Veterans not allowed to wear naval uniforms in public without consent | Canada | News | National Post
Canada’s navy brass is lowering the hammer on veterans who are wearing their uniforms to ceremonial and other public functions, demanding that they receive permission in writing before doing so.
But the June 13 directive from the head of the Royal Canadian Navy has the potential to create a public relations nightmare in which elderly veterans who wear their old naval uniforms at Remembrance Day and other anniversary functions are told they are violating military rules.
A number of serving military personnel forwarded the directive to the Ottawa Citizen, adding they worry such a decree is unworkable or will backfire on the navy if it tries to prevent Second World War or Korean War veterans from wearing their uniforms during memorial events.
“Requests by former RCN service members to wear uniforms, including mess dress, will be considered on a case-by-case basis,” wrote navy commander Vice Admiral Paul Maddison in the message now being circulated to units and veterans groups. “Such approval shall be limited to exceptional circumstances where the wearing of the uniform is necessary and will favorably contribute to the RCN.”
But military sources say the impetus for the Vice Admiral’s message was an event honouring the navy and commemorating the Battle of the Atlantic, held at the Canadian War Museum in May. A number of retired admirals attended in their mess uniforms even though they did not have permission to do so.
Serving officers objected and several heated emails were exchanged between the navy and retired officers after the event. Emotions are still running high, say sources, with one former senior officer threatening to return his medals because of the dispute.
Canada’s navy brass is lowering the hammer on veterans who are wearing their uniforms to ceremonial and other public functions, demanding that they receive permission in writing before doing so.
But the June 13 directive from the head of the Royal Canadian Navy has the potential to create a public relations nightmare in which elderly veterans who wear their old naval uniforms at Remembrance Day and other anniversary functions are told they are violating military rules.
A number of serving military personnel forwarded the directive to the Ottawa Citizen, adding they worry such a decree is unworkable or will backfire on the navy if it tries to prevent Second World War or Korean War veterans from wearing their uniforms during memorial events.
“Requests by former RCN service members to wear uniforms, including mess dress, will be considered on a case-by-case basis,” wrote navy commander Vice Admiral Paul Maddison in the message now being circulated to units and veterans groups. “Such approval shall be limited to exceptional circumstances where the wearing of the uniform is necessary and will favorably contribute to the RCN.”
But military sources say the impetus for the Vice Admiral’s message was an event honouring the navy and commemorating the Battle of the Atlantic, held at the Canadian War Museum in May. A number of retired admirals attended in their mess uniforms even though they did not have permission to do so.
Serving officers objected and several heated emails were exchanged between the navy and retired officers after the event. Emotions are still running high, say sources, with one former senior officer threatening to return his medals because of the dispute.
