Posted on Jul 7, 2020
Can an Honorably Discharged Veteran, having served in multiple MOS', choose which branch they want to represent on their uniform?
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So I am attending a fallen soldier's funeral as a veteran (non-retiree) and therefore am authorized to wear my dress uniform. WHat I am unsure of, is if I can choose to wear the Infantry Branch insignia (Secondary MOS on date of discharge) vs Military Intelligence Branch insignia (Primary MOS on date of discharge).
Funeral
Dress Uniform
MOS
Military Intelligence
Infantry
Edited 4 y ago
Posted 4 y ago
Responses: 28
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Ask yourself: Is anyone at the funeral going to know what branch you were when you EtSed? and if so, would they care? If the answer to these questions is "no", wear whichever one you choose. I doubt if anyone is going to accuse you of stolen valor over wearing an incorrect branch insignia.
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TSgt Michael Z Williamson
SSG Paul Headlee - Most decorations are worn as issued. You don't transfer them from one branch's type to another. I have both Army and AF decorations, and the correct wear is as issued per the DoD master order of precedence. There are a handful that don't transfer between branches (AF marksmanship, and Army shoulder patches).
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PO3 Jon Akers
So here is a question: I ETS'd from the Navy after six years. Never returned to active duty. However, two decades later I received the US Air Force Organizational Excellence award for my work with Civil Air Patrol. Would I be able to add that award/ribbon to the ones I have from the Navy legitimately?
Note that I am going to do it anyway, since I am not under the UCMJ and I did earn the award... I am just curious whether or not it would be legitimate.
Note that I am going to do it anyway, since I am not under the UCMJ and I did earn the award... I am just curious whether or not it would be legitimate.
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CPT Stephen Feldman
I transferred from the Marine Corp to the Army and have Good Conduct Medals from each. I don't see transferring my MCGD to an Army GD, so I have more knots on my Army GD. Tongue-in-cheek, why would I want to have fewer ribbons or medals on my uniform? I also have an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal from the MC should I get it transferred, so I have an Army Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal? Don't they look the same? How can one tell the difference?
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SSG James Behnke This is asked more often than you think on RP.
21–4. Former members of the Army
a. Unless qualified under another provision of this regulation, or under the provisions of 10 USC 772, former members of the Army may only wear the uniform if they served honorably during a declared or undeclared war, and if their most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions. Personnel who qualify under these conditions will wear the Army uniform in the highest grade they held during such war service, in accordance with 10 USC 772.
21-1 Occassions of Ceremony...
b. All persons wearing the Army uniform will wear awards, decorations, and insignia in the same manner as prescribed in this regulation for active duty Soldiers...
So if you wear the uniform at the highest grade and wear all awards, decorations, and insignia in the same manner as prescribed in AR670-1 for Active Duty soldiers, under the authority of 10 USC Sec 772, I'd say you need to wear the rank and branch you had at ETS as indicated on the final DD214.
21–4. Former members of the Army
a. Unless qualified under another provision of this regulation, or under the provisions of 10 USC 772, former members of the Army may only wear the uniform if they served honorably during a declared or undeclared war, and if their most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions. Personnel who qualify under these conditions will wear the Army uniform in the highest grade they held during such war service, in accordance with 10 USC 772.
21-1 Occassions of Ceremony...
b. All persons wearing the Army uniform will wear awards, decorations, and insignia in the same manner as prescribed in this regulation for active duty Soldiers...
So if you wear the uniform at the highest grade and wear all awards, decorations, and insignia in the same manner as prescribed in AR670-1 for Active Duty soldiers, under the authority of 10 USC Sec 772, I'd say you need to wear the rank and branch you had at ETS as indicated on the final DD214.
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Cpl Mark McMiller
As a non-retiree veteran, you're not subject to the UCMJ or Army Regulations. You earned both, so wear whichever you want.
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PFC Kim Howard
SPC Matt Ovaska - That's how shaming by today's "cancel culture" works. They shame any group that is a threat to their narrative, every chance they get. It's discriminatory on every level. They are simply bullies. We will do to them what we have always done in past, we stand together as a unified force and fight to combat this unholy practice. I would much rather be spit on for wearing my uniform than to be bullied into NOT wearing it all.
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CPO Michael Hatten
Wear what you are proudest of. You earned it. Nobody is going to arrest you. Nobody can accuse you of stolen valor. Who is going to be offended?
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SFC Casey O'Mally
SSG James Behnke I go a "best of both worlds" route. MI Branch Insignia, but EIB to show my Infantry heritage, along with regimental affiliation with the 31st Infantry. You can show that you left the Army as an MI Soldier, but you started and proudly served as an Infantry Soldier.
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Wear your preference and don’t even think about it. If you earned it, you earned it.
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