Need Help: USAF Mess Dress with Kilt

[CelticRanger66]

Of course the regs... don't allow specifically for wearing a part of the uniform with a kilt, but as a retired Airman the regulations don't apply. I have spent the past 27 years on Active Duty in the ARMY and I have worn my kilts with my Mess Dress on plenty occassions but I also have a MEMO from a Flag Officer granting me an exemption since I am on Active Service. But as a retiree go ahead you have earned IT!

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Of course the regs... don't allow specifically for wearing a part of the uniform with a kilt...

True, the regs don't allow it. They specifically prohibit it.

I have spent the past 27 years on Active Duty in the ARMY and I have worn my kilts with my Mess Dress on plenty occassions but I also have a MEMO from a Flag Officer granting me an exemption since I am on Active Service.

Active duty and reserve officers are not only expected, but required, to follow all military regulations. Retirees, who wish to wear the uniform of their prior branch of service, are likewise required to wear the uniform according to the regulations in effect on the date of their separation from the service.

With all due respect, I am surprised that as an O5 you would encourage a willful breach of any U.S. Military Regulations.

[OC Richard]

Mess Dress as worn with the kilt in the Scottish regiments does not use a Prince Charlie (a purely civilian jacket style) and does not use Evening Dress sporrans and does not use white/offwhite hose and does not use ghillies.

It uses a quite specific Mess Dress jacket and waistcoat (both of which vary not only from regiment to regiment but within each regiment, there being seperate styles for officers, sergeants, and sometimes individuals, for example the Pipe Major often has his own unique style).

The Mess Dress jacket is worn with a horsehair sporran (or a badger mask sporran in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders), diced hose, and Mary Jane style buckle brogues.

The only image I could find quickly was this small one showing the Mess Dress of the Gordon Highlanders, a Sergeant on the left, an Officer on the right:



Please no Prince Charlies, no ghillies, no white hose, no evening dress sporrans, if you want to respect military traditions.

[CelticRanger66]

With all due respect, I am surprised that as an O5 you would encourage a willful breach of any U.S. Military Regulations.

We then since you are such a master of military conventions and regulations you not doubt know that O5 is a pay grade and proper military regulations require that I be addressed as a Lieutenant Colonel.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

We then since you are such a master of military conventions and regulations you not doubt know that O5 is a pay grade...

Yeah, I knew that. And, with all due respect, I'm still surprised that anyone in your pay grade would cheerfully advocate a breach of military regulations.

...and proper military regulations require that I be addressed as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Yeah, I knew that, too-- and I also know that the regulations you've cited only apply to those individuals serving in the active or reserve components of the armed forces of the United States. The recognition of military ranks by civilians in the United States, other than in official correspondence, is a mere social courtesy.