Should the DoD redesign its medals and ribbons policy and precedence to give more importance to valor than "good work"?

I wish we could wear our highest ribbon, campaign ribbon, and our occupational badge. I have worn service dress 2 times in 16 years so what do I know?

Ike had many ribbons, he chose for this picture to wear only 3. The Navy wears 3 to differentiate a work uniform from a semi dress one. Wearing many ribbons is not vanity as much as showing fellow service iceman and women what they can aspire to. Ike was as Maj. A planner and Administrator prior to WII, His rise did not involve close combat. General Petraus served in combat at many levels before commanding our forces in Iraq and directing the surge. There are many more opertunities to earn medals and combat awards in today's Military.

Most of us returned from Viet Nam with 3 or 4 ribbons, about the same for my dad in WWII (4ID Europe). So what happened? Viet Nam spawned "the packet". The Army began the packet to include the Bronze Star plus the others. The wear of unit citations above the right pocket was intended for the one or two that exiisted. The other branches, in their wisdom, left them altogether. Then, of course, came the foreign jump wings, DUI, etc. There are now awards (at least ribbons) for everything. The Army uniform is the worst of them all for clutter, but the Navy and AF wins for longevity awards, shooting awards, etc. Just clean it up! All awards on the left side, no DUIs or branch or foreign jump wings on the right. Why do we award combat patches if you don't actually serve in a combat zone? Example; serving in Kuwait when the war was in Iraq and Afghanistan? My four ribbons from Viet Nam tripled (or quadrupled) before serving in Iraq. There are "attaboy" awards for everything. I like the Navy's unofficial tradition of only wearing their "high three", much like Ike did. Inflation and junk. We look ridiculous.

Vietnam Era, 10 years of service. Unit Com with O, GCM, Nat Def, Arctic Service and Isolated Duty.

A bit off question but funny- as a young Cpl at camp pendleton at the NCO club 24 area I felt a disturbance in the crowd, looked up and there in class A's salt & pepper hair and a full board of ribbons, PFC Chevrons! OOPS somebody was a bad boy :-)

I say tighten up on those awards most associated with combat/valor such as the bronze star and up. But you'll still want awards for doing the day/peacetime job as well.

The Marines tends to be a little stingy with awards in general, unless you work in a headquarters. I think more troops below battalion level need more attention, I just don't know how to get them that attention.

Regardless, and I hate saying this, ribbons, medals, and citations are cheap in comparison to bonuses and they motivate the troops, so keep on giving them out, but make sure pogues like I was aren't given disproportionate amounts compared to troops further away from the flagpole.

How about create a participation ribbon, I showed up ribbon, wait a minute, they already did. Most of the ribbons I recieved were a "I was there or did that ribbon". The best award that I recieved was my health and able to retire from the Military, every thing else is fruit salad to keep straight on my uniform. I was at allot of places, allot of good times, thanks for that Award, that was the best one.

Good discussion, I’m for fewer ‘participation trophies’, but I doubt that will happen. Here’s a different view of it....

Reduce ribbons and medals. If you give the same thing out for every occasion, it loses Its value. Its becoming equivalent to a participant trophy.

There is a V device for a reason