Regimental ties yea ye do or nae ye don't

[ElCabong]

I don't wear badges, medals, organizational ties, etc, unless I earned or was awarded them.

The only military item I wear is a set of USAF master navigator wings as a kilt pin on my Mitchell (unofficial USAF tartan) semi-trad.

I leave my medals - most of which are BS - off of the Prince Charlie. I tried wearing the medals with a tux before I became kilted. The medals made me feel like the 40+year-old guy who still wears his high school letter jacket. Got to move on.

When I do wear a tie, it is a bolo.

Love this site! I send folks to it almost every day, when I am out and about kilted. Funny - it doesn't happen on those rare occasions when I wear jeans and boots.

God Bless you All - Steve

[carlisle401]

I wear the medals and tie I earned. The British don't get many medals, usually for operations or an award from the Queen, so we don't have many. We take great pride in in our regiments. Miniature medals are worn as of our black tie dress. We wear our medals on Remembrance Sunday. That is about it. When I look at my medals I see my friends who did not come back with me. If I could exchange my medals for my missing friends, I would. This is my outlook on things. I have two medals, hard earned.

[tripleblessed]

I don't wear badges, medals, organizational ties, etc, unless I earned or was awarded them. I leave my medals - most
of which are BS - off of the Prince Charlie. I tried wearing the medals with a tux before I became kilted. The medals made me feel like the 40+year-old
guy who still wears his high school letter jacket. Got to move on.

I have on occasion mentioned a cousin, a Master Sergeant, who gave and took fire on multiple continents in both named and unnamed conflicts
and in places we never were doing things that never happened; who earned three Silver Stars, six Bronze Stars (all with V), two Purple Hearts,
and all the ones you might have meant as BS. No one would have ever known if it had to come from him. However, the price of bringing all that
home was enormous, and he was forever haunted by the kids who fell by his side and he couldn't bring home. He paid that price every day,
sitting on his porch or in his living room in Vidalia, Georgia (and he was as sweet as the the fabled onions) because there simply wasn't anything
left he could give. You and every man Jack of you who ever put on a uniform and went anywhere at your country's bidding ought to know that
while many are oblivious, many are not. And we appreciate being able to note that willingness to stand for all. We appreciate the ongoing price
of that willingness, and enjoy honoring in our own way the sacrifices each has made. Some may speak, some may not, some comments may be
welcome, some not. It is, however, part of who you are, and hopefully none of us ever "moves on" from being honorable and willing. I'm certainly
not suggesting I have the right to tell you to wear them, or not, just that you needn't feel bound by convention one way or another. You did earn
them. They are yours. And will always be. You sound pretty comfortable with your decision, I only chime in here because many I've spent time with
weren't, or aren't, comfortable and my struggle was to attempt to help find resolution to the cost, some may read here and find something useful.
Or not. Apologies if you find this post inappropriate.

Thanks, and have fun.

[Dirk95]

Yes I totally agree with you, I was a Welsh Fusilier, enjoyed my time accepting what came with it, all changed now with all the amalgamations, my regiment is now 1st btn ROYAL WELSH REGIMENT, I wear the Fusiliers tie on St David 's day and Remembrance Sunday and I'll be wearing my father's regimental tie [BLACK WATCH] at a Burns supper come Friday [ not black tie] wearing my kilt [McGregor red modern ] of course.
Regards
Dirk95
Derek

[ElCabong]

...and articulate replies. Thank you. I led a charmed life, overall (Still do!).

I did receive some legitimate awards and decorations, but the bulk of them were what we referred to as "PCS Medals" - usually an Achievement Medal or Commendation Medal about the time of another PCS. They stacked up quickly, making some of our young officers appear to be in competition with the most decorated Third World tyrants. The "Alive in '65" ribbon was more meaningful, in most cases. Our branch appeared to be in a medal-collecting competition. NCOs and non-rated officers usually wore the full ribbon bar. In the Fighter/RECCE world rated officers usually wore just the wings. And that is what I am comfortable with. Just as my kilts have started many an interesting conversation, the wings have served as ice breaker and war story exchange.

There was a huge annoyance factor: Official photographs were an important factor for promotion boards, and nobody ever got a hassle-free official photograph. They changed the rules all the time: Facial hair/no facial hair. This pose vs that pose. Grin or no grin. Scowl or no scowl. Ribbon bar missing some ribbon or device. Something in the picture a mm off center.

When we finally got our official photographs up to date with the ribbons on record, some well-meaning buffoon would give out medals for "Outstanding Contribution to the Staff Study Concerning Hats at Dining Ins" or "Leading the Group that Authored the xxth AF Procedure for Making Personalized Cross Country Chocks for Flag Officers" (That one really happened...), or something as absurd, and the Official Photo Ordeal would begin anew. Wonder why we drank so much?

Anyway, I appreciate the replies and points of view in this thread. There are a lot of humble heroes here, and I salute them all.

Oh! One last thought: "There is no medal for Speaking Truth to Power. You get a DD-214 for that!"

God Bless you all - El Cabong