Editing Red Serge (section)

== Commissioned officers ==
Commissioned officers (inspectors and above) wear similar pattern red serge tunics to non-commissioned ranks. However, their collars are solid dark blue, as are their sleeve cuffs, while non-commissioned ranks have dark blue gorget patches only. Officers do not wear any badge of qualification, specialism or long service on their tunics. Commissioned badges of rank are based on the [[Commonwealth|Commonwealth style]] of [[Former ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces#Pre-unification army|military badges]] consisting of crown, star and sword and baton worn on the epaulettes.  The yellow stripe on officers' breeches and males' overalls is finer material and wider than for constables and NCOs.  Officers' high brown boots are of the cavalry officer's pattern. Officers also wear the cavalry pattern [[Sam Browne belt]]. This has D-rings for sword frogs, and the cross strap has a whistle and is worn over the right shoulder.

In full-dress order, officers wear the post-1945 style gold and purple sword belt with the [[Pattern 1908 cavalry sword|pattern 1908 cavalry officer's sword]], as well as detachable gold wire plaited shoulder cords.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ross|first=David|title=The Royal Canadian Mounted Police 1873–1987|publisher=Osprey Publication|year=1988|location=London|pages=44–45}}</ref> Officers have the option of wearing a campaign hat or forage cap with Red Serge.

The [[mess dress]] worn by commissioned officers has a scarlet cutaway jacket.{{dubious|reason='Cutaway' is another name for 'morning coat'. 'Mess jacket' is probably the right term|date=May 2022}}

From the force's formation in 1873 to 1904,<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Red Serge |url=https://npf-fpn.com/the_locker/history-of-the-red-serge/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=NPF-FPN |language=en-US}}</ref> the universal pattern foreign service [[Pith helmet|helmet]] was standard issue. However, many in the field preferred to ride wearing non-regulation [[Cowboy hat|cowboy hats]] and these subsequently became uniform issue in the form of the campaign hat.

An RCMP officer wearing the Red Serge is an internationally recognized [[Canada|Canadian]] icon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2024 |title=History of the Red Serge |url=https://npf-fpn.com/the_locker/history-of-the-red-serge/ |website=National Police Federation}}</ref>

The Red Serge is not worn as working dress when an officer is on normal duty, but is reserved for occasions such as civic ceremonies, musical rides, ceremonial parades, e.g. when escorting government dignitaries. Also, for public relations or related special events such as school career days or guard duty at Parliament in Ottawa.  Members also march in funerals for police officers wearing the traditional Red Serge.

The Red Serge is also worn by RCMP members during special personal events, such as the wedding ceremony of a fellow officer, where it is not uncommon for an entire detachment of a small community to wear the Red Serge as an honour guard for the bride and groom at their wedding ceremony. Usually, if the groom is a member, he will be married in his Red Serge, in lieu of [[formal wear|civilian formal attire]].