Army Commander requires troops to wear ACUs with no badges/combat patches?

Honestly, I remember a time when we didn't wear rank in the field because everyone knew everyone else, especially the leadership in your immediate chain. The age disparity between junior enlisted and SNCO & Staff Officer was so pronounced there was just no excuse not to be able to identify "the powers that be."

I saw this story on a vet page on Facebook. Interesting that it is 6 months old.

Can all wear red stars.

Cpl Joe Hood Right now I am wearing a cap w/ a Red Chinese star my son bought home from his trip to China! 3/9/16

Chief, you are absolutely correct.

However, at the Field Grade level and above you have to pick your battles. Someone will win this battle, but lose the war. It's an unfortunate reality of the power of command. I was left off of the E-7 promotion list while deployed for not having the final phase of ALC. When my 1SG ran up the chain the ALARACT that stated that NCOES is waived for E-7 & E-8 promotions for up to two years after deployment, the State CSM said that "the regulation is all well and good, but if you didn't complete ALC prior to deployment you're not getting promoted on MY promotion list." I could have fought through the IG and maybe gotten on the list (I had 100 points on the guy that got promoted first), but they would have found a way to not promote off the 31B list for a year and I would most certainly would have been blackballed on assignments. Today, I am months away from catching up to my peer that got promoted over me and am happy to be in a position to help other Soldiers to get what they have earned without the bumps and bruises I did.

Commanders (and good idea fairies) come and commanders go, it's up to the rest of us to provide continuity to the Force and keep everyone focused on what's important: the mission & Soldier care.

NO unit commander has ever cared about AR 670-1 above their personal desires.

To quote a highly decorated and respected SF CSM I served under. "I'll stop wearing it when you can peel it off my cold dead body." Responding to a non-airborne LTC's order that all the SF and airborne qualified and billeted personnel in a mixed unit should stop wearing their berets revert to ball caps.
The troop response was to wear their ball caps in formations and once dismissed to drop said ball caps to the ground and put a boot on them, just so they didn't blow away, while they donned their berets. The order was rescinded in under 24 hours.

Actually according to 670-1 it is in fact illegal

I see we have another CSM who has never read AR 670-1

Bull crap. The commander is probably mad that soldiers got more than he has. Or had a bleeding heart for the new kids who had nothing on their uniforms. I earned what I have. Why cant I wear what I have earned? In my opinion the commader and NCOs who enforced this silly and stupid rule should be relieved. It is authorized for wear and covered under AR 670-1. Just use the regulation on them as they use it against you. That is one of the reasons i retired. Stupid crap like this to make people feel better about themself when they want what they did not earn.

I did not have many ribbons or awards that everyone did not have. But those i did have I earned and was proud of them. Had I stayed in the Army I would have worn them on my uniforms. Let the newbies wonder about them and feel bad because their uniforms were bare. It is like my Sgt. stripes. I was proud of them and worked my butt off to earn them. If you were in 2 years and were still a PFC E-3 then you were a slacker and had no pride in what you did.