Wearing Squadron or Demo Team Patches - Is it ethicial?

[Craig Scaling]

If it were an issue of ethics inside the squadrons and units I dont think they would be selling them at shows. I for one think that they are cool and for those who know me know that I wear some on my vest (15 to 20) its way too heavy but its just my thing just for looks and even get some comments from people that have been in that unit or squadron which makes for some good conversation and stories which I enjoy hearing. Just my 2 cents 

Dude, How dissapointing. I thought you actually served with all of those squadrons and flew the T-6, P-51, T-2, F-14, the T-45, F-18, the T-37, T-38, F-15, F-16, F-22 and Piper Cub.........Man, you're not NEAR as cool as I thought you were, and I'm afraid I can no longer allow you to hang outwith me.
Sorry.   

[JT]

Dude, How dissapointing. I thought you actually served with all of those squadrons and flew the T-6, P-51, T-2, F-14, the T-45, F-18, the T-37, T-38, F-15, F-16, F-22 and Piper Cub.........Man, you're not NEAR as cool as I thought you were, and I'm afraid I can no longer allow you to hang outwith me.
Sorry.   

 That sucks ...now I am on my own in 2010....... Lisa likes me so its all good .

[Clubber]

Unlike some comments posted, a sporting team jersey is NOT comparable to a flightsuit. A multi-million dollar athlete compared to someone who risks his life in combat...um...yeah 

Patches on vests and leather bomber jackets (Top Gun style) are normal, but, you shouldn't be wearing an official-looking bag. If you
want the appearance of being supportive, squadrons/demo teams sell hats and t-shirts 

A MAJOR point to note would be the consequences of any actions while wearing official gear. If, at an airshow, someone wearing a f/s with patches of the local squadron/demo team got into trouble with security, scawfed at other patrons or just plain acted inappropriately, people (thinking they are a member of said team/sqdn) may get the wrong ideas about our servicemen/women. These teams are there to promote the military for recruitment. If someone jeopardizes that messege, especially if they are NOT serving, then they jeopardize the integrity and character of not only the OFFICIAL team members, but, the forces in general.

[MDLFLYR]

Its one thing to honor the performers/teams/groups/sqdns of the shows by showing/wearing swag collected from them, but its another thing altogether when someone that isn't really anyone in particular makes up mock uniforms and impersonates them. if its someone that's actually there on the job like maybe a vendor, then I can see that, and when kids (under 18) dress up that way that can be really cute too. When someone from airshow Ops wears a fully authentic suit, be it air boss, announcer, or Czar, I can see that being quite alright, as many of them are considered (and sometimes even listed as) official/honorary "alternate members" of the teams, but like I said earlier if it's no one in particular that's doing it and actually trying to make the presentation believable to... lets say... "play the field"  like the Car Salesman posing as a spy from the 1994 Schwarzenegger movie "True Lies"  and its not Halloween, then that's just L-A-M-E and W-R-O-N-G!

The only other time I could understand seeing a N.I.P. in full getup that isn't an actual member of the team would be for a demo flight or aerial photo assignment, as long as the suit comes back off after wheels stop/debreif.

[pmeilhac]

     I don't know why many people in this country are always trying to impress by being seen.  It is so much better to be yourself and not trying to be someone you are not.  Be respectul to our Military People who are fighting for our Freedom.  Wearing patches on a flight-suit in Public if you work as a civilian with this Squadron is fine but if it is only for parading this is not good. That's only my opinion.

[JWright]

As a retired 20-year Navy veteran, my general policy about patches is that I will not wear one where I didn't have a close, direct connection to the organization or the aircraft. 

I have a number of patches from different units I served with in the course of my career and these would hold the highest position on any garment were I to wear them.  They would be followed patches representing aircraft I built/worked on during my civilian career in the aerospace industry.  Beyond that, I wouldn't wear patches I purchased at an airshow under any circumstances. 

[Racer11]

What about the teams who sew patches to hats that they sell?  Where does that fit in to wearing patches?  My grandpa wears a hat to airshows that he bought from a E-3 that had the pach sewn onto it.  If you see him at a airsow, are you going to assume he is part of a E-3 flight crew?   I collect patches and have a lot of them, i would never wear any of them, they always stay in my shoebox unless im showing them to people.  I dont think people should wear full on flight suits with teams patches if they arnt affiliated with them.  HOWEVER, I am almost certain as to what happened was the person who was mistaken as a demo team person was a pilot who had traded patches with another pilot.  I have seen this before and it is also how i get some of my patches.  Sometimes they will ask to trade, if i have a extra, they will take the one off their shoulder and put on the one i traded them.