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

The "shiny" things shows you earned it. Badges, berets, tabs, scrolls, etc. All show that you went the extra step to earn all that "shiny" stuff. Not only that, it shows you don't have to bragg about it.

I think that our uniforms are different enough. I do mot like the beret for regular army units. If it was left up to me I think the army should return to the campaign hat for Class A unifforms

Never whet to DirtDart School and I'm not a LEG i'm a Wheel as i Drive to combat and back and I pass the legs doing it and wait for them at the crossroads just me and my squad....which by the way got more firepower than the leg platoon following behind us. My fellows secure the drop zone so the 173 can claim they got a combat jump even though it was into Kurdish help area

This is going to sound petty, childish, and a bit disrespectful; if you had access to my service records you wouldn't be surprised.

After my long and successful career in the Marine Corps, 4 years obtaining the rank of TERMINAL LANCE CORPORAL and the official call sign "SHITBIRD SIX ACTUAL", I joined the Army National Guard where I embarked on a mission of grave importance and significance.

During a deployment to Kosovo, several of us Former Marines started wearing the FLEET MARINE FORCE badge on our cammies (now called BDU's in the Guard, because I needed to learn a second language apparently).

We had a Sergeant Major who wasn't the brightest bulb on the tree (no disrespect intended to that wonderful rank); he would tell me "Sergeant, I don't think you're authorized to wear that badge." AR 670-1 was somewhat vague on the topic, and i kept a copy of it in my pocket.

"I appreciate that, Sergeant Major; when you know for certain can you let me know, please?"

Again, not the most wonderful post on here, and I'll probably catch SOME shit because of it, but it did help get through the deployment.

When it comes down to the nitty gritty it doesn't make a tinkers damn what unit you're in or service when a call for help is given I will tell y'all there will be a whole lot of Sailors, Marines, Air Men and Women, Soldiers and Coast Guard folks to give a hand. as for Leg vs Jumper it's been going on for eons due to the espri de corps in the Airborne community. Now as for me I was originally a Brown Water Sailor when I left Vietnam I was a little disappointed in those blue water types which was due to the small crew and comradely found in the Special Boat community. Yes I did serve in both the Navy and Army Nat. guard and with the regular Army dudes they laugh at National Guard troops until Desert Shield when the Guard was activated and served in regimental combat teams. The guard is now on par with the regulars esp. the Armor units (80% N G). In sum the service men and women all have a huge pride and ego in their service and will always be barbs and trash talk in good spirited fun 'n games. Vietnam vet (70-72) SGT (ret) USA

If you want and qualify to join the Marines, then join, if you qualify to join the Navy then join, as with all of the other services join. I think that each individual service branch has to have something to let civilians and others that this is a Sailor, Airman, Marine, Soldier, Coast Guardsman is qualified, I think that each individual trinket you earn is for a qualification that you attained/worked hard to get, thereby making you closer to being whatever you signed up for. I know in the Navy you really earn each award/certification and it does make an individual proud when you wearing that uniform that shows that hard work paid off, and someone asks, "Hey what's that for" cause anyone can't legally wear it if they didn't earn it.

It’s all about pride—and recruiting.

Unfortunately, yes...that's how you're able to pass boards. Because I didn't have shiny badges or wings, my promotions came slow. From Private to Specialist you don't, because it's just the fact if the Commander likes you or not. I wore SGT, SSG, and SFC longer than most soldiers did. I had most Sergeants beat in TIS and TIR.

What is earned, is earned. You volunteered to attend these courses to improve yourself. They look so shiney on your dress uniform, proves you went the rxtra mile to earn those shiney badges, gain a little more respect for doing so. But earning those shineys comes at a cost, more elbow grease to keep them shiney. Keeping them in the order earned. And spending more of your pay to krep them shiney.

That's just it! The big ol problem with society, country, and our world today... Yes for sure all about rank-levels. To how much we have put in to give back for our country, OUTSTANDING! All as one-{TEAM}! All the higher and highest ranks only mean ONE thing- (To make the WISER more EDUCATED decision or choice for which the situation has withheld. Majority of the different-upper ranks no where in Hell does it make you the more Superior, bigger better person because you aren't! All are equal humans an or individuals with or without the rank. Yes way more respected for what you have accomplished and done to reach them levels! Our military is by far the strongest team there is on this planet, all as one-one is all... Brother to Brother and Sister to Sister!! What about when the page is turned how come our whole Nation, society, community, everyone isn't like that??? All are Brother-Brother, Sister-Sister when them patches/badges/ranks are not worn! Just think if we all as a country could be that strong for one another what we could be!? If I had one wish from our good Lord up above how come we All can't be as strong as our military is for one another like how it is for Soldier to Soldier! Same deal for society when the fellow American wears that badge as an Officer, Deputy Sheriff, or Trooper don't mean the can break the law and fly 100mph down the Hwy for no apparent reason because that's just as bad as the criminal,, MATTER OF FACT_ it's way worse bc they are the ones suppose to be enforcing the law and setting an EXAMPLE!!! but it's not that way nor will it ever be. ALL RESPECT TO THOSE WHO DO THOUGH!!!!! Be the best_be all you can be. I believe every American should serve some kind of term for the military big or small.... One of the choices or decision us as Americans would never ever regret. #military_life!!