Question regarding the wearing of medals in messes

[Quartermaster]

Here's one for the Dress Reg fanatics.

Most army messes I have been a member of have had a "no medals" policy with the exception of Remembrance Day and New Year's Levee.  I have looked at the 265 myself and while it does indicate that you wear a lower order of dress when a higher one is deemed unecessary, it does not necessarily prohibit it.

Here's the real question.  Is there a reason why the "no medals" policy exists or is it truly just an interpretation of the Dress Regs?

 

[Jed]

I have never heard of this policy in any Mess I have been a member of. Does this relate to specific types of Messes? ie(Jr Ranks, Officer's, Airforce, Army, Reserve Force, LFWA, LFAA)

 

[Quartermaster]

Ironically, it has only ever been combined messes (Officer/Sr NCO) where I have seen this rule.  It never came up in Officer's messes.

 

[CountDC]

This is an regulation for all messes, just not enforced by them all  - can't recall the name of the pub but I had a copy when I was PMC. It was all about CF mess policies.

 

[Quartermaster]

If the name of the pub pops into mind, I'd appreciate the ref so I can get my hands on it.  It's always the least important point that takes up the most amount of time at O Gp.  :

Thanks

 

[aesop081]

can't recall the name of the pub

I have an old copy of "Customs and traditions of the Canadian Forces" at home.....i will look in there after work.

 

[dapaterson]

It may also be in CFP 262.  See http://www.cfpsa.com/en/psp/messes/docs/AAD262000AG000_19820729_CW_CH002_VIEW[1].pdf

 

[dapaterson]

Further to CDN Aviator's last:

Customs and Traditions of the CF is available online at:

ftp://hr.ottawa-hull.mil.ca/Downloads/dhh/CFPs/A-JS-007-002-JD-000_e.pdf

Warning: it's a 32Mb file (for those of you still on dialup)

 

[MARS]

This is news to me - and I am the PMC of my mess :-[

Have never heard of any "regulation" - particularly a forces-wide regulation on this - perhaps it is part of the "customs and traditions" manual - I just did a DIN search and out of the 20 or so mess constitutions I read none made reference to this.  The only thing I found was the Customs and Traditions of the Canadian Military Engineers

http://admie.ottawa-hull.mil.ca/dgme/j3engr/docs/cmeCustomsTraditi1C3.doc

which states, in part:

DECORATIONS

11.     Members shall wear decorations as laid down in dress regulations.  Medals are worn only on those social and ceremonial occasions where the invitation or parade order indicates that they are appropriate.  When not wearing medals, undress ribbons are worn.  Normally medals are removed upon entering a mess; however, they may be worn in a mess at a New Year’s Levee, Remembrance Day and similar occasions.  No foreign decorations shall be worn with the exception of the U.S. Ranger and Special Forces Course decorations that have been approved for wear on the Distinctive Environmental Uniform, but not mess dress.

Wish I could have been more help,

MARS

 

[dapaterson]

There's also CFP 265, the dress regulations, where it states on page 2A-1:

(Medals only) No. 1A Formal and other significant occasions for which the wearing of complete
ceremonial attire – No. 1 or 1B orders – is not deemed necessary
or appropriate; ie, no swords, ceremonial belts, bayonets, etc.:
a. investitures;
b. levees;
c. ceremonial parades;
d. ceremonial occasions, when attending as a spectator;
e. on Remembrance Days in messes;
f. formal military weddings; and
g. other occasions as ordered.
(Full Dress) No. 1B As for No. 1 or 1A orders of dress. Worn by authorized units only (see
Chapter 5).
(Undress) No. 1C As for No. 1 or 1A orders of dress. Optional undress order.
(Undress) No. 1D As for No. 1C order of dress with undress ribbons. For wear on less
formal occasions at which the wearing of orders, decorations and
medals would be considered inappropriate.

Not comprehensive in saying "Thou shalt not", rather saying "This is when it would be appropriate".

 

[Quartermaster]

There's also CFP 265, the dress regulations, where it states on page 2A-1:

Not comprehensive in saying "Thou shalt not", rather saying "This is when it would be appropriate".

This is what I was referring to in my first post.  I do find the ref quoted by MARS interesting though.  Particularly the mention of "...where the invitation or parade order indicates that they are appropriate." This might be the most pertinent ref to my question. 

 

[ModlrMike]

I put this in the "old wives's tale" category. Neither the mess membership nor the mess committee has the authority to issue directives relating to dress. There's certainly nothing in the dress manual to support such a directive.