Posted on Aug 20, 2015
LT Maintenance Material Control Officer (Mmco)
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First we unveil the new PRT standards which may include a ribbon or a medal in the future. Now a ribbon for boot camp performance?

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Boot camp's top graduates are about to get a new ribbon.

Every sailor graduating from Navy Recruit Training receives the National Defense Service Ribbon. As many as three percent of each weekly graduating class will now earn an additional uniform ribbon: the new Navy Basic Military Training Honor Graduate ribbon.

"RTC recognizes multiple top performing recruits at graduation, but now the recognition is outwardly visible on an honoree's uniform," said Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans in a statement. Evans commands Navy Service Training Command, which oversees all Navy officer and enlisted accession training except for the Naval Academy. "Wearing of the Honor Grad Ribbon will be a visible sign to peers and superiors at the recipient's future duty stations that the member demonstrated extraordinary excellence and leadership potential during Basic Military Training and is capable of accelerated and increased leadership positions within the Fleet."

The award is effective immediately. The first 15 honor grads will be awarded their ribbons Aug. 20 and can wear them when they graduate on Aug 21.

If you were a past honor graduate, don’t go out and buy one — there are no retroactive awards.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus approved the award Aug. 18, details of which were released in ALNAV message 063/15.

According to a press release, the award was created “to reward recruits for their superb performance during basic military training,” the release said. “The Honor Graduate Ribbon will provide a physical recognition of the sailor’s outstanding achievements in academics, physical fitness, recruit leadership and commitment to the Navy core values of honor, courage and commitment.”

According to the rules, no more than three percent of the graduates from each weekly training group will get the honor grad nod.

The ribbon will rank 83rd in the Navy's award order of precedence, just below the Navy Ceremonial Guard Ribbon and above the Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon. For comparison, the National Defense Service Ribbon ranks 62nd on that list.

http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/careers/navy/2015/08/19/new-ribbon-unveiled-navy-boot-camps-best-honor-graduate/32013881/
Posted in these groups: Navy NavyUs medals AwardsRibbons logo Ribbons
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Responses: 67
CPO Greg Frazho
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Edited >1 y ago
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Whatever happened to the honor of good service and faithful execution being its own reward? Gone with the wind, I'm afraid. We don't need any more ribbons and medals than we already have. To the contrary, we probably need to eliminate some of the ones we do have, not add to an already bloated system of public recognition. What's next? A ribbon for graduating top of your class at A school? Or do you get a 5/16" bronze star in lieu of second award for that? When I was in, the honor grad got this: the status at the top of the graduation program and his or her choice of orders. That was it. WTF, over??!!
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LT Maintenance Material Control Officer (Mmco)
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I've been honor grad from a few schools. I got a coin and a certificate, but never thought it would end up like this.
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CPO Greg Frazho
CPO Greg Frazho
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It's indicative of how far society's slipped into this quagmire of "everybody's-a-winner". It's endemic and it's not healthy. (I guess that's redundant.)
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CPO Greg Frazho
CPO Greg Frazho
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I refer to the Karate Kid, of all places. After Ralph Maccio's character gave Miyagi-san a rack of ribbons mounted in a shadow box, Pat Morita uttered a very profound thought. "This [pointing to his heart] says you're brave; this [points to ribbons] says you're lucky."
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COL Charles Williams
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Yes!!! Trophies for everyone!!!! Or... How about a certificate, a coin, hand shake and a pat on the back. I know, The Army can hardly talk with the Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Service Medal, etc... But, this also appears that the USN wants to be like the USAF where an E-3 fresh out of training has several rows of ribbons.
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CPO Greg Frazho
CPO Greg Frazho
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And there's no better way to set up a newly-minted Sailor out of boot camp and A school (AIT) than to show up to their first duty station looking like they've got two pumps under them already. When I went to my first command after training, I had one, ONE, ribbon: NDSM. It stayed that way for a good while, I might add.
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CDR Michael Goldschmidt
CDR Michael Goldschmidt
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CPT (Join to see) - I want to slap THAT Mofo!
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CPT Company Commander
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CDR Michael Goldschmidt - A lot of us do.
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CDR Michael Goldschmidt
CDR Michael Goldschmidt
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I want to, but I would never do it. I believe that people have the right to be douchebags, and, we, of course, right to expose them.
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PO1 Christopher Yancey
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It started going down hill when they made WARFARE devices mandatory........it really took away from those of us that busted our butts to get Qualified.........because after it became mandatory it became a joke. Lucky to be retired, I don't understand the canoe club anymore.
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LCDR Naval Aviator
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Some warfare devices are still bought with intense studying, frustration, and tears, I can assure you. It's just not as many as it should be.
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CDR Michael Goldschmidt
CDR Michael Goldschmidt
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I coveted wings, but could not get them. My SWO pin was taken out of my hide, yet awarded, not earned. Warfare quals are actually for the service, not for the individual.
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