Given how important tabs are in the Army, should a prior service Marine now in the Army have a special tab indicating their background?

A Tab for being a former Marine? Really? That is making the inference that being a Marine is big deal? That, is a matter of opinion. I been have with Marines since/at MP OST, the LTs Course, Ranger School, the CPTs Course, on many combat deployments, and I don't understand why being a Marine would warrant a tab? Are all Marines capable of earning a Sapper, Ranger, Special Forces or Presidents Hundred Tab? No.

All our branches (and MOSs/jobs) matter and are needed. If you think being a Marine is big deal, that is exactly why you were/are a Marine. But, at the Joint level, which is how we fight, we need all of the pieces, and the Army (our Blue Collar workforce) is largest and is also the proponent and execute agent for more missions and duties than any other branch (look it up). The Army (and all branches, have specific missions). If you were a Marine and you got food, water, ammo, fuel etc in combat it originally came from the Army. I could go on, but... Having been to many Army schools, with Marines (many of whom could not meet simple Army Standards) I would say if you want an Army Tab, then go earn one.

Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I would also completely agree with you on the fact that Army is all about doo-dads, badges, and trinkets (though we don't have as many ribbons as the Air Force). I have seen the left and and right shoulder check many times. I respect (and have always admired) the Marine mentality of sterile combat uniforms (utilities/fatigues) and saving all the cool stuff for your dress uniforms. I often wished the Army would adopt that position... Sterile combat uniforms would be a great idea for all of us.

All branches and jobs matter. We fight and win joint and we all need each other. This a team sport. I love and a respect anyone who volunteers to serve.

I believe there is room for this one as well. I earned this one(out of necessity). Because of the type of unit I ended up in, I had to learn computer and am glad I did. Yes as a SSG I had to brief generals and had to have my poop squared away. Was my skills as an infantryman/ combat engineer judged by my REMF job? Who knows. All I know is I was assigned so I did it.

SFC (Join to see) you nailed this. I've actually posted something similar. Although I do not have the Marine experience I too questioned why the Army has to take the route of badges and tabs. It feeds into that self-interest aspect that we need to cut back on. It's proven that morale is down significantly. I believe if we got back to a more team first mentality we would see a change. The Marines have built a brand and tossed out those individual spotlights in favor of a strong team mentality. The Army struggles to gain this esprit de corp partially due to this culture of onfividialism. Great post.

I have friends that are Marines that are serving in the Army. They proudly proclaim that they where in the Marines and that to me is all that is required. The reason I check a shoulder isn't for a tab, but combat service. That says that you have been somewhere to me and that I have a little more respect than the norm. Shows that you understand the things that WE have been through vs the ones that haven't been to a hell hole. Marines should have a CSSI wish they did then at least we would know that it was 2nd Marine Amphibious that you were with or something to that nature. I a friend that was prior Marine and was in a fire fight and the army wouldnt bring over his Combat Action Ribbon to a CIB. It is discouraging.

Though I'm retired now, I've brought the same thing many times, especially when considering prior service military awards when wearing the "class A" uniform.

As a prior service Marine myself, I agree. I served in the Corps prior to the name tapes and I remember when the order came down to start implementing them and the banter of how they were trying to turn "us" into the Army. I also agree that as a prior service Marine we should have a designator tab reflecting such. I mean, I see Soldiers with Marine division patches for units they served with in Iraq and Afghanistan, served with, not as Marines.

The more tabs and badges people come up with, the worse the fixation is. That just feeds in to it

So, if I re-enlisted to the Air Force after the Army, does that qualify me for the Billy Badass ribbon, badge, or patch as well while wearing Air force ABUs? The army already have deployment patches for the prior marines or those who deployed with marines respective to MEUs they deployed. This point is irrelevant.

SFC Joseph Galvan really? Are you living my closet and tape testing me all day or actually seen me recently?

https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/227305_ [login to see] 951_7110038_n.jpg?oh=a0166a6c98a5070a01d0b4fd86a0472b&oe=573F9488 Just for the reference how "fat I was". Did I mention marine recruiters approached me after my first enlistment?

Regardless what the fk does it have to do with original argument? Calling me overweight to completely ignore the core of the argument for some special tab because someone was marine is like arguing that Marine cook deserves one and stating that Marine cook is better than US Army infantryman at infantry job.

This has got to be one of the dumbest things I've seen on RallyPoint, and that's saying something.

Would the tab say "Previously Failed IQ Test"?