KIA Bracelets for Marines: Should Disneyland East Approve?

Disneyland East -- the Marines' affectionate term for United States Marine Corps headquarters at Arlington, Virginia -- has put the halt on Marine's wearing Killed In Action bracelets ("KIA bracelets"). Marines wear the bracelets to honor their fallen devil dogs.
KIA bracelets worn by Marines vary in design; some are rubber, most are metal. They are, however, considered unauthorized jewelry, according to Marine Corps uniform orders, but the regulation being used to ban them is enforced unevenly across the force. Some commands turn a blind eye to it, with even senior leaders wearing them, while others have told Marines they are prohibited.

Among rank-and-file Marines, the greatest source of confusion — and frustration — lies in a passage of the uniform order that approves Marines to wear bracelets honoring prisoners of war or those who are considered missing in action. POW/MIA bracelets are similar in size and style to KIA bracelets. They were authorized by a Secretary of the Navy message published in 1972 during the Vietnam War. SECNAV is not considering a change to the regulations, either.

The KIA bracelets look very similar to the approved POW/MIA bracelets. “There is no difference between the three except the writing on the bracelet. It is not like they are going out to get a pink bracelet. As long as it meets the standards of the bracelets, it should be no different. I have seen watches that are more extravagant,” 1st Sgt. Travis DeBarr said.

“There are few ways to make the loss of a Marine bearable,” Sgt. Megan Cavanaugh, who is assigned to the Marine Senate Liaison Office in Washington, D.C. said, “but memorializing them seems to help.”

The United States Marine Corps needs to conform to uniform standards. However, the USMC can change those standards to allow its fighting force to keep up with the times and instill morale -- never leave a brother behind.