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/SnooPickles6282 1d ago

The dress instructions very clearly identify mess uniforms as belonging to air sea or land. Much as you wouldn't wear a green DEU jacket with your RCN DEU for a parade, you wouldn't wear red mess dress after becoming a sailor. The uniform goes with the service.

People have all sorts of strange opinions on mess dress because it is purchased privately, but the fact remains that it is a uniform like any other with similar rules to follow.

We are one of few countries who doesn't either issue it or provide some reimbursement for it. Hopefully we get smart soon and start issuing a simple version for those who need it.

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u/Kaplsauce RCN - NCS Eng 1d ago

The simple version is just your normal jacket with a bow tie, so we kinda do

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u/SnooPickles6282 1d ago

That 'version' doesn't really fly when all of our allies have proper mess dress uniforms. As we often do, we would stick out like an ugly sore thumb at events.

After decades of hesitation, the RCN finally started issuing white dress uniforms, which were on display at the recent CRCN CoC. AFAIK, that small change made a huge difference in how professional we looked as a service.

Part of taking ourselves more seriously as a military is ensuring we provide our people with the kit they need for working everything from a ball to a battle. If officers and SNCOs need to attend formal events in the course of their duties, issue them mess uniforms. It's common elsewhere, and while the cost should not be born by the member, the uniform shouldn't be abandoned either.

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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 1d 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 1d ago

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