Can a prior service marine wear equivalent Army badges to what ribbons they've earned?

2025-08-12T02:47:22-04:00

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

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Aug 12 at 2025 4:00 AM

2025-08-12T04:00:54-04:00

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.

Response by SGM William Everroad made Aug 12 at 2025 8:40 AM

2025-08-12T08:40:28-04:00

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

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Aug 12 at 2025 10:42 AM

2025-08-12T10:42:57-04:00

I'm sorry but the premise is stupid. You don't wear things you have not earned or have not been awarded. This sounds like a barracks lawyer telling a story about a guy I know about this one time blah blah blah.

If a prior service Marine joins the Army he will wear the awards allowed per regulations. Just like everything else. Ribbons will cross over without issue most likely. For example I earned Meritorious Honor Award rom State Dept that is allowed on the Uniform by every Branch except the Marine Corps go figure. Shooting badges will come too.

But you don't swap awards. You have to earn the award in the branch you are in. If you join the Army and want the CIB you have to earn the CIB per the regulation. You don't drop an UNO reverse card to back when you were a Marine and get credit twice or transform that CAR into a CIB.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Aug 12 at 2025 6:24 PM

2025-08-12T18:24:55-04:00

Good evening 2LT(P) Private RallyPoint Member. Excellent post. Thank you for sharing this Sir. I would have to say no, because Army ribbons or medals are earned and not necessarily granted and authorized for wear. For example, I'll use myself. When I switched from Navy over to the Army there were a few medals that I could not wear while in the Army, because the Army doesn't recognized certain Navy ribbons and medals. Now as far as a CIB or CAB, it all depends on the individual's MOS. For the DS badge he or she would have to go and complete Army DS school same goes for the recruiter's badge.

Response by SPC James Neidig made Aug 13 at 2025 1:04 AM

2025-08-13T01:04:20-04:00

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.

Response by SFC Jerry Teichmiller made Aug 14 at 2025 2:43 PM

2025-08-14T14:43:11-04:00

I was first a Marine and then went to the Army after about 10 years. I served in the Army until I retired in 1988. As far as awards and decorations, I was allowed to wear all Marine awards on my uniform --including my CAR, DI Ribbon. I did not wear a Combat Patch, because The Marines do not wear patches on dress uniforms. I was never a recruiter, I will not comment on it. This was years ago so things may have changed. Lt. I suggest you check with the proper command that can help you.

Response by SGM Jeff Mccloud made Aug 16 at 2025 11:27 AM

2025-08-16T11:27:28-04:00

The short version is:
Army awards are awarded by the Army to servicemembers in the Army (and occasionally to other servicemembers), if the Army did not award it to you, it was not awarded to you.

If you were not awarded a CIB by the Army, you don't have a CIB. If you were not awarded an RSSI by the Army, you don't have an RSSI.

I also have stories where I have had to direct an Army E6 to remove the CIB and a 1st MAR DIV RSSI he felt he was entitled to because he was awarded a CAR in the Marines 15 years prior. Had he not still emotionally argued the point after being shown the chapter and verse in regulation, I would refer to him as a SSG in this story, rather than an E6.