2008 Army Signal Ball Manhattan Kansas

[Sir Robert]

There gets to be a time where it looks stupid to wear all of your medals/ribbons/regalia.

What I am suggesting is to display only the highest awards held and then only the full sized medals. It looks good.

The trick is to offset each row by 1/2 width. Take the uniform, lay it down then arrange the full sized medals by order of president upper left highest and look at it, it looks good. Which is my point.

[Rogerson785]

I thought I was going to possibly run into trouble by wearing a kilt to the 2008 Signal Ball, but when I viewed a co-workers pictures from last years ball and saw this BG wearing this shirt I knew I could pull it off, just look at the women going crazy over his Hawaiian shirt.





Wait until see me in my US Army kilt, PC jacket and black rabbit sporran.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Two things here. One: Once the BG puts his jacket back on, he's in uniform. Two: he's a BG. 'nuff said?

[macwilkin]

Is that supposed to be a "variant" of Red Sea Rig?

Regards,

Todd

[Sir Robert]

The BG has a little fun with his uniform, so should you!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The BG has a little fun with his uniform, so should you!

I think you are off base here. If you'll take a close look at the photos, this looks like the ball is over and folks are heading home, and the Brigadier General is letting the troops in on his bit of whimsy (a dress shirt with a funny back that can't be seen while his jacket is on). No problem. This is no different than wearing boxers with Beetle Bailey and Sarge on them. The general isn't taking liberties with Army uniform regulations.

If the invitation to the ball says "uniform, or tuxedo", then it's up to you to decide which is more appropriate to wear. But, if it says "uniform" with no civilian option-- well, then it would probably be prudent to save the highland outfit for next year, when you will be a civilian and can do as you please.

As far as the BG is concerned: Rank Has Its Privileges.

[Sir Robert]

By the way, the General is in uniform, General Officers can, by regulation, do that.

Bianary soloution set either you are:

A. in uniform, therefore it is okay.

or

B. not in uniform, then you are in civillian clothes and it is ok.

Either way it is ok.

[Cerebite]

With regard to when to wear what medal size or ribbon specifically Navy; I would be surprised if the other services are significantly different.

The first thing to consider is the "level" of the dress uniform which for the Navy can be either Blues or Whites [less formal and summer applications] and I would guess ground services would also have a green option.

Full Dress one wears full medals on the left and ribbons on the right.

Service Dress one wears the full "collection" as ribbons on the left side

Mess/ Dinner Dress one wears miniature medals and no ribbons.

In my experience very few "active" personnel have the Mess dress until they reach the senior paygrades [E7+, O4+] although the officers are more likely than the enlisted [I personnally do not yet own Mess Dress].

[citation: Navpers 15665

Just a note on "kids wearing medals they have not earned." With the ongoing two front war in Western and Central Asia some of those "kids" have earned those medals. I have a colleague at work who has a friend who was accosted for having a Purple Heart license plate on his car ["Where did you dad earn his purple heart" or "what are you doing driving dads car"]. The "kid" in question spent two tours in Iraq as a Navy medic with the Marines and EARNED that medal himself.

Someday I hope to be "together" enough to wear a Mess Dress Kilt to a Dinning Out

[berserkbishop]

I know that this thread is not really being discussed much anymore but I would just like all who contributed to know how interesting I found it. Aside from the heated content, the contributors knowledge on military uniforms are welcome to a new Seaman recruit who know NOTHING of military regs yet. This board is a wealth of knowledge. Thanks fellas!

BB

[Highland Logan]

Hey, wear the full sized medals, you will never get another chance. Think about it, where have you worn them in the past and when will you wear them in the future?

According to the Canadian Honor System, "The miniature badges of orders, decorations and medals should be worn suspended from a medal bar attached to the left lapel of the coat. Only one full-size neck badge should be worn, suspended from a miniature-widthribbon. The ribbon is worn under the band of the tie so that the badge hangs 2.5 cm below the tie. A miniature of this badge should be included in those worn from the medal bar. Only one star of order may be worn on the left side of the coat."

Note - Unless a military function, if decorations are to be worn, invitations should read: "Black tie - Decorations".