Posted on Dec 2, 2018
What awards and decorations transfer from the USAF to the Army?
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I switched branches a little over three years ago and still have discrepancies with my ERB. No awards or decorations from the USAF show up on my ERB. Every time I have been to an S1 shop I have been met with confusion because I am usually the first person they have seen that has switched to the Army from the USAF. So I am curious what exact awards and ribbons transfer and what regulation states it? Additionally, what documentation do I need? Is the citation good enough for the medals and my DD214 for the ribbons?
Awards
ERB
Posted >1 y ago
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I believe most of them should work. Let's see what others say.
LTC Stephen F. CSM Charles Hayden LTC John Mohor Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" TSgt Joe C. Maj Marty Hogan
LTC Stephen F. CSM Charles Hayden LTC John Mohor Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SSG(P) James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" TSgt Joe C. Maj Marty Hogan
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
I agree, you earned them you wear them no matter what service you may be in now.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I appreciate the information sir, I figured as much. I was just curious about certain ribbons such as USAF marksman ribbon and longevity ribbon since the Army has separate corresponding uniform items for these.
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LTC John Mohor
Not sure about longevity ribbon as I'm not aware of Army equal unless it's hash marks. On the Marksmanship I actually knew of an AC Major that was prior service that continued to west it with the rest of his Air Force and Army Awards. Hope that helps. Rack builders and the site on Medals of America can assemble them all according to precedence. Just be sure to put your most current branch of service.
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SGT(P) (Join to see) you need to go to the HRC awards page. They have a sister service article. You need to present your sister service awards for Army acceptance. Article explains it.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SGT(P) (Join to see)
"Soldiers awarded a decoration or badge for service with a Sister service prior to service in the Army need to request wear of that decoration or badge to HRC ADB.
To request to wear Sister service awards, a Soldier must submit a memorandum or DA Form 4187 requesting wear, documentation showing the requirements for the award and certificate and/or citation confirming the requirements were met, and appropriate orders or other official supporting documentation that clearly defines the assignment relationship to the other service to the HRC ADB. If not clearly documented, the recommendation will not be approved for acceptance or wear.
Effective 2 August 1990, a commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) assigned or attached for full-time duty to the DOD or any of its components is eligible for military awards and decorations on the same basis as officers of the military services. However, no military ribbon, medal, or decoration will be awarded to an officer of the USPHS without the approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services or designee. Requests for concurrence may be obtained from USPHS Commissioned Corps Liaison Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), 1200 Defense Pentagon, Room 3E1070, Washington, DC 20301–1200. "
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Sister%20Service%20Awards
"Soldiers awarded a decoration or badge for service with a Sister service prior to service in the Army need to request wear of that decoration or badge to HRC ADB.
To request to wear Sister service awards, a Soldier must submit a memorandum or DA Form 4187 requesting wear, documentation showing the requirements for the award and certificate and/or citation confirming the requirements were met, and appropriate orders or other official supporting documentation that clearly defines the assignment relationship to the other service to the HRC ADB. If not clearly documented, the recommendation will not be approved for acceptance or wear.
Effective 2 August 1990, a commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) assigned or attached for full-time duty to the DOD or any of its components is eligible for military awards and decorations on the same basis as officers of the military services. However, no military ribbon, medal, or decoration will be awarded to an officer of the USPHS without the approval of the Secretary of Health and Human Services or designee. Requests for concurrence may be obtained from USPHS Commissioned Corps Liaison Office, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), 1200 Defense Pentagon, Room 3E1070, Washington, DC 20301–1200. "
https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Sister%20Service%20Awards
Toll-Free: 1-888-ARMY-HRC (1-888-276-9472) DSN: 983-9500 AskHRC
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As far as I know ALL awards and ribbons transfer to the Army. The thing that confuses most people is that it doesn't convert to the Army equivalent. For instance, Marines will earn a CAR and assume that means they earned the combat patch for that Marine unit. Or if you earned an AF AM that doesn't convert into an AAM. Receiving awards from Sister services is how you wee Army generals with ribbon stacks 8 rows high.
I have seen prior AF and Navy wearing some of the badges they earned, but I don't know how legit that is. You'd have to check 670-1.
As for citation, a DD214 is always considered an adequate source document. You can't even find a blank one online, making them a bit harder to fake.
I have seen prior AF and Navy wearing some of the badges they earned, but I don't know how legit that is. You'd have to check 670-1.
As for citation, a DD214 is always considered an adequate source document. You can't even find a blank one online, making them a bit harder to fake.
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