Uniforms

You don't need a full uniform to take part. The red MCL cover (garrison cap) is the one item every member should own, because wearing it means you are "in uniform" at League events. Everything else is optional and depends on the event.

This page explains each item, what to wear when, and where to buy it. It follows the Marine Corps League Uniform Code (National Administrative Procedures, Enclosure 3, 2025 edition). If this page and the National code ever disagree, the National code wins.

Quick rules

• The cover is the uniform. Wear it indoors at League meetings and functions. No other cover may be worn at an MCL meeting or function.

• Never mix MCL and DoD ribbons or medals. Wear one set or the other.

• No service or unit patches on any MCL uniform.

• Ribbons only, no medals, on the white undress shirt. Medals go on the red blazer or formal dress.

• Associate members wear the same uniforms with a few differences (see "Regular vs. associate members" below).

• Color guard and honor guard details match. If one member doesn't have ribbons, nobody wears them. Trousers are all blue or all black, never mixed. The long-sleeve shirt is worn only if everyone has one.

• Cover (garrison cap)

• Red MCL cover: Authorized for all members. Men's and women's styles.

• Cap ornament, left side: Regular members: 1-1/2" gold or polished brass Marine Corps emblem (enlisted style only). Associate members: MCL sunburst emblem instead.

• Right side, front: Devil Dog patch only if authorized (Military Order of the Devil Dogs members). The detachment has no Pound, so most members won't have one.

• Right side, centered: Identification: office strip, then detachment and location (see below).

• Life Member: "LIFE MEMBER" strip goes above the other strips. A "LIFE" strip goes toward the rear of the right side.

• Not allowed: No division pins or other pins and ornaments on the cover.

Detachment embroidery, right side (our detachment's standard): Row 1 - Your detachment office (sewn-on strip or embroidered), for example SERGEANT AT ARMS. Row 2 - DETACHMENT 1205. Row 3 - LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA.

Other cover colors (for reference): Department officers wear a red cover with gold crown. National officers wear gold. Past Detachment Commandants may keep a red cover with red crown and a past-office strip.

Video: MCL National's video about the cover: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=285079412956847 

2. Shirts

• Red MCL polo (meetings, community events, Toys for Tots): Not an official League uniform, but it's our standard event shirt. Worn with the red cover.

• White short-sleeve "aviator" shirt (undress, short sleeve; color guard, most ceremonies): Airline pilot style, two button-flap pockets, epaulets, military creases. Open collar, no tie.

• White long-sleeve aviator shirt (undress, long sleeve; honor guard, funerals, formal ceremonies): Same shirt with long sleeves, worn with a plain black tie and gold tie bar (Marine Corps enlisted or MCL).

• Women's options (same occasions): Airline pilot style, women's USMC white shirt, or Army white ASU-style shirt. With women's dress blue trousers, wear the women's USMC white shirt (worn outside the trousers).

On the undress shirt:

• Collar: MCL sunburst insignia on each collar, centered 1/2" inside the tip, wings level. Associate members wear the 1/2" gold "MCL" collar insignia instead.

• Left sleeve: MCL shoulder patch (associate members: the red MCL Associate patch), centered, 1-1/2" below the shoulder seam.

• Right sleeve: U.S. flag patch, 2" x 3", white border, star field toward the front, centered, 1-1/2" below the seam. MODD members may wear the MODD patch here instead.

• Ribbons: MCL ribbons centered over the left pocket, 1/8" above the flap (or DoD ribbons as authorized, never both).

• Name tag: optional, undress shirt only.

• Undershirt: white.

3. Blazer and jackets

• Red MCL blazer (casual uniform; ball, banquets, conventions, formal meetings): Red blazer with 2 MCL buttons on the front and 3 or 4 on each cuff. White plain-collar shirt (no button-down, no collar insignia), plain black tie, black dress trousers, black belt with gold EGA buckle, black shoes. MCL crest on the pocket. Up to 3 large medals (MCL or DoD) on one bar over the left pocket. Dress blue trousers are never worn with the red blazer.

• Red evening dress jacket (formal dress; black-tie events): See National Enclosure 3. Miniature medals are worn only on formal dress. The cover is not worn at indoor formal events.

• Red coach's windbreaker (detachment outerwear; cool weather): Red nylon coach's jacket with tricot lining, with detachment embroidery.

• Red Rothco MA-1 flight jacket (detachment outerwear; cold weather): Heavier jacket. Runs true to size with little room, so if an XL feels almost snug, order a size up.

Outerwear over a uniform must be authorized by the Commandant for the weather, and everyone in the detail wears the same thing.

4. Trousers, belts and shoes

• Blue trousers (preferred for our color and honor guard): Regular members: Marine Corps dress blue trousers with the red NCO stripe, khaki web belt, brass web-belt buckle. Associate members: dress blue trousers without the red stripe, khaki web belt, brass web-belt buckle.

• Black trousers (alternative): Regular members: black dress trousers, black leather belt with square gold EGA buckle. Associate members: black dress trousers, plain black belt.

• Women: Black straight skirt (1-2" below the knee) or black dress trousers, or female dress blue trousers (associate members: same, without the red stripe).

• Shoes: Black plain-toe oxfords, high gloss (Corfam is fine). Socks: black.

Color guard white duty belt: The detachment provides white belts and white gloves at events. If you buy your own, National requires the 2-1/2" plain white cotton web duty belt with the brass Marine Corps waist plate (drill instructor style). It is not the 1-3/4" dress blue white belt. Associate members may wear the EGA plate only while serving as Sergeant at Arms or on an honor guard detail.

White gloves: worn by memorial and honor details at the senior member's discretion. Provided by the detachment.

5. Ribbons and medals

• MCL or DoD awards, never both on the same uniform.

• Undress (white shirt): ribbons only, centered over the left pocket.

• Red blazer: up to 3 large medals on a single bar over the left pocket.

• Formal dress: miniature medals on the left lapel.

• Medallions (Marine of the Year, Chapel of Four Chaplains, MODD collar) are worn one at a time, never with a polo or civilian shirt.

• Lapel pins (red blazer or evening jacket only): no more than 2 at a time.

MCL ribbons, order of precedence (highest first; 2025 National Administrative Procedures, Enclosure 4):

1. Heroism

2. Distinguished Citizen - Gold

3. Distinguished Citizen - Silver

4. Distinguished Citizen - Bronze

5. Distinguished Service

6. National Marine of the Year

7. National Associate Member of the Year

8. Division Marine of the Year

9. Division Associate Member of the Year

10. Department Marine of the Year

11. Department Associate Member of the Year

12. Detachment Marine of the Year

13. Detachment Associate Member of the Year

14. National Recruiter - Gold

15. National Recruiter - Silver

16. National Recruiter - Bronze

17. Past National Commandant

18. National Staff Elected

19. National Staff Appointed

20. Past Department Commandant

21. Department Staff Elected

22. Department Staff Appointed

23. Department Recruiter - Silver

24. Detachment Commandant

25. Detachment Staff Elected

26. Detachment Staff Appointed

27. Detachment Recruiter - Bronze

28. Community Service

29. Board of Trustees Commendation (Victor T. Fisher Award)

30. Meritorious Unit Commendation - National

31. Meritorious Unit Commendation - Department

32. Meritorious Individual Commendation

33. Ceremonial Guard

34. Marksmanship - Rifle

35. Marksmanship - Pistol

36. Kennel Dog of the Year

37. Chief Devil Dog Meritorious Commendation (Individual)

38. Pack Dog of the Year

39. Pack Leader Meritorious Commendation (Individual)

40. Pound Dog of the Year

41. Pound Keeper Meritorious Commendation (Individual)

42. Past Chief Devil Dog

43. Past Pack Leader

44. Past Pound Keeper

45. Marine Corps League (Membership)

46. Marine Corps League 100th Anniversary (added 2023)

After these come the National and Department convention anniversary ribbons (including the 50th Department of Virginia Convention ribbon) and, last, any state commendation ribbon. See Enclosure 4 for the full list.

• 6. What to wear when

• Detachment meetings: Red cover (required to be "in uniform"). Red polo recommended.

• Toys for Tots events, fundraisers, community events: Red cover, red polo, white undershirt, khaki trousers, black shoes. Cool weather: add a white turtleneck and the windbreaker. Cold: white turtleneck and the MA-1 jacket. (This is our detachment's matching event attire, not a League uniform.)

• Color guard: Red cover, white short-sleeve aviator shirt with patches and collar insignia, blue trousers (or all black), khaki web belt, black oxfords, white duty belt and gloves (provided). Ribbons only if everyone has them.

• Honor guard, funerals, death watch: Same as color guard. The long-sleeve shirt and black tie may be worn if every member of the detail has them.

• Marine Corps Birthday Ball and banquets: Red blazer (casual uniform) or formal dress, or civilian attire per the event. No cover at indoor formal events.

• Cold or wet weather, any detail: Outerwear authorized by the Commandant. Everyone wears the same.

7. Regular vs. associate members

• Cover emblem: Regular: Marine Corps emblem (enlisted style). Associate: MCL sunburst emblem.

• Collar insignia: Regular: MCL sunburst. Associate: 1/2" gold "MCL" insignia.

• Left shoulder patch: Regular: MCL patch. Associate: red MCL Associate patch.

• Dress blue trousers: Regular: with red NCO stripe. Associate: without the stripe.

• Blazer crest: Regular: MCL crest. Associate: none (no associate crest is approved).

8. Where to buy

Prices change, so check with the seller. Links open in a new tab.

• Red MCL cover, men's (Semper Fi Store, MCL National store): https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/products/u1 

• Red MCL cover, women's: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/products/u3 

• Cap ornament, regular member: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/uniform/products/u13 

• Cap ornament, associate member: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/uniform/products/u13a 

• Office strips (cap strips): https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/uniform/cap-strips 

• Red MCL polo: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/products/wa121 

• Coach's windbreaker, red (Amazon, Augusta Sportswear nylon coach's jacket): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YE01SA 

• Rothco MA-1 flight jacket, red: https://militaryuniformsupply.com/products/rothco-ma-1-flight-jacket-various-colors or https://www.rothco.com/product/rothco-ma-1-flight-jacket 

• Short-sleeve aviator shirt, men's (Exchange; all honorably discharged veterans can shop): https://www.shopmyexchange.com/dlats-men-s-short-sleeve-asu-shirt/5701817 

• Aviator shirts, men's and women's: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/uniform/aviators 

• Women's long-sleeve aviator shirt (Amazon, Van Heusen women's aviator): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0145OXGJS 

• Black tie (regular, long, clip-on): https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/uniform 

• Collar insignia, regular member: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/uniform/products/u14 

• Collar insignia, associate member: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/uniform/products/u14a 

• MCL shoulder patch, regular: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/uniform/products/wa13 

• MCL Associate shoulder patch, red: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/uniform/products/wa110 

• Ribbon bar holder: https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/collections/medals-ribbons/products/metal-ribbon-bar-holder 

• Dress blue trousers, men's, NCO stripe (regular): https://www.uniforms-4u.com/p-usmc-nco-dress-blue-pants-14461.aspx 

• Dress blue trousers, men's, no stripe (associate): https://www.uniforms-4u.com/p-usmc-dress-blue-pants-14462.aspx 

• Khaki web belt and buckle, up to 42" waist (Marine Shop): https://marineshop.net/product/khaki-belt-with-anodized-tip-500115/ and https://marineshop.net/product/anodized-buckle-for-trouser-belt-500123/ 

• Khaki web belt, over 42" waist (65" belt): https://www.uniforms-4u.com/p-usmc-khaki-belt-3516.aspx 

• Hi-gloss oxfords, men's: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LO8BOW or https://marineshop.net/product/altama-male-corfam-shoe/ 

• Women's hi-gloss low quarters: https://www.marlowwhite.com/women-s-black-high-gloss-low-quarter-shoe 

• White gloves (optional, provided at events): https://www.marlowwhite.com/white-grip-gloves 

• White turtleneck (any store; polyester holds shape better than cotton): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CDK5C3S 

• Khaki trousers: any store, for example Kohl's in Leesburg.

Downloads

• MCL Uniform Code and ribbon precedence (National Administrative Procedures, Enclosures 3 and 4): available to members in the MCL Member Library: https://www.mcleaguelibrary.org/member-library/ 

Not endorsed: the stores above are listed for convenience only; the Detachment does not endorse or receive anything from them.