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?
Driver
Officers
Dress Uniform
DA Pam 670-1
Tradition
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 317
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I knew a prior-enlisted OCS officer (we met when he was a Major, he retired as a LTG) who wore a Drill Sergeant badge with pride. Nobody ever seemed to see anything wrong with that.
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I was the first midshipman to qualify submarines when it was first authorized in 1980. I was also prior enlisted. You can be damned sure I wore my silver dolphins proudly throughout my officer career. It was always a good conversation starter. Even had an Army general's wife approach me at my daughter's military ball to ask about them.
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MAJ (Join to see)
A submarine warfare badge is not in the same category as the OPs question. Most Army Officers who have prior naval service would wear that, surface warfare, special Warfare etc. They wouldn’t wear the various naval marksmanship badges. (Honestly I’m not sure Army regulation allows those anyway)
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LCDR Glenn Adwell
Captain, the diver's qualification is just like my enlisted submarine dolphins which I was awarded before I received my commision. It goes right to the heart of the question. The Navy has the same type of qualification. An officer should be allowed to wear it if earned.
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I never wore mine, thought the Expert shot with 3 bars was more important to us grunts.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
I only wore my expert badge also. I think the only time I would put it on was for a DA Photo.
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SGT Dave Tracy
When I was a Grunt, the expectation was: Sharpshooter is nice, but you will shoot until you get Expert, and you will wear the badge on your Class As for inspection, balls, etc. My Reserve unit didn't care if you wore it or not, just so long as you didn't look like a bag of ___ with whatever you do wear.
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I had my Enlisted Surface Warfare Pin that I wore as a midshipman at the Academy, and all the way until I replaced it with the Surface Warfare Officer pin. If you earned it, you earned it. Wear it! Plus, it really gets on some of the straight in officers that have no pins! So, bonus!
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MAJ (Join to see)
In the Army Officers do not wear skill badges like marksmanship or driver badges. You do wear course badges like airborne and such.
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Lots of good answers already. But for those who are saying that if you earned it as enlisted you should wear it as an officer, that does not apply if you earned and received authorization to wear the German marksmanship award. The wear criteria for that is enlisted only.
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CAPT Hiram Patterson
Yes, but that German marksmanship award sure is neat looking! One of my former Army Specialists who worked for me in Patient Affairs at Landstuhl has one.
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Yes; if they earned it wear it. I was in Marine Corps and when I joined Army I wore my earned Marine Corps Badges. ie..Combat Air Crew and Jump Wings.
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Drivers badge is probably the most earned unawarded badge or medal out there.
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SSG Kevin Price SR
I was the Battalion Drivers Training NCO. I also trained the other two units in my garrision while in Germany, as well as the dependents. Back on point-I requested (and got approval from post commander) for ALL dispatches on post be cc'd to my office. I creatd a spreadsheet for the 2500 plus soldiers there, and kept track of miles. And I can honesty say that the only soldiers NOT awarded the D/M Badge by the time I DEROS'd back to the US were those too new to have not met requirements. And since it was an FA unit, a MP Company, and a 2d level Maintenance Battallion, you can be assured that in the time I was there, over 5k D/M badges were awarded, with most of the FA Battallion being awarded both wheeled and tracked devices, and the mechanics also receiving dual awards as well.
For some, they couldn't care less. For those seeking promotion to NCO, they were promotion points as well. For the MP unit, it soon became SOP to have been awarded the D/M badge to be placed in leadership positions. It eventually got to where we (FA BN) woukd have others request to join us on FTX's, just to earn theblast few miles needed for award as promotion board would be upcoming soon
For some, they couldn't care less. For those seeking promotion to NCO, they were promotion points as well. For the MP unit, it soon became SOP to have been awarded the D/M badge to be placed in leadership positions. It eventually got to where we (FA BN) woukd have others request to join us on FTX's, just to earn theblast few miles needed for award as promotion board would be upcoming soon
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SGT Donald Croswhite
I went out of my way to get my guys that badge. Especially the guys who drove overseas.
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I wear my National Defense ribbon from the Vietnam period when I was USMC enlisted, on my medals and ribbon bar as a USNR Commander. Three Chiefs I knew, who were brought over as newly commissioned ensigns, wore their chief's anchors pinned underneath their collars. I don't wear my rifle and pistol medals from the USMC but I do wear the US Navy weapons qualifying ribbons for rifle and pistol (qualified as an officer as well as an enlisted). I cannot find anything in the books I usually validate with that would prevent you from wearing a designator you earned while enlisted. I know several submarine officers, who got their dolphins as enlisted personnel who wore both pins on uniforms. Personally I think it demonstrates that a former enlisted person has the capability to perform either as an officer or enlisted and makes their opinions more qualified for general acceptance. Just one man's opinion....
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Don't Mustang Officers and Prior Enlisted Warrants wear their Good Conduct Medals?
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MAJ Fred Peterman
MAJ Fred Peterman and the USAF Presidential Unit Citation. Air Combat Readiness Medal. Maybe others.
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I guess at some point, you just get tired of putting shit you’ve earned on the uniform... Case in point, look back at some of GEN Eisenhower’s old photos! Just saying, some of us were pretty humble and never really cared. Sure, we had some that we were more proud of earning over others, but at some point, it becomes excessive, does it not, a ribbon here, a badge there, etc.? Everyone has their favorite awards, and everyone earned, no doubt! But if someone doesn’t want to have to put all that crap on, time and time again, sometimes it is more of a hassle then anything else. Especially if you are wearing it daily due to your assignment. Just my thoughts...
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CPT (Join to see)
Interesting perspective! I've never been a fan of all of the participation ribbons and medals the Army gives away, but I'm also inclined in a "Marine-esque" thought process of... If you earned it and it's on your ERB/ORB, you better freakin have it on your uniform and it better be on there perfectly! I guess I'm just a sucker for that sort of thing.
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CAPT Hiram Patterson
A lot of Navy officers only wear their top three. I'm surprised some the Army and AF folks don't have a permanent list to their port side!
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2LT (Join to see)
Yeah every specialist with 1 deployment looks like a Mexican general these days. Wish they'd get rid of some of the participation stuff
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SSG Kevin Price SR
Once you get the stars for the collars, nothing else really matters for uniforms, unless MOH, Silver/Bronze star, or any other medal with "V" device. Exceptions would be when in Full Dress regalia (Formal Dress Uniform) is required. Normal duty uniform, wear what is needed. Formal functions is whenyou want the entire fruit salad on display.
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