Wearing of Uniform For The Veterans - Gp Capt Suhas Phatak

Veterans may wear their Service  Uniforms on certain Special Occasions.

These are as follows: -

(a) All regular officers who have retired from service (including Regular Reserve of officers permitted to retain or granted higher rank on retirement from Regular Reserve of Officers) may wear uniform with badges of appropriate rank on special occasions, such as ceremonial parades, entertainment of military nature and other occasions when wearing of uniform would appear appropriate.

(b) All officers /civilian gentlemen granted honorary commissions (including honorary commission in the Territorial Army and late State Forces), regular officers of the erstwhile State Forces, Junior Commissioned Officers including those granted honorary ranks and other ranks are permitted to wear uniform on all occasions mentioned below : -

(i)  Official parties at Rashtrapati Bhawan/Raj Bhawans.

(ii) Invited to official function by Embassy, Delegation or High Commission.

(iii) Army functions, including ex-servicemen’s rallies or re-unions.

(iv) Attending durbar or other function in honour of the National Day.

(v)  While called upon in aid of civil power.

(vi) While visiting any Military Headquarters on duty.

(vii)While calling on or meeting senior service officers and local heads of the civil administration of and above the rank of Collector/Deputy Commissioner.

(viii) While going to draw pension.

(ix)   While serving on the personal staff of a Governor.

(x)    When serving on the personal staff of a former ruler (Applies to honorary ex-State Forces Commissioned officers only).

(xi)   When attending State or military funerals. Note : Non-regular officers may wear their full medals or miniatures on civilian dress on occasion specified above.

(c)  Officers granted commissions from JCO’s rank, irrespective of the type of that commission, are permitted to wear officer’s uniform on the occasions given in Para 28 (b)  above, after retirement/release from service.

(d)  None of the personnel mentioned above will wear uniform at meetings of a political nature. Personnel dismissed from service/discharged on disciplinary grounds are not entitled to wear uniform under any circumstances.

(e) Retired JCOs holding honorary ranks will be permitted to continue the badges of their higher ranks during the period of their re-employment. The higher honorary ranks will, however, have no effect on the actual seniority, powers of command, pay and allowances and so on, which will continue to be governed

under the rules as may be applicable in each case.

(f) Officers holding honorary commissions and released officers who held other types of commissions while serving may be allowed to wear uniform on specific occasions under orders issued by Army Headquarters from time to time.

(g)  Orders, decorations and medals will be worn on uniform when appropriate and in the manner as authorized for service personnel from time to time. Silver war badges, wound stripes and chevrons denoting Great War Service will not be worn.

(h) Military identity papers/discharge certificates will always be carried when in uniform.

This is an Extract of Para 28 of an Army Instruction on the subject. Please do check the original orders for authenticity.

Regards,

Gp Capt S S Phatak( Retd)

AFA MAharashtra

Pune.

Sale and Wearing of Military Pattern Uniform - Brig R Vinayak, VSM (Retd)

I recall that in a study to review security of Army Cantonments and Installations post Attack on Red Fort (22 Dec '01), one of the issues highlighted was sale and wearing of military pattern uniform by unauthorised persons.

 

• This is the most violated practice that goes unchecked.
• Although there is a mention of this in the section of law but sufficient  punishment is not prescribed for offenders to make it deterrent.
• Moreover, various police forces have introduced and started wearing disruptive pattern dresses copying the Army.
• Nowadays it has become fashionable among youngsters to wear disruptive pattern dresses.
• All this was always and will continue to be a security hazard.
•  Hence it is high time the Government puts a ban on unauthorised use only military pattern uniform by public and also ban the sale.
• Police force should also not copy Army pattern dresses.
•  Disruptive pattern dress is meant primarily for combat and purpose of camouflage.
• The uniform and badges of appointments worn on the shoulders by Police should also be different from those put on by the Army personnel.

 

Brig R Vinayak, VSM (Retd)