How do you feel about wearing insignia on civilian clothes?

Cadet A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 15:34:29 -0500

the other day, i saw someone walking around with a leather jacket decked out with ribbons, etc. can you do that?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 3:39 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 15:39:58 -0500

Honestly, it irks me. But, it's their life and if they want to, then so be it.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Feb 15 at 2019 3:50 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 15:50:57 -0500

Can't get use to it

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 3:59 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 15:59:16 -0500

Oh, Hell no! In my mind it’s a security risk. I prefer not to be a target.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 4:03 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:03:49 -0500

1st Amendment. You can wear whatever you want

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Feb 15 at 2019 4:04 PM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:04:10 -0500

You guys have only JUST NOW seen that? I live in motorcycle Florida and I see it everywhere on everyone. Saw the entire Third Army one bike-week! Seen sailors with ship patches and USAF vets with plane/base patches, wings, etc. Never seen any Marine bikers, but I know they exist...

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Feb 15 at 2019 4:07 PM

LCDR Joshua Gillespie — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:07:33 -0500

Personally, I think it's kinda stupid. If you're a vet and earned it, why go around asking someone for drama? On the other hand, if you're 93, and landed on Omaha Beach... rock on aged brother-rock on.

If you're active duty-well, then it's unprofessional, idiotic, and I'm pretty sure totally un-reg, even in today's changing world. Just a flame session waiting to happen.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 4:55 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:55:29 -0500

You could get a very severe backlash wearing it with a uniform, but not if its just civilian attire like a motorcycle jacket or tuxedo... then meh.

However, if you're Army dude (not sure about anybody else)... but AR 670-1 (31 March 2014) states:

23–6. Medals on civilian clothes Retired personnel and former members of the Army (as described above) may wear all categories of medals described in this regulation on appropriate civilian clothing. This includes clothes designed for veteran and patriotic organizations on Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, and Armed Forces Day, as well as at formal occasions of ceremony and social functions of a military nature. Personnel may wear either full-sized or miniature medals. Personnel who wear medals on civilian clothes should place the medals on the clothing in approximately the same location and in the same manner as for the Army uniform, so they look similar to medals worn on the Army uniform.

Note this doesn't cover the non-standard military medals/ribbons/patches you can buy that are either miniaturized, made as a decorative decal, or one of those fancy hybrid patches, etc. Also, note the bit about "military nature" can be interpreted very loosely in the veteran/retiree community. For instance the monthly motorcycle ride at 0500 to wake up all the deadbeats who talk sh*** about the military.

Response by Cadet SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 5:14 PM

Cadet SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:14:02 -0500

It's goofy as all get out. It's attention seeking behavior. Doing so is not necessarily wrong though.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 5:25 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:25:58 -0500

It is considered to be free speech as long as you are not using such an effort to seek any of the gains or benefits that would be offered to an honored vet or military member. If someone is wearing the ribbons because they think it looks cool..that's their choice

Response by Maj John Bell made Feb 15 at 2019 6:38 PM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 18:38:27 -0500

I won't speak for other services and their traditions.

Stuff that is not actual uniform issue, have at. But if you act the ass, expect to get called on it.

As far as the Marines' and actual uniform issue insignia, IT IS NOT COSTUME JEWELRY. So no and Issue insignia you have not earned, HELL NO!

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Feb 15 at 2019 7:14 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 19:14:13 -0500

Doesn't bother me at all. I don't take phony Heros seriously, these are the guys dressed up with every badge and ribon known to man.; they are sick in the head in their military clown suits. I leave them be. This is America, you can wear what you want unless it is an official uniform which the person is a stolen valor candidate. The dudes with the right badges and medals worn correctly is a turd doing it for personal gain. Most of these scum suckers were proir miitary and want to be seen as SF or Seals, or Marine Force Recon or something they were not. The majority get caught. I have know a few in my lifetime that were exposed after getting some kind of civic award or pissed the wrong person off that checked their history. Personally, I wear nothing that indicate me as special except a veteran hat when I can't find my hat with the American flag on it. I have friends that wear leather jackets with their unit patches and other Tactical Monkey things; who cares? Opinions vary........

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 8:37 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 20:37:45 -0500

None of my business, and I really don’t care. If the Joint Chiefs will let their best good buddy go unchecked, looking like a football bat in front of the world, John Q. Public is free to wear what he wants.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Feb 15 at 2019 9:58 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 21:58:40 -0500

To me, you don't need that stuff when it comes to people that matter. I wound up in a firefight helping some civilian contractors that just happened to call each other Lance, Gunny, etc. That said, I do have a hero cap that I wear on and prior to Memorial Day when we're putting flags by the gravestones. Always covered when rendering salutes. If I see insignia on some Civ stuff, I tend not to start a conversation because it comes back to the people that matter thing. There's a difference between people that advertise themselves and those who quietly support.

Response by SPC James Neidig made Feb 15 at 2019 10:38 PM

SPC James Neidig — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 22:38:31 -0500

Members of different veteran organizations often wear leather vests or jackets with patches and ribbons on them have you ever heard of the legion riders

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2019 11:18 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 23:18:13 -0500

This is not something that I would do. I wear a Marine cap with an American flag pin on the side.

Response by SPC William Weedman made Feb 16 at 2019 8:08 AM

SPC William Weedman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 08:08:12 -0500

I have a ball cap from with the 2nd Infantry Division patch on it. Only on Veterans Day I put my “rack” on it along with my rank and the insignia of my corps (medical). The other 364 days those things gather dust in an old medal presentation box, but I wear the ball cap.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Feb 16 at 2019 8:21 AM

LTC John Griscom — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 08:21:55 -0500

People have been doing it for many years. Check out Veterans Day events.

Response by A1C Lexas Granger made Feb 16 at 2019 9:19 AM

A1C Lexas Granger — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 09:19:38 -0500

I’ve seen many prior service members who have chosen to memorialize their service in this way. I met a former Navy Seal who wore his ribbon rack and Triton on his leather vest. I thought this was normal so I still won’t see a problem with this.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2019 4:12 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 16:12:09 -0500

It’s called pride. They are proud of their country in a time when most people are ambivalent and way too many people enjoy the fruit and privilege of the country they hate. While I don’t wear all my stuff, I say “Wear it with pride”!!!

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Feb 16 at 2019 5:39 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 16 Feb 2019 17:39:58 -0500

That is an interesting question, certainly...I know the major vet group guys often wear their caps with all their paraphenalia on them, badges, ribbons, I've seen that many times, though that was mainly for ceremonial functions, meetings, dinners, stuff like that....

Response by SSG George Holtje made Mar 13 at 2019 9:49 PM

SSG George Holtje — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 21:49:50 -0400

According to regulation no
I am not telling another vet what to do with his ribbons
I like to tell Vietnam vets that my uncle punched a protester in 69 but I won’t tell him how to wear his ribbons

Response by PO2 Michael Slachta made Jun 14 at 2020 9:30 PM

PO2 Michael Slachta — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 21:30:47 -0400

The knee jerk reaction is not only no, but hell no. But in truth I wear my field medical badge on my golf cap. Sort of reminds me of the hippies in the 60's, I just remind myself that they are looking for recognition.

Response by SGT Timothy Posemato made Oct 5 at 2020 9:53 PM

SGT Timothy Posemato — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 21:53:27 -0400

I agree with LTC Tongue. He's right on the mark. I was infantry squad leader, I earned it for life, not just for the years I was in. Lifetime. I wear my stuff on my vest. I'm also a biker. 90% of bikers are Vet's and proud of their service to their country. There are plenty of Marine bikers, trust me, when you active duty guys get out you'll find there's no brotherhood stronger than service Vets, especially Vet bikers. And my last thought, I'd feel sorry for anyone, civilian or active duty to tell a Vet they can't wear or they should take off their insignias.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 5 at 2020 10:52 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 22:52:55 -0400

I received a baseball cap featuring a Red Chinese Star. One day at the local Legion, a fellow did not know whether to sxxt, go blind or salute me! He finally executed a half-assed salute!

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Oct 6 at 2020 1:55 AM

SSG Robert Perrotto — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 01:55:27 -0400

How about worrying more about what you are doing, then being concerned what someone else is doing. If it is not hurting you in any way, why bother about it?

Response by SFC Michael D. made Oct 6 at 2020 8:46 AM

SFC Michael D. — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 08:46:41 -0400

You'll see a lot of Veteran motorcycle clubs wear them on their cut. All verified by DD214.

Response by PFC Ken Mason made Jul 21 at 2021 2:22 AM

PFC Ken Mason — Wed, 21 Jul 2021 02:22:49 -0400

You’re either in uniform or you’re not a member of our nation’s uniformed services. As far as any medals or ribbons earned? - I think I’ve earned me a set or two of red wings, (MUCH more proud of THEM!) but I think I’ll forego wearing them around for old times sake, okay?

Response by COL Eric Burns made Apr 3 at 2022 10:34 AM

COL Eric Burns — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 10:34:29 -0400

Not gonna happen here