Advice on a planned outfit for a parade. Servicemen please chime in.

[The Thirsty Viking]

Ahem,
Do you realize how many Marines there are on this forum? The Marines are of course a department of the Navy - the Men's Department.

Once, just once, it would be nice if the Marines didnt resort to this little gem

It was all meant in good-natured, inter-service banter. My three of my closest and dearest friend are Marines, and of course, I share my life with one every day. Though I poke fun, I have nothing but respect for men and women of any service.

[swampfox]

(interservice banter here) the corps may be the mens department but all marines stands for is My @ss Rides In Navy Equipment Sir.

[Geoff Withnell]

Once, just once, it would be nice if the Marines didnt resort to this little gem

It was all meant in good-natured, inter-service banter. My three of my closest and dearest friend are Marines, and of course, I share my life with one every day. Though I poke fun, I have nothing but respect for men and women of any service.

Absolutely meant as good natured banter. I share your respect for all our comrades who served, in whatever uniform. We Marines resort to the same gems all the time because:

1. We are very tradition oriented.

2. Being 50 IQ points down, it's hard to come up with new ones!

[Teufel Hunden]

Speaking of interservice banter, here's my favorite.

Marine Corps Rules of Gunfighting:

1. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns.

2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Your life is expensive.

3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.

4. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.

5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.)

6. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun.

7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.

8. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running.

9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.

9.5 Use a gun that works EVERY TIME.

10. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.

11. Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.

12. Have a plan.

13. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.

14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible.

15. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.

16. Don't drop your guard.

17. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees.

18. Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them).

19. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.

20. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

21. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

22. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.

23. Your number one Option for Personal Security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.

24. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with a ".4"

Navy Rules of Gunfighting

1. Go to Sea

2. Send the Marines

3. Drink Coffee



On the subject at hand:

I would never wear a Crackerjack Jumper with a kilt... just all kinds of wrong there, methinks. And as far as a leatherneck tartan - My Girlfriend of 2 years is a power lifting, caber-tossing Devil Dog. She would kill me if I even THOUGHT if wearing a USMC anything. And I wouldnt anyhow, because I dont want to drop my IQ by 50 points.

I'm with you on not wearing certain uniform items with a kilt. I wore a kilt with my cammies a couple times, but only while I was in the desert, when it was easier to explain a looser reading of the uniform manual. But a while back someone suggested I wear the dress blue coat with one, and it sounded completely unacceptable to me.

But, your girlfriend might surprise you. I'd love to see people wearing the leatherneck tartan, even if they weren't Marines. It's too darned good looking to limit to a select number of kilt wearers, IMO.

[jason10mm]

I agree, current issue dress uniform pieces have no place with a kilt (or rather, a kilt has no place being mixed with the uniform). I'd go with a civvie shirt (polo or t-shirt) with your branch on it or an old unit shirt if you have one and wear that with your kilt.

As an Army guy, I'd just like to thank you Marines and Navy guys for your service and for being excellent wingmen when it came time to distract the ugly girls so we soldiers can score with the cute ones :P Ya'll really dived on the grenades without complaint!

[robbiethepiper]

Speaking of interservice banter, here's my favorite.

Marine Corps Rules of Gunfighting:

1. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns.

2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Your life is expensive.

3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.

4. If your shooting stance is good, you're probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.

5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.)

6. If you can choose what to bring to a gunfight, bring a long gun and a friend with a long gun.

7. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.

8. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating, reloading, and running.

9. Accuracy is relative: most combat shooting standards will be more dependent on "pucker factor" than the inherent accuracy of the gun.

9.5 Use a gun that works EVERY TIME.

10. Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.

11. Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.

12. Have a plan.

13. Have a back-up plan, because the first one won't work.

14. Use cover or concealment as much as possible.

15. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.

16. Don't drop your guard.

17. Always tactical load and threat scan 360 degrees.

18. Watch their hands. Hands kill. (In God we trust. Everyone else, keep your hands where I can see them).

19. Decide to be aggressive ENOUGH, quickly ENOUGH.

20. The faster you finish the fight, the less shot you will get.

21. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

22. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.

23. Your number one Option for Personal Security is a lifelong commitment to avoidance, deterrence, and de-escalation.

24. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun, the caliber of which does not start with a ".4"

Navy Rules of Gunfighting

1. Go to Sea

2. Send the Marines

3. Drink Coffee

British Army rules of gunfighting:
1) Don't worry too much about the enemy - their weaponry/ training is probably inferior and none of their commanders went to private schools like ours.
2) Stay out of range of the Yanks - they are our allies but may not have been told and may not care

[theborderer]

[QUOTE=jason10mm;962433]I agree, current issue dress uniform pieces have no place with a kilt (or rather, a kilt has no place being mixed with the uniform). I'd go with a civvie shirt (polo or t-shirt) with your branch on it or an old unit shirt if you have one and wear that with your kilt.

We seem, in parts, to be drifting from the original question. I agree with Jason that uniform and kilt don't mix. Maybe a white or blue shirt with a navy badge on the pocket (NO rank badges if you are not serving). That would give credibility to the white hat. At our reunions we wear blazers with a badge and our Glengarry or Balmoral with regimental badge. Some of us wear trews of the regiment in which we once served.

[Mike_Oettle]

robbiethepiper wrote: “British Army rules of gunfighting:
“1) Don't worry too much about the enemy – their weaponry/training is probably inferior and none of their commanders went to private schools like ours.
“2) Stay out of range of the Yanks – they are our allies but may not have been told and may not care.”

[The Thirsty Viking]

I agree, current issue dress uniform pieces have no place with a kilt (or rather, a kilt has no place being mixed with the uniform). I'd go with a civvie shirt (polo or t-shirt) with your branch on it or an old unit shirt if you have one and wear that with your kilt.

I have to disagree with you, as I have seen many servicemen in Kilt with their uniforms and found it quite smashing. Since it has been decreed that US Vets can wear their uniforms for parades and ceramonies (Which this occasion will be both) I think it would be fitting.

I thank you all for all the opinions coming in. Oh, and Dallas, Texas, on Memorial day is NOT the day to be wearing a Blazer...

[Spartan Tartan]

Generally, it's not a good idea to mix uniform items with civilian clothes (which of course the kilt is). Like others, I'd recommend a unit ballcap or shirt or some navy related civilian clothes.

Given that the parade is featuring veterans, it's clear by your presence that you are a vet. I think your participation alone marks the dignity of the event as you intend. Whatever you decide, just be sure that YOU are comfortable with the outfit.

Just my 2 cents...