Posted on Oct 31, 2014
Why don't officers wear marksmanship badges?
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The day I turned my chevrons in for gold bars I noticed something. All the officers I've ever seen never wore marksmanship badges in dress uniforms. I just assumed they were unauthorized for officers and removed it voluntarily. I honestly never desired to wear the badge (probably because I was only ever a sharpshooter), but I haven't found any documentation specifically preventing officers from wearing them. Do you think officers should wear them?
Officer
Uniforms
Marksmanship
Badges
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 776
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2
A few points on officers and marksmanship badges.
- Authority to wear. No reg that I am aware of that prohibits officers from wearing marksmanship badges.
- Culture. Officer culture is not to wear markmanship badges.
- Logic 1. NCO domain is individual while officer domain is collective generally speaking. One reason why officers are armed with pistols rather than rifles is because our primary weapon is a radio and our primary purpose is to integrate and synchronize a fight (lead it) rather than to be an individual Soldier in the fight. This logic might be the driver on the culture that I note above.
- Logic 2. Tied to above but what good is officer who is an expert shooter but who can not provide purpose, motivation, and direction to his/her formation? Can/should officers be experts on the weapons and systems within their formations? Yes but their focus should be on integrating and synchronizing these weapons and systems. Enlisted and NCOs should be the experts on the individual weapon or systems employment.
- Authority to wear. No reg that I am aware of that prohibits officers from wearing marksmanship badges.
- Culture. Officer culture is not to wear markmanship badges.
- Logic 1. NCO domain is individual while officer domain is collective generally speaking. One reason why officers are armed with pistols rather than rifles is because our primary weapon is a radio and our primary purpose is to integrate and synchronize a fight (lead it) rather than to be an individual Soldier in the fight. This logic might be the driver on the culture that I note above.
- Logic 2. Tied to above but what good is officer who is an expert shooter but who can not provide purpose, motivation, and direction to his/her formation? Can/should officers be experts on the weapons and systems within their formations? Yes but their focus should be on integrating and synchronizing these weapons and systems. Enlisted and NCOs should be the experts on the individual weapon or systems employment.
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MAJ Luis Hernandez
My late dad, CSM with 33 years and 3 wars under his belt, always told me if you earned it, you wear it. I always qualified as Expert in Pistol and Rifle and always wore the Marksmanship Badges with pride. I also wore them to let the enlisted and NCO's know that I was capable and competent with firearms and marksmanship.
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SFC Robert Walton
This going to ruffle some feathers. If you are an officer that expects Me to follow you into combat respectfully. The you should be willing to show me your stuff, be it a saber, side arm, or rifle. I am expected (from PVT and up) to be qualified with a weapon. I would expect the same for those appointed above Me. The badge is a way of respectfully showing me you are prepared to lead me into combat and fight if your not prepared to fight then i would prefer an officer who is.
Now answering the original question I think a officer should be required to wear a qualification Badge how ever that is all it should say is qualified. I want to know up front if i need to leave a qualified Soldier behind to protect my Leader. I would never leave a unqualified unarmed soldier with out some kind of protection. Then again i do not want a soldier behind me with a weapon who is unqualified to use it. JMTC
Now answering the original question I think a officer should be required to wear a qualification Badge how ever that is all it should say is qualified. I want to know up front if i need to leave a qualified Soldier behind to protect my Leader. I would never leave a unqualified unarmed soldier with out some kind of protection. Then again i do not want a soldier behind me with a weapon who is unqualified to use it. JMTC
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
CPT (Join to see) - Real world, at least during the mid 20th century, Os drove when necessary and most often used a rifle rather than a pistol in a firefight. Do not know how it is done today. Also, like during the war, now days most Os carry a carbine and not a rifle.
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CA Brandy Martin
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Before my enlistment in the Army, I served in the Marine Corps. The Corps has a principle that every Marine, regardless of rank or MOS, is first and foremost a rifleman. That principle of universality of primary duty extends all the way to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, who shows the way by firing for qualification with all the other Marines under his command.
After my appointment as a Warrant Officer in the Army, I continued the tradition of the Corps, and wore my rifle and pistol badges proudly. I could not help but think that my fellow officers were either non-qualifiers, or ashamed of their low level of skill with the primary tools of our Military.
After my appointment as a Warrant Officer in the Army, I continued the tradition of the Corps, and wore my rifle and pistol badges proudly. I could not help but think that my fellow officers were either non-qualifiers, or ashamed of their low level of skill with the primary tools of our Military.
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SPC Matthew Birkinbine
Cpl Dick Reinbold some of the best leaders I’ve known and worked with are former Marines.
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PFC Kevin Crane Sr
Warrant Officers are a funny thing because they’re not really officers ( in the traditional sense) and they’re not enlisted.
I mean don’t get me wrong because I have a great deal of respect for warrants. They are special people because they’re not an enlisted nor traditional officers. They are called Mr. By everyone in the Army, not Cpt. Not Lt, colonel or major always Mr. .
They may be a CW 1 up to CW 5 they are Mr.
Some of the best leaders I ever served with were warrants.
As far as the wearing of marksmanship badges I think if you earned it you should be able to wear it. No matter your rank.
I mean don’t get me wrong because I have a great deal of respect for warrants. They are special people because they’re not an enlisted nor traditional officers. They are called Mr. By everyone in the Army, not Cpt. Not Lt, colonel or major always Mr. .
They may be a CW 1 up to CW 5 they are Mr.
Some of the best leaders I ever served with were warrants.
As far as the wearing of marksmanship badges I think if you earned it you should be able to wear it. No matter your rank.
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SGT John Overby
PFC Kevin Crane Sr - I was told that a WO is a specialist regardless of the field of service. I once applied for a WO slot in Personnel Administration. Didn't get it but saw what I was told is true. A Specialist.
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I see this as being an additional disconnect between Officers and Enlisted. The bottom line is that we are all Soldiers and the badges represent the maintaining of our Soldier skills.
Perhaps it is time to break the recent tradition of Officers not wearing the skill badges that we have all earned as one Army.
Perhaps it is time to break the recent tradition of Officers not wearing the skill badges that we have all earned as one Army.
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CW4 Peter McHugh
SFC Robert Walton - I hope that working in a team gives you confidence in your teammates and leadership ... badges don't provide anything more than a hint re: leadership/followership/capabilities or traits of any soldier or leader .... I don't remember seeing many badges on fatigues in RVN, Iraq or Afghanistan anyway ....
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SFC Pat Harvath
I never had an officer who wore them and it never bothered me, I had more important things to focus on.
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