Should I wear a marksmanship badge when separated/retired from the Army?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 05:13:12 -0400

I recently had an occasion to wear my ASU despite being separated from the Army, and a thought occurred to me while doing my PCC. I knew when I separated that I needed to strip my uniform of shoulder DUI, unit awards not on my DD214, and the fourragere but my question was does the sterilizing extend to the marksmanship badge as well?

The following is what I've been able to determine through a bit of research. AR 670-1 para 30-1.b states that "all persons wearing the Army uniform will wear awards, decorations, and insignia in the same manner as prescribed in this regulation for active duty soldiers." AR 600-8-22 para 8-44.a gives no time requirement/expiration on marksmanship badges, and only states to wear the "qualification last attained."

Considering these two regs, am I correct in my thinking that I should essentially consider my last active duty qualification as a permanent award and continue to wear the marksmanship badge on my ASU?

Edit: Fixed broken formatting

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Mar 20 at 2014 6:23 AM

SSG Zachery Mitchell — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 06:23:28 -0400

For some reason I'm having a hard time copying and pasting at the moment but if you look in AR 670-1 paragraph 30-3 and 30-4 it may be able to help you understand a little better.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 20 at 2014 7:20 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 07:20:05 -0400

First, thanks for your honorable service.

I am not so sure you'd be authorized to wear the marksmanship qualification badge. As I understand the regulation, specifically in paragraph 29-16 b (2), it states "How worn. Marksmanship badges are worn in order of precedence from the wearer’s right, and to the left of any special skill badges that are worn. Normally, all soldiers wear at least one marksmanship badge, unless they fail to qualify or are exempt from qualification by Army regulations."

I believe you are exempt from qualification and therefore not required/authorized to wear the badge.

Stay safe in Bowling Green and watch out for those sinkholes.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2014 2:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 14:58:42 -0400

Based on AR 670-1, there is nothing preventing you from wearing it. As you stated, in para 30-1 b, you are to wear all badges the same way active servicemembers do. I would if it was me. HOWEVER, if you look at pictures of former servicemembers who recieve the Medal of Honor after they seperate, most of them are not wearing their qualification badges.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Dec 2 at 2014 5:30 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 17:30:52 -0500

Let me preface by saying I'm not a big fan of civilians wearing the uniform (I've been a civilian for 20+ years and can count on one hand the number of times I've put mine on).

That said, as a civilian I don't consider myself bound by UCMJ anymore (maybe the "Once a Marine always a Marine" folks do, but I do not).

So, if you're going to wear it, I'd say you're splitting hairs about what you want to put on it. I wouldn't recommend adding Colonel rank and a CMH though. Mainly because "Stolen Valor" pisses a lot of people off, me included and it's just a matter of time before someone knocks out their front teeth.

Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made Dec 29 at 2015 6:44 PM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 18:44:32 -0500

My uniform is in my closet set up just like it was when I retired. I don't plan to change it. I've only worn it twice since I retired and that was within the first two years. The next time I will probably wear it is in my coffin. :-)

Response by SFC David Pope, MBA made Jul 14 at 2016 1:40 PM

SFC David Pope, MBA — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:40:11 -0400

Yes, wear it!

Response by LtCol J W made Jul 18 at 2016 8:18 PM

LtCol J W — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 20:18:17 -0400

I am so proud of mine that I wear them on my skivvies!! Semper Fi !

Response by MSG Dean Gruber made Aug 28 at 2016 2:09 AM

MSG Dean Gruber — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 02:09:17 -0400

What does your DD214 say? Mine lists my marksmanship badges with my other awards. So I would say it is kosher to wear them.

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made Jan 19 at 2017 2:27 PM

1LT Peter Duston — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 14:27:46 -0500

I am a retired 78 year old still wearing my ASU as a bugler with the Air Force Honor Guard of the Year for the Northeast. I am damn proud of my expert weapons badges. Besides I was an 11B Infantryman and weapons instructor in my last 13 years in the Army Reserve. My instructors wowed the full-time instructors at basic training with our ability to raise their BRM qualification rates and West Point couldn't believe my instructors raising their first time qualification rates for BRM way beyond their official expectation when I was Task Force NCOIC for BCT at USMA where I retired as a 1LT (old rank from Vietnam era). My weapons qualification badges mean something and I wear them with pride to, hopefully, to inspire younger troops to do more than just qualify.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Feb 6 at 2017 11:40 AM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 11:40:20 -0500

Wear it as you would if still in. I am heading to a wedding next year in New Orleans where I was requested to wear my dress uniform. And I am sure to be in my office a week prior with a ruler making sure everything is looking perfect.

Response by CW4 Glen Nardin made May 29 at 2017 5:42 PM

CW4 Glen Nardin — Mon, 29 May 2017 17:42:30 -0400

Civilians can wear their uniform, but if it's not right along with a proper haircut, you do the military no favor. You also can be dismissed from a official military function (asked to leave) if your appearance brings bring discredit to the service.

Response by PFC David Gettman made Aug 11 at 2017 3:38 PM

PFC David Gettman — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:38:22 -0400

My dad earned the (then) solid 14kt gold Distinguished Marksman's Badge as it was called in 1935 when he was a Pfc with Co F, 161st Infantry, 41st Division, Washington National Guard out of Walla Walla. He was with Co F from 1930-38. It was the one award in his 37 year career he was most proud of and the one unit whose veterans he kept closest contact with over the years. If he was in Class A uniform he was wearing the DMB.

This is a photo of him wearing it home on leave in August 1943 just prior to being assigned to the 99th Infantry Division for combat in Europe. The shipping ticket for the medal shows the cost of the medal...$13.95!!

The other photo shows him after WW II, Korea, and Vietnam, still proudly displaying his DMB. Also the original award orders.

After retiring in 1971, it remained on his uniform hanging in the closet and he never found occasion to put it on again until he was buried wearing it in 1983.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Aug 18 at 2017 10:15 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 10:15:42 -0400

You described correctly those unit related accoutrement that you have not earned the right to display as an individual. If you wear the uniform at an appropriate event, it should be a snapshot of your appearance on that last day, consistent with the uniform regs and in compliance with grooming regs of your branch. One question that came up when I had my medals remounted was an apparent change in devices on the air medal since I retired. When the vendor asked me if I wanted the devices to reflect current orders, I opted to retain those that were designated on the award documents I was given at the time. Don't know if that was as current regs read, but didn't see that I was otherwise authorized to wear the new devices and went with my last individual "orders".

Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made Oct 27 at 2017 12:42 AM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 00:42:18 -0400

That would be my assumption, since you can neither upgrade or downgrade the awad by going to the range after separation. You earned it. Keep it. I don't think you'll be court marshaled :-)

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made Jan 12 at 2018 4:07 PM

1LT Peter Duston — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 16:07:36 -0500

Absolutely authorized! Wear with pride. Qualification badges are listed or supposed to be listed on the DD214

Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made Jan 12 at 2018 4:10 PM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 16:10:45 -0500

I would say yes. If it's on your DD214, you are covered.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2018 2:30 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 02:30:01 -0400

If it was awarded and there is nothing prohibiting it, wear it you earned it.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2018 1:03 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 01:03:07 -0400

Where’s the complete sentence, let alone the question mark?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2018 7:34 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Dec 2018 19:34:45 -0500

Wear it however you want as long you earned it. Im sorry, but if youre retired you deserve to wear the last marksmanship you earned.

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 4 at 2019 4:36 PM

SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 16:36:00 -0400

Maybe at a Military Event.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Sep 10 at 2019 7:18 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:18:50 -0400

Well, you’re retired so who going to frig with you? Just tell them you’ll take into advisement and extract yourself from that a.o. SGT.

Response by SSG Kenneth Ponder made Sep 23 at 2019 2:58 PM

SSG Kenneth Ponder — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 14:58:40 -0400

Hell no! You're out, you no longer have a dog in this fight.

Response by SGM J Bergquist made Oct 16 at 2019 8:43 AM

SGM J Bergquist — Wed, 16 Oct 2019 08:43:29 -0400

I'm retired US Army also and that's how I see it, so the qualifications badges stay on! SGM to SGM tell me why I'm wrong?

Response by PO1 John Johnson made Jul 9 at 2022 6:07 AM

PO1 John Johnson — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 06:07:55 -0400

If you earned it, you can wear it.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jul 9 at 2022 6:11 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 06:11:48 -0400

I do wear My service ribbons on my American Legion Uniform as shown in this picture on ceremonies I participate in within the Legion including formal l post meetings, funeral's of Veteran', Memorial day and Veteran's day ceremonies. Other than that I don't wear them at all. My Air Force issue uniform, although it still fits fine the last time I wore it was the day I retired from the USAF where I wore it for 22 years. Currently My Military uniform hangs in a closet and is in good condition I will not even consider wearing the Air Force uniform unless I meet ALL the standards or wear down to the finest detail. The same applies to My old Civil Air Patrol, USAF Auxiliary uniform which I wore for 40 years which also still hangs in a closet, still fits and is in good condition. The large hanging medals, I wore only the day the were issued, they re still in the boxes they were either presented to Me with or issued depending on the medal. They sit in those original boxes and when I pass on I'll leave them to My oldest son who is the family member that will take care of them and appreciate them.