Military Sweater with patches for a band

[KWD]

Hi Guys, my band is trying to wear it properly, we have the military jumper, and we have patches..
right sleeve - rank
left shoulder - flag
left chest - band patch

is this correct?
do you have any photos to support it?

please help, we want to do it properly.

Kyle

[Geoff Withnell]

I am sure you will receive various opinions on this, and most or all of them could be supported by photos. There is a wide variation in the placement of patches, etc, on uniforms. The main thing is that your band members all are consistent with each other. That is, they are uniform.

[plaid preacher]

I would say that there is nothing wrong with what you are doing. As Geoff says, so long as it is uniform from one member to the other then you have accomplished your goal.

From a military perspective, however, that is not now it is worn (at least in Canada). We wore our rank on slip-ons that went on the epaulettes, and that was it. I note in the dress regulations for the Royal Regiment of Scotland that the enlisted sweater does not have epaulettes and they wear their rank of the right sleeve. Their unit identifier is their cap badge which is worn on their glengarry (and so was mine).

My personal opinion : I'm of an old-school approach to things that says keep it simple. The more badges, pins etc you add, the more you look like a Christmas tree with too much tinsel. Does you band have a cap badge? If so, then I would say, skip the patch on the chest. Chest patches are also hard to place in a uniform manner because of differences in both height and girth and male/female forms. As for the flag on the left shoulder, I'd probably leave it off (from the doing it right from the military perspective). However, in the military the sweater is Barracks dress and not meant for "walking out". That might make a difference.

[plaid preacher]

Oh -- and I forgot my usual disclaimer. All that I said above, plus $2.00 will by you a cup of coffee at Timmies .... or your favourite coffee shop.

[The Wizard of BC]

I guess you can put me in the KISS group too. Keep it Simple Stupid.

Rank? Do you need to show a rank? Are you in the military? If so follow your uniform regulations.
Flag? Do you need to display a flag? Are you performing in a foreign country where there may be some doubt where you are from? Are their members of the band from various nations that you need to show what nation each is from?
Band Patch? Does every member need to display a band patch? If I want to know what band I am seeing I will look at the banner out front or on the bass drum. And I doubt I could see, or read, a band patch on the left breast under the pipes anyway.

Have you ever seen rank, flag and band patch on a band dressed in Argyle Jackets?

There is no right/wrong, proper/improper. There is only the agreed upon band uniform. Whatever that is. Ultimately it comes down to what your Drum or Pipe Major wants. Some bands dress in a plain shirt and tie. Some in full doublets. And everything in between. In fact I have usually found that each band wants to be different and distinctive from the other bands. If each band is dressed differently who is it up to, to decide which is the "proper" one?

[Stitchwiz]

I guess you can put me in the KISS group too. Keep it Simple Stupid.

In the spirit of keeping things positive for my kids, I changed the KISS phrase to Keep It Super Simple.

No one can be offended by this.

I agree with everything else, Steve, too many flashes and badges start to make everything look tacky instead of classy. Just my 2 cents...

[AFS1970]

I have worn these sweaters with a number of uniforms (not often kilted). Most have the unit patch on both shoulders, some will have that on just the left one and a flag on the right one. At least from what I have seen in the U.S. rank is most commonly worn as covers on the epaulettes, with these sweaters, even when worn on the sleeves of the regular shirts under that same sweater.

[lrpddrummie]

I have been in the pipe band world for many many many years and have seen everything from very sharp to the absolutely ridiculous. I would follow the keep it simple rule. Uniformity is the key and keeping it simple makes it easier to having it look right on everyone. Different body shapes and sizes can play into how the finished uniform will look. The truth is at the end of the day there will always be someone who does not agree with the choices you make so as long as the band is happy with the look then that is what is important.

[KWD]

Thanks for all the input!

we have put it all to good use and are in progress to KISS....