Uniforms and Insignia
Clan Jade Falcon uniforms allow swift recognition of the wearer's military branch and rank, as well as the identification of freeborn and trueborn warriors. Unlike those of some Clans, the Falcon uniform is conservative, practical and lacking in ostentation. Falcon warriors are forbidden to customize uniforms, as such actions imply deviant thought contrary to the Falcon principles of strength, moral correctness and spiritual uplift through conformity.
Combat Dress
Combat dress within the Falcon Touman varies considerably by service branch, reflecting the widely different enviroments in which each warrior operates. Despite this, all three principal fighting branches use much the same basic uniform element: the "coolsock." This black mech bodystocking acts as a cooling or heating system for the wearer, and in the case of the Elemental version, a sensor web that translates body movements into suit movement.
Over this a MechWarrior wears a short-sleeved, emerald green jumpsuit made of fire-reisistant material, combined with black, knee-length, fireproof boots. Rank and CLuster insignias are attached on the right chest. A lightweight neurohelmet combpletes the outfit, though many younger pilots choose to forgo this item in favor of enhanced imaging (EI) implants. The implants; circuitry, which resembles tattoos, is permanently embedded in the user's skin and facilitates a direct link to a 'Mech's controls without hte need for a neurohelmet.
Aerospace pilots wear an all-in-one coverall, emerald-green and of the same material as the MechWarrior suit, though the aerospace version is airtight with longer sleeves and legs. When combined with the neuro/breather helmet, this uniform allows pilots to survive in vacuum. Gloves and boots, nominally part of this flightsuit, may be detached for the wearer's comfort when he or she is outside the aerospace craft. Over this is worn a g-suit, an apparatus that contracts as the pilot is subjected to higher g-forces, minimizing the effect of such maneuvers on teh pilot's body. Rank and unit insignias appear on the left side of the chest. Falcon naval crews wear a similar uniform, but without the coolsock and g-suit.
In combat, Clan Elementals wear only their cool-socks and battle armor. Conventional infantry wear a green version of the warrior field uniform (see below), overlaid with ballistic armor plates and webbing. Rank and unit insignias are worn on the helmet and the right side of the chest.
Field Uniform
Worn in informal situations away from combat, the Jade Falcon field uniform is balck with emerald piping on the shoulders, sleeves and legs. A reversible half-cape (one side black, the other vegetation camouflage) attaches to the shoulders of the field jacket; tough black boots protect the wearer's feet and lower legs. A helmet of lightweight "Clan Copper" - a unique metal that remembers and returns to its original shape - with painted eyes and a beak-like noseguard provies protection against melee weapons and small-arms fire. The helmet contains a short-range radio system and goggles with a tactical heads-up-display system. The field uniform worn by cadets is lime green, btu otherwise indistinguishable from that worn by warriors.
WIth the exception of WarShip and JumpShip crews, who wear their combat uniforms at all times while aboard the ship, all service branches use the same field uniform. Technician caste personnel do not wear the cape, which is allowed only to warriors, but add a utility belt. Rank insignias are worn on the collar of the field uniform.
Dress Uniform
Reserved for more formal situations, the Jade Falcon dress unfirom is more flamboyantthan the field uniform, but no less practical. The jacket consists of a black chest piece, with green breasts and arms and emerald piping. A bright yellow collar and the "Falcon's talons" - three bright yellow slashes on the shoulders - complete the jacket. The trousers are green and black with emerald piping, tucked into knee-high black boots. A long emerald green cloak, lined with yellow, completes the uniform. The cadet variant of the dress uniform follows the same pattern as the warrior uniform, but with red piping on the sleeves and legs, and a red-lined rather than yellow-lined cloak.
As with the field uniform, rank insignias are worn on the collar, though the trueborn dress uniform adds and engraved belt buckled denoting the warrior's service branch. Freeborn warriors do not wear the engraved buckle, nor do trueborn warriors in second-line units. They substitute a blackened metal buckle bearing the Jade Falcon insignia. As with the field uniform, technicians do not wear the cape, nor do they have piping on their uniforms.
Ceremonial Dress
Falcon ceremonial dress comes in two variations: one for those with Bloodnames and one for those without. The latter uniform is an emerald green jumpsuit with knee-high black boots, topped off with the Jade Falcon ceremonial mask - an ovesided replica of a jade falcon head made of kevlar. The uniform for those with Bloodnames ais more ornate. To the basic ceremonial uniform is added a three-quarter-length cape made from jade falcon feathers. The construction of this cape is the responsibility of the wearer, who must make it within a year of winning a Bloodname.
Rank Insignias
Trueborn MechWarriors wear blue and green patches, with orange stars denoting their position within a Star. Trueborn officers wear gold badges with green rank insignias at the left most edge. Trueborn aerospace pilots use a similar system, though the blue of the patch is somewhat lighter than taht worn by MechWarriors. Elementals wear a yellow and green patch.
All
freeborn warriors, regardless of service branch, wear a black and green patch, or in the
case of officers blackened metal badges. Cadets wear a solid green patch, with stars
denoting their year of training.
The Jade Falcon insignia is worn on the left shoulder, and any decorations appear on the left side of the chest. Cadets wear the cadet badge in lieu of the Jade Falcon insignia. This badge, which is the Jade Falcon insignia minus the falcon and katana, is worn on the field uniform; cadets wear no insignia on the dress uniform. Branch and specialization insignias appear on the right side of the chest with combat uniforms, but are not worn with field and dress uniforms.
Decorations
Like many Clans, the Falcons do not believe in award for performance in combat - it is the warriors' duty to fight their best for the Clan. A warrior who performs consistently well will test up to a higher rank; those who do not will die or be flushed out. A warrior's codex contains complete details of his career, and so any additional award would serve no purpose.
However, the Clan recently established the Inner Sphere Invasion bar, denoting participation in Operation Revival. Worn on the dress uniform, this award is given to all warriors who fought Inner Sphere forces during the invasion, n the initial waves or in any of the post-Tukayyid raids.
Unofficially, members of the Falcon Touman also use so-called kill markers to denote their victories. Usually these markings relate to the warrior's current deployment, but exceptional actions, such as teh destruction of a DropShip by an aerospace pilot, will likely remain as part of a warrior's livery throughout his or her career. In the interests of morale, senior officers turn a blind eye to this practice, which is a technical breach of the dress conformity code.
Unique among the Clans is the Falcons' Memorial Ribbon, also known as the Dark Band. Warriors who cause wasteful loss of life, or in extreme cases loss of resources, and who refuse to undertake the Rite of Surkai (forgiveness), may be ordered to wear the Dark Band by their superiors. Wher loss of life is involved, the badn also carries a picture of the dead warrior to remind the wearer and those around him of the waste he caused. The Dark Band places strict limits on the wearer's interaction with other warriors - the wearer may not speak unless spoken to. He or she also may not remove the band without a superior's permission, save in his or her own quarters.
