In a protective garment, such as a coat, trousers, overalls, or coveralls, for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker, several strips of reflective trim of high visibility are attached detachably to an outer shell of low visibility, as by hook-and-loop fasteners or snap fasteners, so that the trim can be readily detached from the outer shell without causing damage to the outer shell or to the trim. At least some of the trim is distinctive of a given rank, function, or responsibility of an intended wearer of the protective garment. Preferably, the distinctive trim is coded, e.g., color-coded, to distinguish the given rank, function, or responsibility.