Expert: Jason Grabill - 6/8/2007

Question
Hi Jason It's me again.
Couple of questions.
First, if a USMC officer decides to wear collar ranks in the field on his utilities, are they embroidered sewn on tabs or actual subdued metal tabs?
Second, I have come across after market award medals in local Army/Navy stores. I notice that they usually have a place on the back of them for engraving. Does the military engrave the recipients name on them or what?
If I haven't told you yet, I have dedicated one room in my house to military memorabilia. I have 2 male mannequins for each branch of the service. 1 for officer and one for enlisted. I'm dressing them in authentic dress with all of the bells and whistles.
any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.
So far I have for USMC utilities, No patches other than the name tape and U.S. MARINES tape in both MARPAT designs and regular od green and tan desert. I imagine officers wear ranks in the field so they can be reconized by enlisted and other officers. I'm just not sure if they would wear embroidered or actual metal tabs on their collar. Or if they would wear them any where else. (like the Army's new way on the front)
Also the flag patch. What side is it worn on and is it always reversed? Is it always subdued?
Thanks for all of your help Jason
Mel


Answer
Mel:

  My answers follow your questions:

First, if a USMC officer decides to wear collar ranks in the field on his utilities, are they embroidered sewn on tabs or actual subdued metal tabs?

No subdued.  Marine officers don't wear subdued insignia.  They are pin on ranks (for officers and enlisted) no sewn ons.

Second, I have come across after market award medals in local Army/Navy stores. I notice that they usually have a place on the back of them for engraving. Does the military engrave the recipients name on them or what?

The awardee can have the medals privately engraved.  For higher awards, the military has the award engraved for the recipient.  This has been common practice since WWI.  

If I haven't told you yet, I have dedicated one room in my house to military memorabilia. I have 2 male mannequins for each branch of the service. 1 for officer and one for enlisted. I'm dressing them in authentic dress with all of the bells and whistles.
any help you can offer is greatly appreciated.

No problem.  Sounds good!

So far I have for USMC utilities, No patches other than the name tape and U.S. MARINES tape in both MARPAT designs and regular od green and tan desert. I imagine officers wear ranks in the field so they can be reconized by enlisted and other officers. I'm just not sure if they would wear embroidered or actual metal tabs on their collar. Or if they would wear them any where else. (like the Army's new way on the front)

That is correct.  And at this time, officers would still wear their insignia on the collar.  If you look at current photos of the Marines in Iraq, you will see very few pics of them wearing any kind of insignia.  They typically don't in the field.



Also the flag patch. What side is it worn on and is it always reversed? Is it always subdued?

On the right side, when worn.  Subdued depends on the mission;  Marines don't usually wear them.