Lapel pins and tie tacks

[RiverAux]

Anyone notice that Vanguard has a selection of CAP lapel pins? http://www.vanguardmil.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_433_436
They've got:
The US Civil Air Patrol command patch
National Staff College
Regional Staff College
CAP Distinguished Service
CAP Exceptional Service
AE
Certificate of Proficiency
CAP Crest
CAP Seal/US Flag Combo

FYI, you can wear one "tasteful" lapel pin on the CAP blazer uniform.  Some of the writeups for the pins say they are approved for civilian wear though for the command patch style pin it says that it is not a uniform item, which I guess means you can wear it on civilian wear but that you couldn't wear it on the blazer (probably since it isn't the current style). 

I find it odd that they made a pin for the Certificate of Proficiency.  Can't see that one selling very much. 

I also see that the CAP crest pin looks very similar to the NSC pin. 

I'm not much of a pin-wearing guy, but even if I were one, maybe the only one I would wear on a civilian outfit would be the command patch one.  No way would I wear one of the ribbon ones on a civilian outfit. 

Also, what do you think of the rank insignia tie tacks?  http://www.vanguardmil.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_433_438
Isn't it a little redundant to have a little rank insigina on your tie?

[adamblank]

The lapel pins don't seem like a bad idea.  I can foresee folks wanting maybe the MSM or commendation pins, but if people want to buy them, sounds good to me.

For the rank insignia tie tacks...I would have to say (my opinion of course) I think it is a bit pretentious to wear them.  I only saw one on a brand-new 2d Lt since I have been on AD.  He only wore it once.

[SDF_Specialist]

That COP pin really threw me off.

[afgeo4]

That COP pin really threw me off.

Especially since there is no COP anymore.

[BillB]

May not be a Senior COP anymore, but there still  are members that earned the CADET COP.

[Eclipse]

For the rank insignia tie tacks...I would have to say (my opinion of course) I think it is a bit pretentious to wear them.  I only saw one on a brand-new 2d Lt since I have been on AD.  He only wore it once.

I see them all the time, CAP, Active, reservists, CAP-RAPs....

[Gunner C]

For the rank insignia tie tacks...I would have to say (my opinion of course) I think it is a bit pretentious to wear them.  I only saw one on a brand-new 2d Lt since I have been on AD.  He only wore it once.

I see them all the time, CAP, Active, reservists, CAP-RAPs....

Yep, I see them, too.  I don't know what the rub is.

GC

[jeders]

For the rank insignia tie tacks...I would have to say (my opinion of course) I think it is a bit pretentious to wear them.  I only saw one on a brand-new 2d Lt since I have been on AD.  He only wore it once.

I see them all the time, CAP, Active, reservists, CAP-RAPs....

Yep, I see them, too.  I don't know what the rub is.

GC

I've seen them on CAP people, but never on anyone on active duty. Personally, I think it's a little dorky to wear a rank insignia tie tack.

[mikeylikey]

^ Dorky was not the word I was thinking.   

[jeders]

^ Dorky was not the word I was thinking.   

Tryin' to be nice here mikey. 

[Cecil DP]

For the rank insignia tie tacks...I would have to say (my opinion of course) I think it is a bit pretentious to wear them.  I only saw one on a brand-new 2d Lt since I have been on AD.  He only wore it once.

I see them all the time, CAP, Active, reservists, CAP-RAPs....

Yep, I see them, too.  I don't know what the rub is.

GC

I've seen them on CAP people, but never on anyone on active duty. Personally, I think it's a little dorky to wear a rank insignia tie tack.

The reason the AF came out with grade on their tietacs and epaulets is that GEN David Jones, Chief of Staff  of the Air Force walked into an office one day when everybody had taken off their service coat and couldn't tell who was who.

[mikeylikey]

^ What?!?!

[JayT]

^ What?!?!

Back in the day, the long sleeve shirt worn under the service jacket was just a plain blue long sleeve shirt. No epaulettes or what not. So no rank could be displayed if the jacket was removed. Thus, the rank insignia tie tac was a sort of unoffical display of rank.

Or so says my old JROTC SASI, who was comissioned in the late 60s.

[JayT]

FYI, you can wear one "tasteful" lapel pin on the CAP blazer uniform.  Some of the writeups for the pins say they are approved for civilian wear though for the command patch style pin it says that it is not a uniform item, which I guess means you can wear it on civilian wear but that you couldn't wear it on the blazer (probably since it isn't the current style). 

I think what they mean is that you can't wear it on the service uniform.

[Hawk200]

I've seen them on CAP people, but never on anyone on active duty....

I've done it, when active duty. Most of the people I knew had them too, including my First Sergeant, commander, most of the NCO's in the squadron, and numerous others.

Then again, it was the '90's. Things now could be drastically different.

The reason the AF came out with grade on their tietacs and epaulets is that GEN David Jones, Chief of Staff  of the Air Force walked into an office one day when everybody had taken off their service coat and couldn't tell who was who.

Would love to see a legitimate source for that story. Cuz that one flies about as far as the last pig I threw.

Back in the day, the long sleeve shirt worn under the service jacket was just a plain blue long sleeve shirt. No epaulettes or what not. So no rank could be displayed if the jacket was removed. Thus, the rank insignia tie tac was a sort of unoffical display of rank.

Or so says my old JROTC SASI, who was comissioned in the late 60s.

Back in the sixties, rank insignia would have been worn on the collar of the shirt if an officer. Enlisted would have had stripes on their sleeves already. That explanation doesn't really seem all that valid either.

[mikeylikey]

 Didn't they wear rank on the collars??  I am no uniform historian, but I think I have seen pictures from the Vietnam era when AF and all other services still wore rank on the collars?

Back in the day, the long sleeve shirt worn under the service jacket was just a plain blue long sleeve shirt. No epaulettes or what not. So no rank could be displayed if the jacket was removed. Thus, the rank insignia tie tac was a sort of unoffical display of rank.

Or so says my old JROTC SASI, who was comissioned in the late 60s.

[ColonelJack]

As of the mid 70s, WIWOAD, the AF service coat was worn over a simple light blue shirt with the uniform tie.  The shirt had no epaulets, a regular breast pocket, and there was nothing on sleeve or collar.  When in that uniform, you were expected to keep your service coat on.

The same held true for the Army (at least JROTC) during that period; the green coat was worn over a tan shirt that was just like the AF blue one.  Nothing worn on collars and no epaulets.

The pictures you see of people wearing insignia on their collars are correct, but those shirts would not have been worn with the service coat.  The shoulder mark insignia came in during the late 70s with the new blue shirts.

Jack

[mikeylikey]

^ I wonder if that means suits were more fashionable back then.  Thanks for the clarification Colonel!

[JayT]

As of the mid 70s, WIWOAD, the AF service coat was worn over a simple light blue shirt with the uniform tie.  The shirt had no epaulets, a regular breast pocket, and there was nothing on sleeve or collar.  When in that uniform, you were expected to keep your service coat on.

The same held true for the Army (at least JROTC) during that period; the green coat was worn over a tan shirt that was just like the AF blue one.  Nothing worn on collars and no epaulets.

The pictures you see of people wearing insignia on their collars are correct, but those shirts would not have been worn with the service coat.  The shoulder mark insignia came in during the late 70s with the new blue shirts.

Jack

Woohoo! I was right for once!

[SJFedor]

I read this thread, and all I can think of is Animal House:



A PLEDGE PIN?!?! ON YOUR UNIFORM!?!?!

[JoeTomasone]

Hey!  I like my 'lil 1st Lt. tie tack!

They have them on sale at the local MCSS.  Haven't seen enough AD in Blues to comment on usage.

[Larry Mangum]

I have worn my NERSC pin on my civilian sports coat for years.  People ask about it and I use it to open the door to talking to people about Civil Air Patrol and its missions in social gathering. Think of it as a way to recruit people are at a very minimum a chance to make more people aware of the program.

[0]

I love the lapel pins.  I've got a command patch one I wear all the time.

[Chappie]

On the corporate blazer or my sports coats I will wear one CAP lapel pin...depending on the mood I am in: Wing pin, NSC pin, old CAP seal pin, or ESA pin.  Always good for conversation starter about CAP.

[RiverAux]

I read this thread, and all I can think of is Animal House:



A PLEDGE PIN?!?! ON YOUR UNIFORM!?!?!

I am deeply ashamed that I didn't make the connection...

[Gunner C]

I read this thread, and all I can think of is Animal House:



A PLEDGE PIN?!?! ON YOUR UNIFORM!?!?!

I am deeply ashamed that I didn't make the connection...

Too bad about Lt Nedermeyer. . . 

[SJFedor]

I read this thread, and all I can think of is Animal House:



A PLEDGE PIN?!?! ON YOUR UNIFORM!?!?!

I am deeply ashamed that I didn't make the connection...

Too bad about Lt Nedermeyer. . . 

Yeah....killed by his own men.....

/drift

[Pylon]

I always wore the RAF lapel pin I got while on IACE until it apparently fell off my suit a few months ago