Does everyone need something "shiny" to make themselves stick out from other branches/services?

I recall seeing Marines wearing Ranger tabs, Airborne wings, etc. Badges aren't just "shiny" items but let everyone know you have excelled in your chosen field and strive to overcome and rise to the top. Why wear anything other than the basic uniform if you don't like additions. That includes medals, ribbons, and anything else.

Once you have the EGAs on your collar or pocket, there's only so much you can add to that. It's like earning a million-dollar paycheck, then getting a coupon for 50%-off a latte.

I don't know Major, I understand esprit de corps, unit pride. I was a 2nd Class Petty Officer in the Navy, I didn't often find myself in the company of Army, Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard. Even so, I always thought we were on the same team. Personally, to me, that's all that ever mattered. If various units want a badge to feel good, great, do it. The bigger the better. If someone wants to compare units and this is better than that, well, I have no truck with that. I know what I did and why, I never needed a badge to affirm it. But that's just me.

Yeah...I like the simplicity of THE uniforms in the corps. Army uniforms=WEBELOS

Well, I have to admit we probably overdid it a long time ago... and it is harder to stop things than it is to never let them get started. If I attend a ball with all of my awarded federal and state ribbons, I have 5 rows, and I never even saw combat. If you take a modern soldier who has deployed several times on active duty, and then gotten out and joined the Guard, they could easily be sporting 8 or 9 rows as a mid-level NCO, and even more if they stay for retirement.

That being said, many decorations serve to identify specific achievements that are recognized by those that share that experience. One of my proudest accomplishments was earning my EIB. When I met other soldiers wearing one, the topic would always turn to, "Where did you get yours?" or "True blue?" [Note: The first time I encountered the latter, I was puzzled. Turns out that they had changed the standards to allow soldiers to retest a certain number of tasks. In the 'old days' your first No-Go got you a, "See ya next year." TRUE BLUE indicated all 1st-time GOs, with no retests.] We shared something in common, and there was a bond.

Rangers discuss their class dates; CIB holders talk about their tours; EOD, Pathfinder, Airborne, Air Assault... all the little shiny badges, whether relatively common or highly restricted, identify something that soldier has experienced and is proud of. Yes, we have all known some that approach it as, "See me? Look what I've got!" But for the vast majority of soldiers and veterans I have encountered over the years, our "shinies" serve to identify us to each other... and encourage us to share experiences and memories.

"Wear 'em if you got 'em."

If you are a military person , you got to go back to where it started ie example the Cav and the hat it was the cavalry, Custers old unit was all voluntary ,as I was drafted and learned about the Cav.
one other thing your unit crest look up the history of it and you will see where these items came from , as I am authorized to wear the Stetson, 5th Bn 7th Cav( 1966-1967 Vietnam) retired 1992.

Is it good to have a friendly competition and pride in ones' duty point? YES! Those who go through the intensive training, go in with 200 people and graduate with the 20 who are left have earned those shiny things, those special berets, extra ropes and ribbons, and those intentionally make them stick out. We punish those who achieve through many avenues, how about we continue celebrating those who achieve? If you are a Ranger, Special Forces or a SEAL, you have to EARN that status. I'll grant that there are many who go into the military just for a career and really don't give a crap about the US, but most soldiers love their nation. So now we just tell the troops who are willing to spill their blood for their nation that they are nothing special, take away the feeling from them that they are special, remove their pride for the service and duty they have chosen? That is beyond foolish and frankly I'm surprised to see this question come from an officer in the US military. Those who are willing to go through the training and intense rigors of such training deserve special recognition and they should have it. ANYONE who is will to risk life and limb in service and defense of millions upon millions of ungrateful or uncaring people, deal with crappy pay, crappy healthcare as veterans deserves to have a serious pride in the branch in which they serve

Its a plain and simple manipulation of the human Reward System. Militaries conduct the toughest tasks a society requires of its citizens, and our human reward systems require continuous incentive to elevate morale and motivation. Id imagine that at one point, when Infantry and Navy were the only assets militaries had to worry about keeping motivated, it was an easier task to control with fewer awards. However, as military tactics and strategy continued to progress, and non-combat fields were introduced (and forced into combat situations), which increased success rates of battles and wars, that began to require more reward systems to be appeased.

I'd imagine that pride and ego play a large role in human motivation. Everyone is a Soldier, but we also want to be better than the next Soldier in some regard, be it competence, physical appearance, strength, courage, intelligence, elitesness, etc. Militaries understand this, and use it to their advantage to create pockets of ultra-motivated Soldiers who will fight harder, because they feel their status requires them to, whatever that status may be. This status perception exists between the Departments as well, Army/Marines, everyone else. Its a natural human issue, so we might as well use it to our advantage to win.

It does create a divide to a small degree, when individuals forget that we are all human, and die the same way as they do. I don't mind friendly ribbing, but some folks take it too far and too seriously, which is when it starts to create real issues. My brother is a leg, and I'm totally embarrassed about it, but he knows i'm only kidding, and throws the ribbing right back at me.

Unit pride, esprit de corps, healthy competition.

On top of that I'm JAG so no shiny things for me. Unless I get lucky and a request to go Airborne or Air Assault somehow happens.

The one thing that made sense to me was my red hat. It wasn't really effective for shamming though.

Well, to quote Napoléon Bonaparte " “Give me enough medals and I’ll win you any war”
Recognition for doing a good job or act at is beyond what is normally expected is a pretty cheap way to maintain morale and discipline. Every culture I can think of had distinctive uniforms or headgear, my god, just look at Napoleonic era troops. I think we are pretty subdued and subtle about these days.

I guess I am weird about it. I never much cared about uniform flair. For me just having a job was enough. It sure beat living out of my car. All of my shiny trinkets are not so shiny anymore and are collecting dust in a box sitting in my closet. The most shine I get out of them is them being listed on my resume as the government looks at such things for hiring actions.

It the Corps, we had very little "Bling". Just standard uniform brass and service ribbons / devices. Most of out stuff is flat black. But, when you have a uniform like out Dress Blues, what else do you need ? That and our military bearing pretty much says it all.

I was in airborne unit once in my career. It was simple. No wings, you were a leg. Didnt matter to me, not many were lucky enough to get airborne training

Why not, it used to be a magnet long long time ago, but now, not so much, all those purty wibbons and medels hanging on ones chest... the patch on our right sleeve proudly screaming lookey where I was...

I believe that it is professionally “healthy” to set yourself apart from other MOSs. I helps to create commeradi and pride in doing what you do.
In the end we are all in the fight together, no matter what MOS or specialty that you have and no matter what branch of service that you are in. The only people that I have ever met that talk crap about other branches is new service members that have never served a combat deployment, actually being shot at and shooting the enemy. In my career, I servered in combat with every branch and I was glad to have them standing beside me sending rounds down range.

Badges (schools really) don’t make soldiers better than other soldiers it just makes THEM better soldiers - or more qualified at a particular skill. And the paratroopers and legs definitely need to be separated from each other......the legs need to exit the aircraft first because they get to the ground faster!

I'm late getting in on this one and I know I'll catch some hell for saying it but I really liked the
"old school" Army Military Police class A duty uniform. The MP white hat worn with the summer
khakis or winter greens with that patent leather gear with those highly polished black boots made
a on duty MP stand out from anyone else in the room. I was told the Army retired the MP duty
white hat sometime in the 1980's. The MP white hat should be brought back for wear with the
class A uniform.

Actuually, we just wear our Eagle, Globe and Anchor and it's usually, "Nuff said"?

In the USMC, one doesn’t see a lot of scare badges on their troops. But, conversely, they place an eagle, globe and anchor sticker on anything not moving.

My father was a WWII Marine in the Pacific with the 1st Marine Division. He fought with the Old Breed at Cape Glouchester, Guadal Canal, and Peleliu. He retired from the Marines in 1961 at the rank of Lt Col after 20 years of service.

As I recall, he had 6 ribbons.. SIX. Oh, and an expert marksman badge.

I don't presume to know the answer to your question, but I was in the Army, I went to numerous training schools, some only Army, but some were joint services schools. and with out exception all the Marines gathered together, and did not mix with the other services. So maybe you are feeling a little guilty, I don't know that either, but something does not ring true about your motivation and your question.....

There Air Force didn’t get shiny stuff until the mid 70’s when I got back from S.E.A. I noticed the S.P.s on the gate and some had those specialty badges with that fake chrome on them.. it looked tinny.. like out of a box of lucky charms. Bkfst cereal.. I always thought the brushed metal were better.. shiny makes you a target.. my career field has a specialty badge.. now it’s had because it got pulled for som reason.. it came out in ‘85 but held back because not enough were ready(services specialty badge (here it is, mine is for a 7 level in the Services field.. of which Food service is a part of. I served as Cook/Baker Supervisor(it wasn’t consolidated as a career field until ‘80-‘81 I believe. they made it retroactive to early in 70’s so Vets in Veteran Service orgs could legally wear them on the Post’s uniforms.
For some reason they eerre pulled from being worn or issued (or both?) by those still active..
Anyway I got the shiny, I would have like having the brushed metal.. it doesn’t look “tinny”... maybe there are some still out there?.. somebody that doesn’t care and would give it up.. enough of that.. I thought it cool when it came out.. I did all my work with due diligence and was proud of being a Cook/Baker Supervisor. I think what added to it.. I had an Associates in Applied Sciece(Combined Culinary and Restaurant mgt. degree [with help from CCAF, with creds from CDCs, OJT/apprenticeship, NCO schools, Prof Mil edu. Classes.. other classes I completed.. ]). There are other degrees through CCAF (comm Col. AF) and other Military services continued edu. Schools. My Fellow RP members who followed up and took advantage of their Services continued edu. Services know what i’m Speaking of.. it can shave off so much School time. CCAF gave me FULL creds for my CDCs.. and other edu. Programs I completed..
Those in other services and the AF, AF Reserve and Air Guard really need to tdke advantage of these offerings before they are gone.. don’t just let them sit there.. in your service jackets.. there is a place for your supervisors to note your continuing extra education.. but they can’t
Do it if you don’t make the effort to continue !
It can be an important add-in in your jacket
To show your continuing to improve yourself..
(When you can... ask to see your jacket so you can see you are being noted for your continued
Edu. Efforts.. and completions.. you need to stay on top, it’s not their job to note it.. of course a good unit Training NCO will be I
On top of it.. so YOU stay on it to make sure!).
I know I strayed a bit., but I think that the two
(Specialty badge and skill level/ continued education effort is all connected ). One more little note: Military Retirees should check with their services Cont. edu. Programs to see if their cont edu services are still active or closed out. You don’t or may not be aware of their status,so check! Maybe if you’re recent retiree
(Within 6 months) you might be able to access those creds that are sitting there.. don’t let them go to waste !

Nothing looks as good as Marine dress blues.

I don't know about you others,but I earned all the patches,ribbons,pins,and medals I wore on my uniform. If the Army says I can wear them, I'll will and did. I think it shows your branch and the others some of what you have accomplished through out your carrier.

I was Army, enlisted and commissioned in Armor. Desert Storm among other tours of duty over a decade. My dad was a career Air Force fighter pilot and retired as a Bird Colonel with Korean and Vietnam War service over 28 years. Oldest brother was USMC Cobra Pilot for 16 years including Beruit in '83. Middle brother was Navy on nuclear Boomers during the height of the Cold War. Yes, the Army uniform has more do-dads than the other services and the Navy is in my opinion the most reserved by far (including individual awards and decorations)! I am biased, but to me, the Army uniform does the best job of telling you the story and background of each soldier. A soldier's life story is in plain view on display for everyone who knows how to read it: what he's accomplished, where she's been, who he was with when he did it, and probably enough clues to let you know who your mutual acquaintances might be.

i just responded to a question about removing combat patches because it might offend those that dont have them....and said this....we need to stop dick measuring and judging each other. No more calling people POGs and Legs, not because they might get offended...but to say that we all play on a team. Just because the quaterback doesnt score touchdownds, doesnt make him unimportant....

I did my job to the best of my ability, was recognized for my accomplishments and retired and needed nothing to call attention to myself while I served. There are a lot of us who didn't grandstand during our career and they are still serving their country quietly and with confidence. Still waters run deep they say and a majority of veterans served this way. I have seen the flamboyant and the reserved confidence of the multitudes that serve out of the spotlight.

No. Jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft just doesn't do it for me. No problems with those that do, though. I've known a lot of 'em, both military and civilian that just love it.

A uniform should be a conversation starter, not a conversation ender. It should give basic information: who has authority over whom and something about the limits of that authority, and somebody's expertise. In the Navy, that's primarily what our uniforms do, as do most undress uniforms of the various services. Not every naval officer is eligible for command at sea, something a Navy Officer's uniform tells you. Not all Naval personnel, Army, or Air Force personnel are combatants. Their uniforms should tell you that. Every Marine officer is, however, a combatant, so it's less necessary to show distinguishing specialty insignia, but it would be helpful. Ditto for Army and Air Force officers and enlisted folks in combat uniform. I spent a good portion of my career in Joint Units, where it was very helpful to me to know, at a glance, whom to ask which questions. When the Army adopted ACUs in favor of BDUs, some of that information went away.

Let all the sparklies be to impress the civilians. They're more easily impressed than we servicepeople are, anyway. WE know what's impressive and what's BS. We also know the hearts that beat under our uniforms.