Posted on Aug 12, 2025
2LT(P) Operations Officer
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Here's the example: prior service marine SSG has a CAR, Drill instructor ribbon, and recruiter ribbon. If he switches to the Army, could he wear a CIB, drill sergeant badge, and recruiter badge? Just curious because I've heard stories of prior service marines with a CAR switch to the army and wear a CIB as a replacement
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LTC Trent Klug
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As a prior service Marine, I'll say two things. The first is no the SSG cannot. They are not equivalent in the Army's eyes. Two, double check me with AR 670-1 and DA Pam 670-1.
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SGM William Everroad
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Edited 4 mo ago
2LT(P) (Join to see)
Can wear the CAR.

Cannot wear the DI Badge or Rectuiter badge (literal interpretation, ribbons are not badges). The Marines issue the ribbons (DI/Recruiter) for a completed tour of duty, not as a skill qualification.
Cannot wear CIB. from HRC "Former Marines or Sailors who received the CAR during their service with the Marine Corps and Navy cannot "convert" their CARs into CIBs."

When in doubt, the Soldier can always write HRC for official interpretation and most likely get it on their ARB.

Checking LTC Trent Klug's math, AR 670-1 indicates:
Service stripes earned while serving in the Marine Corps (21-28 pg. 47)
Military badges awarded by the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Director of Civilian Marksmanship. (4-6 pg. 53)
personnel must obtain written authority from Army Human Resources Command, Awards and Decorations Branch, before wearing badges on the uniform that were awarded by other U.S. Ser-
vices or by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship. The following rules apply when wearing badges from other U.S. Services:
(1) Military combat or special skill badges awarded by other U.S. Services that are similar to U.S. Army combat or special skill badges are worn on the Army uniform in the same manner as U.S. Army combat or special skill badges, only if no Army badges are authorized for wear in the same group. For example, a Soldier who had no group 3 badges (as outlined in DA Pam 670–1) could wear aviation badges awarded by the U.S. Air Force as group 3 badges (as Army aviation and aviator badges are worn). However, if the individual was authorized to wear an Army badge in group 3, the Soldier would not be authorized to wear the group 3 badge from the U.S. Air Force.
(2) Skill badges awarded by other U.S. Services that are not similar to Army skill badges are worn as group 4 badges.
(3) Badges from other U.S. Services that indicate career fields are not authorized for wear (such as U.S. Air Force medical insignia or badges used to identify the duty, function, or classification of the wearer). Some examples are U.S. Air Force fire protection, air training command instructor, security police, or Naval Qualification Badges such as the Naval aviation warfare specialist.
(4) Personnel will not wear badges awarded by other U.S. Services that, because of size or configuration, cannot be worn as group 4 badges. Subdued embroidered or metal skill badges authorized for wear by another U.S. Service, and authorized for wear on the Army uniform, may be worn on utility uniforms in the same manner as prescribed for Army badges.

DA PAM 670-1 (22-5 pg. 259) list specific awards that may be worn (in order of precedence) that could be earned while serving in the Marine Corps:
Medal of Honor
Navy Cross
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Meritorious Service Medal.
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy Commendation Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
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LTC Trent Klug
LTC Trent Klug
4 mo
Thanks for the additional information SGM William Everroad! I just didn't have the time to post it.
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Sgt Field Radio Operator
Sgt (Join to see)
4 mo
SGM William Everroad The Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) is awarded to Marines who have actively participated in ground or surface combat firefights, or other actions where they were under enemy fire, and their performance under fire was satisfactory. This means they were actively involved in a combat engagement, not just
present in a combat zone. The CAR ribbon is not issued for a completed tour of duty.
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SGM William Everroad
SGM William Everroad
4 mo
Sgt (Join to see) - I apologize for the confusion. I was referring to only the DI and Recruiter ribbons. The CAR was not intended to be included in that statement. I edited for clarity.
Of the three, the CAR is the only one authorized for wear on an Army uniform.
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SPC James Neidig
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I Was Marine Air Crew, Who Served In Lebanon And Grenada, I Wore All Of My Ribbons I Earned When I Switched Over To The Army.
The Only Award I Had To Get A Memorandum From HRC For Was My Marine Air Crew Wing’s.
And Believe Me I Got Questioned A lot About Them. So The Answer To Your Question Is You Can Not Wear The Army Version Of An Award From Another Service.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SSgt Christophe Murphy
4 mo
I'm sure those gold wings drew a lot of attention.
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SPC James Neidig
SPC James Neidig
4 mo
SSgt Christophe Murphy
They Did ! It Got To The Point I Would Carry A Copy Of My Marine DD-214 And The HRC Memorandum With Me So When I Got Questioned I Could Prove I Had Authority To Wear Them .
What I Didn’t Like Was Having To Wear Subdued Sew On Patch Wings On The BDUs , Because As You Know We Wore The Gold Wings In The Corps On The BDUs.
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