blue with trousers, but with headdress similar to that worn by Prat and the crew of the Esmeralda during the Battle of Iquique in 1879. The headdress worn is the peaked cap. France As with many European countries, the French military used in the 19th and early 20th centuries many traditional and heavily decorated dress uniforms. Since World War II, they are not in common use and are usually restricted to special units in the French Army and National Gendarmerie. The Air Force and the Navy do not issue dress uniforms, but on special ceremonies, such as changes of command, military personnel should add swords or daggers and full medals to their service uniform. French Army In the Army, only the Republican Guard plus certain bands and military academies have a complete full dress (grande tenue) uniform issued to all personnel. Units of the Chasseurs Alpins, French Foreign Legion, Troupes de Marine, 1st Spahi Regiment and Tirailleurs are permitted to wear, on special circumstances such as military parades, a variant of the service or combat uniform which includes items of historic ceremonial dress such as headresses, fringed epaulettes, cloaks, waist sashes etc. This is called "Tradition Uniform". Bands of the French Army are permitted to wear special uniforms depending on circumstances. On representation duty, they often use a 19th c.-style full dress uniform dating from either the Napoleonic or Third Republic eras. Military schools Military schools of the French Army, including école spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr, école militaire interarmes and école nationale des sous-officiers d'active, use full dress uniforms dating back to the 19th century worn by both students and staff. The ESMSC wears the shako while the two other schools wear the kepi. In addition to the military schools, École Polytechnique also maintains 19th century military-styled full dress uniforms. Founded as a military academy, the institution was transformed into a state-sponsored civilian post-secondary school in 1970, although still operated by the French Ministry of Defence. It wears the bicorne as headdress. National Gendarmerie The Republican Guard of the National Gendarmerie is the last unit to wear dress uniform as service uniform, as guard of honour detachments are required to wear it while on duty. The cavalry regiment wear a 19th-century dragoon uniform, with metal helmet and white riding trousers, while the infantry regiments use a high-collared traditional gendarmerie uniform with the shako. The officer cadets and the staff of