Military
Messages from the Supreme Inspector General
Maj. General Doug Halleaux
Supreme Inspector General
Blessings, Brother Knights,
I am excited to share with you some updates by your Military Committee on uniform vendors available to you for purchasing uniforms and components. At long last, we have an Africa-based uniform vendor—Folihan Fraternal Supplies– approved by the Supreme Commandery available to our Brother Knights for all authorized uniform components. Additionally, we have a new US-based frock coat supplier—Top Notch Sewing Solutions.
Uniform vendors are difficult to find, secure, and bring on-line. For US-based Knights, our uniform vendors require you to interact directly with the vendor’s representatives. In all of your communications, be courteous, patient, and forgiving. If you have any concerns or conflicts at all with vendors, seek out your leadership or our team at the Military Committee to help you resolve them—don’t try to go it alone!
We’re coming close to a vendor for shoulder knots; once this is complete, we’ll add them here as well.
Below is some guidance for how to order from these vendors. If you get lost, please contact one of the members of the Military Committee for help!
How do I order?
For Knights in Africa: using the link on this page, contact Folihan Fratneral Supplies directly; you’ll work with their representatives for your full ordering process.
For Knights in the US:
Top Notch Sewing Solutions (frock coats)—Using the measurements form available on this page, get measured by a reliable party. Send to Top Notch Sewing Solutions your order request (frock coat and what style of buttons: Officer of Sir Knight) and measurement form. Top Notch Sewing Solutions will return to you with a quote. From there, you’ll work with Top Notch through the rest of the ordering process. Top Notch Sewing Solutions do not provide the frock coat with the hardware for shoulder knots—given the differences between knot hardware types, this wasn’t practical. After receiving your coat, you will need to find a reliable seamstress or tailor to affix the knot hardware.
New London Regalia (Uniform accoutrements)—The price guide for uniform components for New London Regalia is available on this page. To order, send an e-mail to the address listed with the requested items. New London will return to you with a quote, and you’ll work with New London from there through the rest of the ordering process.
Seigel’s Uniforms (Marching uniforms)—This process has not changed: order directly from Seigel’s using the links on this page.
Knights in Africa
Contact Folihen Fraternal Supplies Col. Ltd. directly at: folihen@icloud.com
Knights in the U.S.
Top Notch Sewing
Contact Top Notch Sewing Solutions to order: artopnotchsewingsolutions@gmail.com
Top Notch’s pricing schedule:
- 100+ Pieces: $198.75
- 36-99 Pieces: $218.63
- 12-35 Pieces: $248.44
- 6-11 Pieces: $298.13
- 2- 5 Pieces: $347.81
- 1 piece: $397.50
About the Military
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 office. The civil offices of the Commandery, with an elected President, Vice President, Secretary, etc., are separate entities 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 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 and 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 at levels above the local Commandery, he can rise to greater military rank as an officer at the district, grand, and supreme levels, from 2nd Lieutenant to a four-star general.
The military member also has a choice of two uniforms. The original “Full Dress” Military Uniform was styled after the 1880 Union Army uniform, which was in existence when the Order was formed. The option is the 1998 Blue Marching Uniform. Both are acceptable and recognized as our military uniform.
Uniform Guide
Examples of the Uniform
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Full Dress 1880 Military Uniform General Officer
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Full Dress 1880 Military Uniform Staff Officer
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Full Dress 1880 Military Uniform Enlisted Rank – Sergeant Major
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Full Dress 1880 Military Uniform – Enlisted Rank
Resources
