US Campaign Ribbons

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

You know, this discussion comes up every couple of years, and what it usually boils down to is someone saying "I don't care what the regs say, no one is going to tell me what I can wear."

Now I fully accept that you are trying to clear the air and not stir the pot. But what you are saying doesn't seem to be supported in the FEB 2009 USCG regs (a copy of which is on my desk). If you don't have a copy, you can check it out on line. I checked with the USCG office of public affairs, and they had no knowledge of an official USCG pipe band; they did however direct me to the web site of the U.S. Coast Guard Pipe and Drum Band, Inc.

This band is a private company that is affiliated with the USCG only in so far as it has permission to wear the USCG tartan, and requires all members to be members of the USCG, the USCG Aux, or retired USCG. If you do not belong to one of those three groups, you may not be a member of their band. Their website clearly states that they are not a part of the USCG.

I can see how some might be confused and believe that the dress regulations for the pipe band might be official USCG uniform regulations, especially as whole chunks of the band's regulations are lifted, word for word, from and older version of the official USCG regulations. But this similarity of name, and borrowed dress regulations, does not alter the fact that the band is a civilian organization. And even though the kilts they wear are made up in USCG tartan, they are items of civilian clothes, as defined in COMDTINST M1020.F, date of issue FEB 2009.

USCG uniform regulations prohibit the wearing of civilian clothes with the USCG uniform. The uniforms of the USCG are clearly defined and illustrated in the manual, and in no instance are the kilt, sporran, hose, etc., mentioned as being authorized items of the USCG uniform.

So, until or unless the USCG amends its uniform regulations to allow officers, petty officers, and ratings to dress like members of a Highland Infantry Regiment, I will have to rely on the published regulations.

And I would suggest others do the same.