TRMN Task Group 21.2

Assembling your RMN Uniform

In TRMN, the uniform is optional, but it certainly can be fun to put it together and wear it to conventions, and other events like charity events.

I (that is, Captain Bailey) have assembled a lot of the details needed to put together the uniform, from a number of sources and leavened by my own experience. It is focused mainly on the RMN officer's service dress uniform,since that is the specific one that I bought, but it should be useful for enlisted and RMMC as well. Since I wrote this, the official uniform manual came out, so use that for authoritative information; I provide some links here.

The most basic uniform (which you can probably get for around $40, plus the cost of suitable pants if you don't already have them) is the beret with beret patch, and a "Do it With Honor!" t-shirt. You can build from there.

No really, go look at the uniform manual for the uniform details there. This page is far out of date, and is lightly edited and kept around for historical interest.

Items for all Manticoran military uniforms (RMN, RMMC, RMA)

From the Bureau of Supply (BuSup), get the following.
- Shoulder patch RMN, RMMC, or RMA (this is attached 2" below the shoulder seam on the right arm, and can be ironed on or whip-stitched on with gold thread)
- Ship patch - these are something the CO orders specially through BuSup, and supplies ot the crew (this is attached 1/2" below the shoulder seam on the left arm, and can be ironed on or whip-stitched on with gold thread)
- RMN, RMMC, or RMA beret patch
- Rank insignia or rating patches (varies, see below), depending on rank/rating
- Ribbons, most commonly Space Service Deployment
- Hypercommand star, if appropriate
Order the beret (white for ship CO, green for RMMC and black for everyone else) from Glendale Parade Store, or from your favorite military supply store. The flash goes over your left eye, and should be attached a centimeter above the band. This can be by ironing or whip-stitching.
Get a polo shirt from Queensboro. In addition to the original Royal Manticoran Navy, there are now ones for the Marines, the Army, the Grayson Space Navy, and Saganami Island Academy.
The best choice to go with the t-shirt are black cargo pants, which can be found in many stores, such as Wal-Mart.

Get a ribbon bar mount (0" spacing) from BuSup (they have sizes for 1, 2, 3 and 6 ribbons), a military surplus store, or Glendale Parade Store. They are specific to the number of ribbons you have earned - you will likely have at least one, the Space Service Deployment ribbon. Glendale has them in the 1, 2, or 3 ribbon size (single bar), or in multiple bar size, up to 32 ribbons. You should order three across for up to 12 ribbons, and if you have more than that, you can switch to four across. You can determine the correct order of ribbons by using the Medusa database web site where your membership information is maintained.
Order a name plate from MyName Badges.
- Name on badge: Last name, first initial in all caps (for example, "BAILEY, T") - note that the addition of first initial was a change in September 2012
- Type: 0.625" x 2.5" MaestroBadge - Durable Metal, 5/8" x 2-1/2"
- Font: Optima
- Type of Badge: Trumpeteur Frosted
- Material Color: FrostBrass
- Extra: Name Badge - Super Grip Magnet

Get a uniform from BuSup - they occasionally collect orders to place all at once

Extra: Get a "Keep Calm and Roll Pods" t-shirt from Spreadshirt. (These have been made available again to support our Charity War efforts.)

Duty Uniform

Note: there have not been official guidelines yet posted for these, but this is the general wisdom (as I understand it) for creating a duty uniform for either enlisted or officer.

Get a black tactical coverall from (for example) Botach Tactical or Sportsman's Guide (much more economical).
Senior Master Chief Bill Lochen has created a document in the Facebook group describing how to convert the coverall to an RMN uniform. He started with the enlisted version, and is updating it to include other versions. It is available in the Second Fleet Facebook group. The rating color is as listed at the bottom of this page.
Put the Manticore and ship patches on the shoulders, as described for the Officer's Service Dress uniform.
The name goes on a name tape on the left breast. There is not yet an official vendor, but NameTags4U is a possibility. (This link is directly to a name tape generator, from which I got the samples at right.)

Enlisted: yellow with black text, with department color as border (see department list below)
Officer: black with yellow text, with department color as border (see department list below)

RMN Officer's Service Dress Uniform

Download the manuals to see details. Much of what follows has been superceded, but is interesting in a historical context.

Order the uniform itself from BuSup.

They ask for some measurements, but it is better to send a whole list from this link. They made a very good fit for me.
With some finagling, you can order just the jacket, saving some money on the shirt and pants. You can get a white turtleneck and black polyester pants locally for cheaper. I paid $80 rather than $130, for just the jacket. I did need to contact their support directly rather than go through their web site, though.
It is likely best to have them leave off the sleeve lace, and get your own (see below).

Get a white turtleneck, or perhaps a white mock turtleneck dickey from Hull's of Frankfort. (eBay store) - can use a special RMN discount code: ROYAL 10. Ask for Mariah if you call.. 1-800-478-4855

Order the sleeve lace from Marlow White - silver for Ensign, gold for all other ranks. They are placed on the sleeves 1" from the cuff, and 0.5" from each other.

RMN Rank	Order this Rank
Ensign	1/2" Silver-colored, non-metalic sleeve braid
Lieutenant (j.g.)	ENS
Lieutenant (s.g.)	LT
Lieutenant Commander	LCDR
Commander	CDR
Captain (both j.g. and s.g.)	CAPT
For RMN Commodore and up, combine the following kits:
Commodore	LT (Both 1/2 inch stripes sewn together to make a 1 in stripe) and CDR
Rear Admiral	CAPT (Combine the four 1/2 inch stripes into two 1 inch stripes)
Vice Admiral	LT and CAPT (Combine the six 1/2 inch stripes into three 1 inch stripes)
Admiral & Fleet Admiral	CAPT and CAPT (Combine the eight 1/2 inch stripes into four 1 inch stripes)
Admiral of the Fleet	LT and CAPT and CAPT (Combine the ten 1/2 inch stripes into five 1 inch stripes)

The shoulder boards included in the CosPlaySky uniform are OK, but you can do a lot better. You can order them from Eiseman-Ludmar Co..
Email Jennifer Ludmar and ask for "RED shoulderboards as used by The Royal Manticoran Navy." Include the rank and description for your rank from the list below. These are custom made and therefore final sale (and also not found on their web site).

RMN Rank	Code	Description	Price
Midshipman	TRMN-MID	Plain Red Shoulder Board	$25.50
Ensign	TRMN-O1	Red Shoulder Board with one 1/2" Silver Stripe	$26.50
Lieutenant (j.g.)	TRMN-O2	Red Shoulder Board with one 1/2" Gold Stripe	$26.50
Lieutenant (s.g.)	TRMN-O3	Red Shoulder Board with two 1/2" Gold Stripes	$27.50
Lieutenant Commander	TRMN-O4	Red Shoulder Board with one 1/2" Gold Stripe, one 1/4" Gold Stripe and one 1/2" Gold Stripe	$28.50
Commander	TRMN-O5	Red Shoulder Board with three 1/2" Gold Stripes	$28.50
Captain (both j.g. and s.g.)	TRMN-O6	Red Shoulder Board with four 1/2" Gold Stripes	$29.50
Commodore	TRMN-F1	Red Shoulder Board with one 1" Gold Stripe and three 1/2" Gold Stripes	$30.50
Rear Admiral	TRMN-F2	Red Shoulder Board with two 1" Gold Stripes	$29.50
Vice Admiral	TRMN-F3	Red Shoulder Board with three 1" Gold Stripes	$31.50