Posted on Mar 20, 2014
Should I wear a marksmanship badge when separated/retired from the Army?
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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
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
Posted in these groups: 
Marksmanship
Badges
Marksmanship Badges
Edited 6 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 25
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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. :-)
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SFC Ernest Thurston
My thinking is that if you earned it wear it. While on active duty technically if you qualify as expert and later qualify as a marksman you should change the badge to reflect what is in your official training record. But once you exit the military you will not be officially re-qualifying, so the last award would be your authorized award. Wear it proudly.
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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.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you sergeant for posting. You're last point regarding the MOH recipients is something I had not considered, but I think I will keep the badge on my uniform. I despise a lot of the Army "flair" that has accumulated on my rack, but my marksmanship badge is something that I can truly say I earned. Short of me finding a reg that puts separated soldiers into the exempt category, it will stay.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I had always been told that marksmanship badges expire after one year (which is why you have to requalify each year). However, AR 600-8-22 para 1-31 c. (11) states that a badge is revoked only when "an individual, upon completion of firing a record course for which the previous award was made, has not attained the same qualification".
Since you don't complete the qualification course in retirement, I don't see any reason why you couldn't wear it aside from the fact that it is not customary to do so.
Since you don't complete the qualification course in retirement, I don't see any reason why you couldn't wear it aside from the fact that it is not customary to do so.
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SFC David Pope, MBA
MAJ (Join to see) - On separation from the Army I had received a briefing on proper wear of the class A uniform by retirees. In the briefing they stated that unlike active duty or reserve soldiers, you are authorized to wear the marksmanship badge that is shown on your DD-214 for life, unless you return to duty and receive an adjusted DD-214 that has a more recent qualification. I have two DD-214's that have two different marksmanship badges. I was invited to a Redleg social, and this discussion came up. My long time friend and retired Master Sgt told me to wear the better one, because nobody is going to do a uniform inspection on a retired senior NCO.
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1SG (Join to see)
Maj, TRADOC reg says you have to qualify once per year. AR670-1 says you wear the last one you qualified. That's where the confusion comes in. TRADOC reg has no mention of wearing marksmanship badges. I shot expert with a pistol in 2005. I qualified with the M16 every year after. I wear the pistol tab and always will. I qualified expert with the Grenade in basic, but don't have the paperwork to prove it so I took it off...
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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.
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.
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CW3 Harvey K.
The statement in the regs about those soldiers "exempt from qualification by Army regulations" suggests it applies to active (or "non-retired") service members, who for some unspecified reason, are not required to qualify. That, in contrast with the retired service members who are not so much "exempt" from qualification, but rather whose retired status no longer requires them to either fire for qualification nor fall in for a formation.
I once coached a Chaplin through pistol qualification. He told me that the Army left it up to the individual in his category to decide for himself about weapons qualification. I suspect another category would be Medics, but I have no knowledge if that is the case.
I once coached a Chaplin through pistol qualification. He told me that the Army left it up to the individual in his category to decide for himself about weapons qualification. I suspect another category would be Medics, but I have no knowledge if that is the case.
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SSG Richard Daugherty
SSG DAWG I am very proud, of my 20 years of service, I understand, that my "Dress Greens" are out dated, but on special occasions,I still where them, which is cool, that they still fit (I went "Retired Reserve"13 years,ago)I will not "Alter" anything about that Uniform, to include, Badges and Ribbons,I, EARNED, everyone of them.Jus say'n
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MAJ (Join to see)
You are authorized to wear last qualification. AR 670-1 and DA Pam 670. As far as officers are concerned, in the reg it shows officer wearing marksmanship badges. Mine are permanent awards as I have earned Presidents Hundred, Distinguished Pistol, Interservice badge, and bronze rifle EIC. But I always wore my qual badges before I earned the others
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MAJ (Join to see)
As for the SSI badge (now that we are in ASU and not Class A's) they actually make a US Army Retired badge that goes on your uniform
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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.
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.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I have mine too. (although not the 14k gold one) Halfway to my Distinguished Rifle Badge now. I plan on being buried with mine as well. (as I have a copy to leave to my children) Awesome that you know what the badge is and means.
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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.
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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".
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
You were proper keeping the decorations and uniform as IAW the requirements during Your time of service. Currently even obsolete uniforms can also be worn provided they are worn in compliance with the standards of wear required at the time of Your service. The last time I actually wore my issue uniform was the day of My retirement, it hangs in a closet and all the decoration's etc. are still on it, it still fits fine but I won't even consider wearing it unless i meet all the standards of wear right down to the last item. I do wear My service ribbons on my American Legion uniform on formal occasions and ceremonies with the Legion but the hanging medals I wore only once the day they were issued and still have them in the issue boxes. When i pass on someday I'm leaving them to My oldest son Who is the one family Member that would place the most value on them and appreciate the items.
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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.
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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.
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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 :-)
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