Should/Can Prior Enlisted Officers wear NCO Professional Development Ribbon

MAJ Haris Balcinovic — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:40:44 -0400

I normally pride myself on being able to find information in Army Regulations, DA-Pams, etc.however, I've come across an interesting question. I'm prior enlisted/NCO, and my Reserve Component Manpower System (RCMS) Automated Record Brief (ORB equivalent for Reserves, until the IPPS-A SRB is up and running) is being updated by Reserve Personnel Action Center (RPAC) admin specialist. The admin removed my NCOPDR and I asked why. Admin's response was because I'm an officer and I'm not authorized to wear NCOPDR (with numeral 2 since I completed BNCOC). This was somewhat of a surprise to me, and the Admin said they'll send RFI to Awards Branch at HRC to confirm. I have researched this myself and cannot find a clear answer. If it's a matter of tradition (unwritten rule) such as the case with marksmanship I guess I would understand but I've never heard that about the NCOPDR.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jun 30 at 2015 3:45 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:45:04 -0400

Sir, you can wear the ribbon...look at page 229 of DA Pam 670-1 (link below) in paragraph 22-5 d
(U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons.)

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/p670_1.pdf

Response by SFC Jeremy Stocker made Jun 30 at 2015 3:56 PM

SFC Jeremy Stocker — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:56:22 -0400

Sir , You earned it and it cannot be taken from you.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 4:06 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 16:06:15 -0400

I think he was misinformed. If earned I think it can be worn. Heck Col Potter wore his good conduct ribbon,

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 6:24 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 18:24:02 -0400

I have never heard that. I still wear mine. I had an issue like that when I lost my GWOT-E in lieu of my ICM. I told them that I had both from my first tour. Of course they said I can't but I informed them that I was deployed to Kuwait on OEF in Jan 2003 and that Iraq didn't even start yet. The time there in Kuwait went toward that my GWOT-E and then when Iraq happened I got the ICM also. I even showed them on the HRC webpage where it states the exact same situation. They didn't believe me still. I had to get it corrected later on.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jun 30 at 2015 8:11 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 20:11:36 -0400

MAJ Haris Balcinovic, yes you should be able to wear any ribbon/medal you were awarded. Similar to the Good Conduct and other ribbons/medals only available to enlisted service members, it would be a travesty if awards, ribbons, medals were revoked simply because you accepted a commission in the Armed Forces of the United States.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jun 30 at 2015 10:46 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 22:46:22 -0400

My BDE Cdr was just inducted into the OCS hall of Fame. He is a PLDC Graduate and wears his. Normally I would do a ton of research and figure this out to the T, but in this case, throw it back on the Admin: Show me why not.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 8:20 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 08:20:13 -0400

I wear mine.

Response by 1SG William Svoboda made Nov 18 at 2015 11:11 AM

1SG William Svoboda — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 11:11:18 -0500

Unfortunately he die what many do when they don't know they pull an answer from their 5th point of contact. I always taught that it is better to know how to find an answer and in that way you're not assuming to know. Plus, everyone should be aware that unless your awards or decorations were revoked by orders or upgraded, you keep them forever. Foreign awards maybe a questionable area. Many of us may have enjoyed a joint military tenure and received an award from the host country and without official orders we can't or shouldn't wear them.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 6:24 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 18:24:39 -0500

Next time ask them where in the regulations says that. There is a lot of rookies out there pretending to know and thinking because they have X rank or Y position whatever they say has to be taken as Gospel. Saw it all the time and still seeing it, that is why you need to self-develop, to stay informed and inform others.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Nov 21 at 2015 12:31 AM

MAJ Alvin B. — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 00:31:08 -0500

The Admin is flat out wrong. You earned the ribbon and it is a permanent award. There is nothing in the AR that covers the removal of an award for transitioning form NCO to Officer status. (NB - US officers may earn the german marksman lanyard, but do not wear the German Marksman Lanyard - only because german offers are not authorized to wear it even thought they do have to qualify).

The decision to wear/not wear a marksman badge is not in the AR either. There are those officers who choose not to wear the badge, except for the official photo. In my experience, such is not usually the case for officer who were prior enlisted.

[Full disclosure - i served just over 4 year of active duty before I earned my commission. I have worn the NCOPDR since 1981, and also chose to wear my marksman badges and my drivers and mechanics badge.]

You are authorized to wear the NCOPDR and your ORB should be corrected to reflect that fact.

Good luck!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2015 9:14 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 09:14:32 -0500

It's the ribbon that I am most proud of.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2015 4:06 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 16:06:33 -0500

I wear mine. I also still wear the ones I earned while enlisted in the USAF. As long as you have the documentation to back it up.

Response by SFC Randall Anderson made Dec 22 at 2015 4:29 PM

SFC Randall Anderson — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 16:29:19 -0500

You earned it you can wear it.

Response by COL Rick White made Oct 13 at 2017 5:30 PM

COL Rick White — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 17:30:24 -0400

I always proudly wore my NCOPDR...I earned it like every other one. Probably got me a little respect from enlisted Soldiers who noticed it. Often got questions from other officers who would frequently ask what it was

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Oct 13 at 2017 6:58 PM

MAJ Alvin B. — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 18:58:39 -0400

Interesting. First I have ever seen this. I too am a former NCO. Having earned the ribbon, I have worn it since first authorized in 1981. I suspect there is an error here.

Response by 2LT Mark West made Dec 1 at 2017 8:38 PM

2LT Mark West — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 20:38:13 -0500

If you earned it you can wear it. I was a SSG on active duty and completed BNCOC and later commissioned in the reserves.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Dec 3 at 2017 10:07 PM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 22:07:43 -0500

Authorized Awards do NOT come un-awarded due to promotions, reductions, for anything that so called Administrative type had no idea what He was doing and was inventing rules that do NOT exist. An examination of a Military Members service ribbons can tell you much about their experience and where they have been, NEVER for any reason has there been a requirement not to wear any earned award You received during Your Military career. You had a Regulation authorizing its wear and documentation and that all You need. As an Officer You were not authorized to be issued that award but as a prior enlisted man You were and did receive the award and may continue to wear it over the course of Your entire career.

Response by SPC Travis Grizzard made Dec 5 at 2017 3:11 PM

SPC Travis Grizzard — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 15:11:37 -0500

Go Missouri on them. Tell them, "Show Me where it says that ribbon is revoked upon being commissioned".

Response by SPC Travis Grizzard made Dec 5 at 2017 3:14 PM

SPC Travis Grizzard — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 15:14:30 -0500

Have them shows you the regulation which revokes the NCOPDR upon commission

Response by SSG Harry Outcalt made Aug 13 at 2018 8:00 PM

SSG Harry Outcalt — Mon, 13 Aug 2018 20:00:45 -0400

No such reg exists they lied to you most likely because they have no clue...

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Aug 24 at 2018 12:06 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:06:53 -0400

You earned it, wear it. In my case, I was told not to wear my Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist Pin, but it was because they were afraid that other officers would be jealous. I told them to eff themselves, I earned it, I'm wearing it, and if someone has a problem with it, it is on them not me...

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 24 at 2018 12:50 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 12:50:45 -0400

! can understand, but you are NOT an NCO anymore are you Sir?

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 9 at 2019 9:41 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 21:41:04 -0400

Interesting!

Response by SFC Todd Wixson made Oct 22 at 2019 7:15 PM

SFC Todd Wixson — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 19:15:20 -0400

If it was an earned ribbon or award they should be able to wear it. If you earn an ARCOM as an enlisted soldier can you not wear it if you go to the officer Corp?

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2019 4:35 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 16:35:27 -0500

I am assuming this is the same for good conduct medals since you do not receive them as an officer?