The Knights of St. John International is a semi-military, Roman Catholic, Fraternal Order for Catholic gentlemen from the ages of sixteen and fifty five years (or older where application is for social or honorary members) and is a practicing Catholic. Members can opt to be a part of the Uniform or the Non Uniform Rank.
The Uniform rank is established at the Local Commandery level, and, depending on the number of military members, is led by a Commander and one or two Vice Commanders. These officers are elected and only members of the military rank can elect and hold offices. The civil offices of the Commandery, with an elected President, Vice President, Secretary, etc, are separate enitites and elected to office by the entire Commandery, uniformed and non-uniformed alike.
The Commander of the local Commandery has the authority to promote any and all of his “enlisted rank” members ( Private 1st Class, Corporal, Sargent up to Sargent Major). These ranks can be identified by their specific military sleeve designations, as well as the uniform itself which is trimmed in white with silver buttons. Their plumed chapeaus will be adorned in white ostrich feathers.
Commissioned officers military ranking can be found on their shoulder boards, the uniforms are trimmed in gold, with gold buttons and their plumed chapeaus will be adorned with black ostrich feathers.
As the military member seeks office in levels above the Local Commandery, he is able to rise to greater military rank as an officer at the District, Grand and Supreme level, from 2nd Lieutenant as far as a four star General.
The military member also has a choice of two uniforms. The original”Full Dress” Military Uniform is styled after the 1880 Union Army uniform in existence when the Order was formed. The option is the 1998 Blue Marching Uniform. Both are acceptable and recognized as our military uniform.
A MESSAGE FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL June 30, 2021
Blessings, Brother Knights
Our only approved vendors are listed on this page, licensed to use our trademarked property to create uniforms and accoutrements in accordance with the Supreme Constitution. There are no approved vendors outside the U.S. Overseas Knights must take care to purchase uniforms and equipment that conform to the Supreme Constitution of the Knights of St. John International, and not to bear insignia or accoutrements which may be appropriate to certain branches of civil or military service but not to our unique uniforms. Many Knights who are vested in the Marching Uniform are wearing embroidered shoulder boards, many of them quite large, bearing their rank insignia. These are fanciful articles and must be discarded in favor of the shoulder strap design as specified in the Supreme Constitution. Illustrations of the proper shoulder straps will be found in the Siegel’s Uniforms catalogue. It would require a Constitutional amendment to approve any change of any sort to our uniforms or insignia.
Chapeaus: New London Regalia offers for sale embroidered rosettes and plume replacements for the 1880 chapeau; they can perform the labor of replacing rosettes and plumes on your chapeau, or you can purchase these items and replace them yourself. Changes from Sir Knight to Officer status will require a change of silver to gold embroidery and/or white to black plumes.
Fraternally,
Maj. Gen. Sean Dey
Inspector General
Examples of Military and Marching Uniform
Full Dress 1880 Military Uniform/ Enlisted Rank
Printable instruction for inspection , click link below.
KSJI MIR Form 1 Instructions
Printable Inspection forms, click link below:
KStJI MIR Form 1pdf
KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN INTERNATIONAL
SUPREME COMMANDERY
Maj. Gen. Sean Dey, Inspector General, Supreme Commandery
Approved vendors for uniforms and accoutrements, revised May 31,2023.
For the 1880/Full Dress uniform-jackets, trousers, shoulder knots and epaulets:
The Quartermaster Shop will accept KSJI orders no later than July 1, 2023, US orders only, no overseas orders will be accepted. No orders will be accepted after that date. Do not contact Quartermaster Shop for orders. You must contact the Inspector General, Maj. Gen. Sean Dey, at [email protected]. All orders must pass through the Inspector General and the Supreme Secretary.
For the 1880/Full Dress uniform-chapeaus, sword belts and buckles; for the 1998/Marching uniform-belt sling (for sword); for 1880 and 1998, swords:
New London Regalia
newlondonregalia.com
One Harmony Place
New London, OH 44851
(419) 929-1516
Fax: (419) 929-0122
For the 1998/Marching uniform-jackets, trousers, caps, insignia:
Siegel’s Uniforms
siegelsuniforms.com
Email: [email protected]
300 N. Congress
Evansville, IN 47715
(800) 352-2555
Fax: (812) 424-5961
The KSJI QUARTERMASTER GENERAL is not affiliated with the Quartermaster Shop. The Quartermaster General supplies the following: Noble Degree ribbons and gloves, uniform buttons, NCO chevrons, service stripes, aigulettes, Drill Manual Regulation Book and Drill Training DVD. Contact the Quartemaster General, Brig. Gen. Matthew Trossman, at [email protected] for a full list of available items. The Quartermaster