Can I wear my Airborne and Air-Assault badges while in basic training?

I would ask whoever is handeling your re-entry. I started basic in 82, and we had 3 Nam vets in our platoon. They were treated the same as everyone else. One of them didn't make it through training. If I were to re-enter under the same basic training climate as 82, I wouldn't wear them, as you could be chosen for extra responsibility or given extra harsh treatment by a petty Drill Sergeant. By not wearing them, you may be considered out-of-uniform, so consider that too.

when i was a drill sergeant, i had a prior service Air Force guy that was in the PJ pipeline but did not complete due to family issues near the end of training. he got out for a while and eventually joined the army in hopes of going into Special Forces. when he got to Basic Training, he already had: Airborne, SCUBA, and HALO completed. one of the other drill sergeants from the platoon told me about that, i had the guy show me his training certificates. he didnt have the badges with him, so the next sunday when we had some down time after religious services and such i took him and a battle buddy to clothing sales (and then off post to a TA-50 shop) to get the appropriate badges to wear while he was Basic. the CSM saw him with his flair on at the DFAC, told the CSM i was his DS, and CSM asked why he was wearing that flair. Explained to the CSM, but he made me have the guy take the flair off because he didnt want a trainee to have more flair than the drill sergeants.

Wow! I know I’m late to the party with this one but I’d like to leave this comment. This is coming from a Reserve Drill Sergeant Company Commander. The short answer is yes but with this caveat. Wear them if you plan to represent the professional soldier you are to your other Basic Trainees. If you do no one will bat an eye as it’s what expected. Besides, we are gonna know if you do or don’t, we’ve read your file. If you don’t represent the professional soldier you are, then it will look as an attempt to stand out and try to be a Prima Donna. Trust me, you will get a lot of personal attention you won’t like. Lastly, I’ll speak as the young E-3 I was in 1987 who went to Basic with two prior service E-4s at Ft. Benning. Both of them were the former and not the latter and all of us were better for it. We respected them both and they set a high standard in everything we did. Hope all went well and that’s my two cents.

Those badges represent excellence, so, if you wear them, be prepared to step up and represent because you will be under the microscope from all sides. You will have a higher expectation placed on you so bee prepared for that. Be generous with your knowledge because they will all be watching. Best of luck and welcome back!

I remember that when I was brand new to the service and in OCS one guy in out training squadron was prior service. His advice was invaluable to a new guy with zero service knowledge.

It's what's the drill says. Not what you want. I had a prior service in my bct class & they weren't allowed to wear anything extra on their uniforms. Now for graduation I would ask to be allowed to wear your upto date awards. I would think that be fine.

Same thing happened to me being prior service and redoing basic training after breaking service. I wore my previous awards on my class a uniform and had a DI tell me to remove them as it would make others seem under achievers(lol) thing was I had awards that as a DI he didn't have. I served during desert storm. SeniorDI said wear them with pride. I say you do the same, just don't get a big head

You have EARNED them for life. According to AR 670-1 you would be out of uniform to not wear what you have earned. Once you put that uniform back on they stay with you as part of that uniform. You could spend time overseas and earn a combat patch before you got out. You return to the Army and that combat patch immediately goes back on that uniform. Nothing gets erased. However, this definitely out of the norm, so don't be surprised if you receive a lot of questions. I went to basic with a guy who was returning and he had higher rank, no qualification badges, but had more ribbons on his class A's than the rest of us did. Just know that expectations in you will be higher. You may be chosen as a PG, APG, or an experienced soldier, who may assist the drill sergeants in training during certain events, or to be a demonstrator. I'm too old now, but if I were to go back in the Army my uniform would immediately have air assault wings and a 101st Airborne Division combat patch. My class A's would most likely have more ribbons than some of the drill sergeants themselves, since I have three rows, one of which would be my Arcom with an oak leaf. You have earned them, so they are part of your uniform, and you wear them proudly!

Wear those badges with pride. It shows not only your fellow new recruits that you might be a person to lead and help mold them into great Soliders. It will also show them that if they have questions they can ask you and you can enlighten them on what they need to do to move up the ranks to become better Soliders and even NCOs if they wish to continue with the Service.

I wish you good luck and hope these young men and women in your BCT will become the best they can be without their heads up their fourth point of contact.

ALLONS from a Blackhorse Solider

I feel sorry for you that you feel the need or that you have to re-up under the current leadership. I would rather shovel poop in Louisiana for minimum wage. I would wait. I just finished watching General Milley testify before congress and his seems his balls have shivaled up under his ribbons. I loved my time in the Army, 76-85. It was a pround time to serve. The types of soldiers joining today that can't handle someone holloring in their face are not going to be able to handle combat. This may not be the place for me to go on a rant and I apologize. Today's military is not mine. I was proud of wht I earned and did. Not what was just given to me. God bless the U.S.A