Posted on Jan 19, 2016
Should I order the basic mini medals or the anodized finished ones for my dress mess?
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Dress Uniform
Military Ball
Uniforms
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 9
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For mess dress, LTC (Join to see), since it is so costly, you need to go big... Go all out and get the good stuff.
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Look sharp, dress sharp, be sharp. Don't cheat on anything when it comes to your appearance in public.
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The anodized look better, and run $2-5 each more. The real question is how many more times you think you will end up getting additional medals. I don't have much of a rack, and it stung every time I had to do it. But.... saving $20-30 each time is really a drop in the bucket as well. The problem is just that as soon as you get the set, a new war breaks out!
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Sir, go for the good ones. They do tend to look much better than the standard.
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I will be picking up a set of the anodized later this year. Not only do they look great on mess, but once you are out, and attending a military"ish" event, they look great on a suit lapel.
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isn't dress mess the equivalent to marine corps' dinner dress? and so shouldn't you get the miniature medals and ribbons?
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I would go for the standard mini-medals unless it is a really special event or you wear your mess uniform way more than I do.
For me, that would add up to about $200 extra to get shinier medals.
For me, that would add up to about $200 extra to get shinier medals.
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Personally, I recommend the mini's with the dress mess. Looks better, IMHO
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First and foremost, look at your regulations Army is AR 670-1 and Pamphlet 670-1 (if I remember right). AF is AFI 36-2903. Not sure on Navy or Marine Corps. I believe the AF Mess Dress is mini-medals. I have NEVER seen anyone actually wear the full sized. As to the basic vs. anodized finish....I prefer the look of the "natural". Helps each medal look distinct and different. Not sure if the regs actually distinguish between the 2 finishes.....
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LTC (Join to see)
Maj Chris Nelson I was not going to get the full size ones only question is regular vs shiny.
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CPT Jim Schwebach
The regulation states that both classic and anodized medals and badges are authorized. But you can't have it both ways - the entire rack and badges must be of the same finish(all classic or all anodized). Foreign decorations provide a conundrum. Some are "shiny", most are not. The reg is silent on the subject of finish for foreign awards. My approach was(and is) to wear minis in the same finish as the full sized medals were received. I suppose that if I were to choose to go the anodized route I'd have two choices on the foreign awards. One choice would be to wear only those foreign awards commercially available in anodized format. Another choice would be to take those not available anodized to a jeweller who can anodize them. Hint, this is a real expensive option.
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MSgt Gerald Orvis
Get the anodized miniature medals. Also get the anodized button set. Since evening/mess dress are not worn in formation with troops (where if one does it, all must do it), it's not something to worry about. Look sharp, be sharp.
Oh, and be sure to take your evening/mess jacket to the tailor and have it eyeletted where the buttons attach. Use small rings through the button shanks to attach the buttons. When you send the jacket to the cleaners, remove the buttons so the buttons/shanks don't get crushed. I did that with all my uniform coats/jackets and never regretted it, and saved some money on button replacement.
Oh, and be sure to take your evening/mess jacket to the tailor and have it eyeletted where the buttons attach. Use small rings through the button shanks to attach the buttons. When you send the jacket to the cleaners, remove the buttons so the buttons/shanks don't get crushed. I did that with all my uniform coats/jackets and never regretted it, and saved some money on button replacement.
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