How would you recommend altering your award rack (for a selection board) when some of your awards are obscured by the lapels?

2016-04-02T13:58:39-04:00

Hi everybody, I'm getting ready to take my DA photo, but I run into the problem of my lapel covering up my awards. The major awards are covered up..my PH and 8 arcoms (one with V). I was wondering if anybody else has this issue and how you fixed it. Should/could I wear my ARCOM with V by itself, and a subsequent ARCOM with a silver olc and 2 bronze olc, or should I wear how I normally do (1 ribbon with V, silver OLC, 2 bronze OLC and rest assured they will see it on my ERB? This is also the case for my foreign jump wings above my unit crest, the lapel completely covers it. I just don't want to try anything to crazy, but also don't want my lapel to hide anything so the board can't see or be able to compare my awards on my uniform with my ERB and my board file. Thanks in advance for any input.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 2 at 2016 2:03 PM

2016-04-02T14:03:58-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member first of all good luck on the board, I would go with the staggered look -3 rack ribbon to show case your ribbons, you don't want it to be cluttered. Take a look at my picture, I hope it helps

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2016 3:43 PM

2016-04-02T15:43:20-04:00

I utilized ultrathin.com and they give you options on how many awards you want per row and if you want them justified or not. they also look more professional than the racks you can buy at any clothing and sales store.

As far your foreign awards/ unit citations. are they justified or centered?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2016 4:27 PM

2016-04-02T16:27:08-04:00

Good luck on the board.

It's a sad bit of commentary that as an institution we are worried about ribbon placement on a uniform for a photo for a board. Surely there's a better way to select folks for promotion than to put so much emphasis on this topic. This isn't a comment about your concern---clearly you're doing the right thing and asking for advice., This is more of a comment on how strange it is that we: 1) still include photographs as part of promotion processes, when this clearly opens the way for bias and discrimination; and 2) have created an environment where folks think deeply about the best way to array awards and other things on their uniform.

In your case, I'd hope those on the board would read your ORB and NCOERs, which hopefully carry more weight than where you place an award.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Apr 2 at 2016 4:49 PM

2016-04-02T16:49:31-04:00

Good luck with your selection board! :)

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2016 4:53 PM

2016-04-02T16:53:55-04:00

Rodney, were you aware that there is a uniform regulation that covers this exact situation in detail?

The fact that you would come on here and publicly announce the fact that you are that unfamiliar with common regulations is distressing. Just... wow. Is THIS what modern NCO's have come to? What will you do WHEN a subordinate comes to you to ask a question? Stand up in front of a formation to ask for the right info? On top of this, there's this REALLY cool thing that's new to the internet - it's called Poodle or Google or something. All you have to do is write out a question there and it comes back with all sorts of suggestions that might fill your needs. Just try these terms, "army uniform ribbons lapel regulation" and see what you get.

Oh, and don't worry. Someone will be there in the morning to lace your boots for you as well.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Apr 2 at 2016 11:24 PM

2016-04-02T23:24:36-04:00

You are allowed to left and right justify your awards and badges if the lapel is obscuring them.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Apr 3 at 2016 11:31 AM

2016-04-03T11:31:23-04:00

At least on the Navy board side, we'd never look at the rack because the awards are part of our summary screen. The picture pretty much didn't tell us anything unless grossly overweight. We all subject ourselves to the banana clips in back and other tricks to look good. So if the Army side pays much more attention to it, then I'd like to know what factual thing they get out of it that the record doesn't provide. With all the records, annotations, grading, etc. before we go into the tank, we spend our time on stuff that tells us stuff.

Response by SSG Dan Willmont made Apr 3 at 2016 12:05 PM

2016-04-03T12:05:54-04:00

4 devices are authorized, so 8 ARCOMs, one being a V would be 1 ribbon with V, 1 Silver OLC, 2 bronze OLC.

Response by Sgt Joshua Mardino made Apr 3 at 2016 4:02 PM

2016-04-03T16:02:02-04:00

Wouldn't a board have access to your list of awards anyway?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 18 at 2016 10:24 PM

2016-04-18T22:24:12-04:00

if you get a staggered ribbon bar, remember not to wear it on the tropical uniform

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2018 1:28 AM

2018-11-12T01:28:39-05:00

Splitting your ARCOMs like that gives you a 9 count. A good way to knock yourself out of consideration SSG.

If your lapels are an issue due to your slight size, you should invest $200 on a tailored ASU Coat to give the appearance you wish to project.