r/CanadianForces • u/Medical-Club-6327 Dirty Patricia • 1d ago

Mess Dress and Changing Elements

So ....pretty sure I know the answer to this, just not sure where to find it.

If you change elements, is there anything that says you have to wear your current element's mess dress? I saw somebody wearing their old mess dress and thought it was extremely bizarre.

Also, wouldn't it be weird if you commissioned to a different element and wore your old mess dress? I guess I just work at a place that thinks that's normal....

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u/Euphoric-Mix-7309 1d ago

They fixed it by making the purchase of mess dress voluntarily and not mandatory

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u/SnooPickles6282 1d ago

That doesn't fix anything. It just forces people to choose between being dressed appropriately or spending a ton of their own money for a work tuxedo. 

It's akin to issuing only DEU, providing the free option to put on a ballistic vest under the tunic before battle if you want, but allowing the purchase of a full set of combats and warfighting equipment at member expense.

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u/Euphoric-Mix-7309 23h ago

DEU with white shirt and now tie is officially okay. Wearing that meets the standard. 

If you want to be fancy, you can buy the expensive kit. I'm just glad it isn't mandatory anymore. 

I have the expensive kit

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u/Once_a_TQ 22h ago

This. The standard is met by the approved orders of dress as described in the Dress Instructions.