Posted on Mar 26, 2018
Should an Officer wear a Driver's Badge that was earned while he was Enlisted?
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I've seen the posts about Officers not wearing qualification badges relating specifically to weapons qual, how they should be experts of everything etc. etc., but I've never heard anyone specifically address the driver's badge. It isn't anything spectacular or anything to write home about, but it is a badge nonetheless and represents a specific knowledge and skill. Thoughts?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 317
LT Orcutt AR 670-1 Or DA-Pam 670-1 which ever they call it now is the rule.
Now Far be it for me to tell an Officer what to do but if you do NOT ware you Weapons Qual. When I see you in Dress uniform then the next time you want to discuss weapons don't be offended if I refuse to have the conversation. Same with Drivers badge or any other award, badge, (simply and thing you earned) I simply acknowledge that you skipped that portion of your training.
Now Far be it for me to tell an Officer what to do but if you do NOT ware you Weapons Qual. When I see you in Dress uniform then the next time you want to discuss weapons don't be offended if I refuse to have the conversation. Same with Drivers badge or any other award, badge, (simply and thing you earned) I simply acknowledge that you skipped that portion of your training.
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If you earned it you can wear it. Lord knows officers aren't experts at everything. Anyone who's ever ran a range know this as truth.
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Uniform Regulations 2019 stipulates
(5) When insignia has both gold and silver versions, enlisted personnel wear silver, officers wear gold, within the following rules:
(a) Enlisted personnel who qualify for insignia, and are subsequently advanced to officer status continue wearing the enlisted insignia until qualified for a corresponding officer insignia; then replace the enlisted insignia with the officer insignia.
(5) When insignia has both gold and silver versions, enlisted personnel wear silver, officers wear gold, within the following rules:
(a) Enlisted personnel who qualify for insignia, and are subsequently advanced to officer status continue wearing the enlisted insignia until qualified for a corresponding officer insignia; then replace the enlisted insignia with the officer insignia.
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Should wear everything that was earned. I have seen officers wearing the Good Conduct Medal they earned while enlisted.
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CPT (Join to see) - You can actually wear the item UNTIL you have earned an item that supersedes it, OR your command tells you otherwise.
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I caved to the “officers don’t wear those” with the qualification badges, but mainly because I was always 1-2 shots off expert (damn it). And while nobody could tell the differences between my enlisted and officer AAMs, most NCOs clearly took note of my NCOPD ribbon.
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Yes. I was a Unit driver trainer in Germany and I had 2 2Lt's qualify for a drivers badge. Both had been assigned as Motor Officers for my unit. They got all of the practice and skill testing they needed on a 5 ton wrecker and a deuce and half. Both had over 20,000 miles of driving time also.
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