry Point in an old A4D Skyray to set the coast to coast record which first brought him to the public eye.

While in College I volunteered to go in place of my brother who upon turning 18 got a really low draft number and who is a totally gentle soul who's life dream was to spend his days on his farm.

I had to go to boot in San Diego 'cause my dad was still under the hat at Parris Island. I served at Millington, Penscola, Cherry Point, New River and Finally at Kaneohe Bay as a Crew Chief on CH-53's. I served a total of 25 months in V-N. 21 of those consecutively. The Peace treaty was signed in '73 but I was still there in '75.

I rose in rank from Pvt. to Sgt. in 4years and was up for SSgt when I was selected to fly simply because the Corps was running out of pilots near the end of the war. I was promoted and was a Capt. on the day I flew one of the last missions out of V-N in Apr. '75.

After V-N I went back to college to get my Masters Degree. After a few years in civilian life, I walked into an Army Recruiter and asked to go to Flight School as a Warrant Officer. I flew just about everything that spins on top ending as an AH-64 Pilot during Desert Storm.

So I have a little experience behind me when I tell you that there is one thing that I found very different and strange in the change from the USMC to The Army. I never did get used to all the stuff The Army wears on its uniform. Every time I looked in a mirror I thought I looked like a Christmas Tree compared to the classic simplicity of my Marine uniform.

To a Marine there is one thing on our uniform that matters above all else. Our Eagle Globe and Anchor. We wear rank insignia only, to know at a glance, where we are in the chain of command, but we all earned the Eagle Globe and Anchor the hard way.

Now I fully understand that Marines today are different than Marines from my day. Just as Marines in V-N were different from Marines in the WWII of my father.
But one thing never changes. We don't need rank insignia or a chest full of medals or branch, unit, or operation patches to identify another Marine. Even today if you see service members you can tell the Marines apart from all others. You can tell from the simplicity of decoration on their uniforms. To an untrained eye it is hard to tell one Marine from another. To civilians it is hard to tell what branch of the military we are in because usually the only thing you see is a simple Eagle Globe and Anchor. Rank insignia is very subdued or missing entirely in combat.

I guess I take this concept of simplicity to my kilt outfits too. I don't need a cromach or laird's plaid to make my outfit. I have the kilt. I need nothing more.
I will sometimes, at an X Marks event, wear my bonnet with my three dandelion leaves, but that is only so everyone knows who to blame. Otherwise it lives on one of the manikins in my store.

I was a LCpl. I am no longer. I was a Capt, but now I outrank Capt's because I'm a PFC. (Proud f*****g Civilian) If I see someone with rank insignia and civilian gear I automatically assume I'm seeing an Ex-Army person. I would not expect to see Rank Insignia on a former Marine in civvies. It just isn't that important to a Marine. The Corps taught me the KISS principle. They also taught me, by example, that we don't need all the goo-gaa's, all the bright & shiney's to prove who we are.

Yes, Marines are different. And one Marine can always tell another Marine. I still cringe every time some Hollywood type says "Lock and Load". It is evident they never spent time on the annual qualification range. Marines know that the proper usage is "With a 5 round magazine, Load and Lock."

You don't need to wear your chevrons to prove to me that you are my brother. You know the lingo, you know what is right, you earned your EGA just like I did.
You don't need a Clan Crest on every item of your kilt outfit. You already put on the kilt just like I did.

Keep it simple and let who you are speak for you.

Well said, Steve!!! Ductus Exemplo and Semper Fidelis!

[creagdhubh]

Thanks for the compliment on the photo! I should also note that i'm wearing my Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental necktie in that photo. You've probably considered a USMC necktie, but in case you haven't here's a link.

http://www.marineshop.net/browse.cfm/ties/2,461.html

I think they're all quite nice looking. I believe Kyle (Creagdubh) has a USMC tie of some design that he wears with his kilt from time to time.

Quite right, Nathan. This is the only type of U.S. Marine Corps (regimental) tie that I wear from time to time. It's from Ben Silver.

[David Thorpe]

I used to be a US Navy First Class Petty Officer, then an Indiana National Guard Staff Sergeant. As I am no longer either one, I don't wear either badge of rank with either Highland or Saxon wear.

[Jmc0369]

I was cruising thru this thread getting ready to post. As it turns out Steve expressed my views very well. I am a recent retired Infantry GySgt (13.4 years, retired medically due to multiple gunshot wounds received in Fallujah Nov '04), and I started my service in the Army. I only state that to establish some street cred. Leave the rank off. Invest in a custom EGA belt buckle or custom Kilt pin. I can tell you in my many trips to the VA hospital it pains me to see so many lost souls, men who have no identity outside of the branch of service they left so many years ago. Nothing wrong with pride of service; but it is a dead man that does not grow. And I hope for every soul on this planet that we can continue to grow emotionally and intellectually till the day we are put to rest. To that notion, if we choose to, we are advancing in rank everyday. If you have not read MajGen Smedley Butler's book, its a must read. War is a racket.

[creagdhubh]

I was cruising thru this thread getting ready to post. As it turns out Steve expressed my views very well. I am a recent retired Infantry GySgt (13.4 years, retired medically due to multiple gunshot wounds received in Fallujah Nov '04), and I started my service in the Army. I only state that to establish some street cred. Leave the rank off. Invest in a custom EGA belt buckle or custom Kilt pin. I can tell you in my many trips to the VA hospital it pains me to see so many lost souls, men who have no identity outside of the branch of service they left so many years ago. Nothing wrong with pride of service; but it is a dead man that does not grow. And I hope for every soul on this planet that we can continue to grow emotionally and intellectually till the day we are put to rest. To that notion, if we choose to, we are advancing in rank everyday. If you have not read MajGen Smedley Butler's book, its a must read. War is a racket.

Well said, brother.

Semper Fidelis,

[Old Hippie]

Marines know that the proper usage is "With a 5 round magazine, Load and Lock."

"The range is clear. With weapons downrange and a 20-round magazine, load and lock." Both heard and gave that instruction many times. But then I've always heard that a Marine could do with five what an Army guy could do with twenty. Mostly from Marines.

FWIW as it was explained to me, "Lock and Load" comes from the cap-and-ball (or even flintlock) days when that was the sequence of events.