Wearing Your Medals With Your Kilt

[ChromeScholar]

I'm not sure I know where my medals are. They vanished during one of my moves.

[James MacMillan]

Most of my full size medals are mounted in a shadow box. My wife had one of my friends mount them, and then present them to me at one of my retirement parties. Of course she didn't know what she was doing, and only grabbed what she found in different drawers, so the shadow box is missing three medals that were still in those little blue boxes.

I've never bothered to take apart the shadow box, pull out the full size medals and have them re-mounted. It's a little expensive. In the Corps we only wear the full size medals with our dress blues, so most only go to the expense of getting them mounted when they are subject of an Inspecting Generals inspection (an I.G.)

The miniatures, however, are worn with the mess dress and this is the preferred uniform for formal occasions for Officers and Staff Non-commissioned Officers. Miniatures are pretty easy to mount, and most Marines do this themselves.

These same miniatures are also authorized for wear with the tuxedo when in civilian attire. I've never seen anyone wear any medals on casual occasions. I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it.

Then we have the other question of the awards that have no medal assigned to them - the ribbons. In full dress blues (in the Corps, it could be different for other services?) the medals are worn on the left breast and the ribbons on the right breast.

Also the other badges; marksmanship, scuba, jump, DOD, etc etc are worn in different places and at different times.

Most servicemen who served a whole career in the service, have so many things to pin on that it becomes sort-of gaudy. I for one think it’s just showing off. Day-to-day uniform wear, it’s normally just ribbons, sometimes, ribbons and badges, but seldom.

For retirees and those who just served a short time, it’s much better, in my mind, to wear a small lapel pin, which proclaims your service. Medals in civilian clothes, regardless of what the VA says, seems wrong, except for really special times.

These special times could include: Veteran's Day – if you are at a ceremony honoring veterans; Memorial Day – again if at a special ceremony; Fourth of July – can’t see this one; Marine Corps Birthday (November 10th) – if at the Marine Corps Ball. But for just walking around – no.

Just one veteran’s opinion.

[fortcollinsjerry]

The miniatures, however, are worn with the mess dress and this is the preferred uniform for formal occasions for Officers and Staff Non-commissioned Officers. Miniatures are pretty easy to mount, and most Marines do this themselves.

Most servicemen who served a whole career in the service, have so many things to pin on that it becomes sort-of gaudy. I for one think it’s just showing off. Day-to-day uniform wear, it’s normally just ribbons, sometimes, ribbons and badges, but seldom.


Yep - that's pretty accurate. Any time I wear my stuff it's only the personal awards rather than all the "been-there-have-the-tshirt" unit & service awards. Anyone who can translate what I have knows - those who don't - well, doesn't matter



Just one veteran’s opinion.

mine too

[Ruanaidh]

I'm not sure I know where my medals are. They vanished during one of my moves.

Quoted from the Veterans Pride Initiative:
Q. I have misplaced one or more of my medals. How can I get replacements?
A. Retirees may wish to check with military exchanges or military clothing stores. An Internet search for "military medals" will generate many advertising links from private firms selling replica medals including miniatures. Under certain circumstances, veterans may obtain official replacements for lost or damaged medals from the government by sending a request to the appropriate branch of service.