Going
commando is the practice of not wearing underwear under one's outer clothing. The term is theorised to be related to the much earlier term "going regimental", which refers to wearing the
kilt military
style, that is, without underwear.
Kilts have been traditionally worn without undergarments since their use as part of Scottish military uniform, leading to the invention of such expressions as "going commando" or"
go regimental" or "military practice" for wearing no underwear. On the Western
Front during the First World
War, some Sergeants Major reportedly had mirrors tied to the end of
golf clubs or walking
sticks to inspect up and under the
kilt at parade inspection. However, in 1940 the kilt was retired from combat due to the vulnerability of bare
skin to chemical agents, although it was retained as the formal dress uniform of the regiments. In the 1950s, kilted soldiers on parade would be checked by the Sergeant Major using a mirror on the barracks floor. In 1997, a Black Watch soldier received wide press exposure, because of windy conditions during a military ceremony in Hong Kong.