Should you be able to wear medals/awards from other services?

2014-03-10T02:17:28-04:00

This past exercise we had some Marine Corps officers that did an awesome job get an ARCOM. Unfortunately they can't wear it. I personally think if another service awards you one, you should get to wear it, especially if you deserve it. I know there are some joint awards, but not the same. Thoughts?

Response by CMC Robert Young made Mar 10 at 2014 3:53 AM

2014-03-10T03:53:56-04:00

If you earned it even if awarded by another service, you should be able to wear it. I understand the desire to protect the heritage of our individual services, but there can't be any harm in recognizing superior performance of members particularly as we do more joint service missions. I have an ARCOM from a joint assignment and am proud of it. It's a great conversation starter as well because people immediately recognize that while within Coast Guard regulations, it's something not typically in the norm for Coast Guard uniforms. Let them wear it. They earned the privilege.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2014 10:49 AM

2014-03-30T10:49:52-04:00

Of course they should! I have seen pictures of Marines wearing ARCOMs during one of their Balls. The Marine in question was Prior service Army. I was odd seeing a Marine E3 rocking ARCOM, AAM, GCM (army type), but he wore them. Anyway of course you should wear what you earned. But Marines do tend to b more guarded then other branches about what you can or cannot wear.

Response by LtCol Dann Chesnut made Apr 17 at 2014 2:57 PM

2014-04-17T14:57:27-04:00

If a Medal is listed on your DD214; you will (or should be) able to wear it in Marine Corps uniform.  Other than that, it is my experience that Marine Corps regs preclude the wearing of other branches of service medals, but oddly enough, not foreign medal. Viet Nam types for example. 

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2014 5:44 PM

2014-04-19T17:44:20-04:00

As everyone else has stated, if you've earned it, you should be able to wear it. I'm not sure what the deal is with the Marine Corp, but it would seem to me that if a Marine was awarded an Army medal for a joint op, if he/she isn't allowed to wear that award, then he/she should be entitled to wear the award the Marine Corps would issue in its equivalent.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 3:59 AM

2014-05-08T03:59:13-04:00

If you earn it, you should be able to wear it. While I don't have any, a good friend has a Coast Guard medal (can't remember which one) that he is allowed to wear.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2014 7:58 AM

2014-05-21T07:58:57-04:00

Within reason the member should be able to wear decorations awarded by other services. Army Service, Air Force Training , and Air Force Longevity Service ribbons aren't necessary to be worn but.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2014 8:14 AM

2014-05-21T08:14:35-04:00

I think that if you earned an award or medal from another branch of service, you should be able to wear it. With more and more joint operations going on and the military trying to have the services by more open with each other, people should be able to wear the medals they earned proudly. It would help with the interactions of the services to see that kind of thing on each others uniforms.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 21 at 2014 8:18 AM

2014-05-21T08:18:17-04:00

ARCOM's are authorized for Marines. The only reason they wouldn't be able to wear it is if the awarding authority did not do their due diligence and go through the process to make the award official. There is an established process by which one service may award members of another service. The process is outlined in AR 600-8-22, para 1-37, to include the addresses for the other services that the awarding official must submit the award to in order to make it official, in para 1-1.

This submission of paperwork to those addresses is needed solely for wartime awards, for peacetime awards, the following applies:

a. Peacetime awards of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), and Army
Achievement Medal (AAM) to a member of another military service permanently assigned to the Army may be
approved by the award approval authority of the Army without concurrence from the other Service concerned.Likewise, members of the Army permanently assigned to other U.S. Service units may be awarded other Service decorations (MSM and below) without seeking concurrence from the Army. A copy of the approved award will be forwarded to the respective other Services’ awards office for permanent records keeping. Recommendations for award of the Legion of Merit (LM) and above will be submitted to the Service Member’s parent

Translation, they can wear it. The MCO does not contradict the AR.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2014 10:00 AM

2014-05-21T10:00:23-04:00

I wish this were the case! I earned my Navy Expert Marksmanship medals for both Rifle and Pistol, and I cant wear them on my ASU's.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2014 7:39 PM

2014-09-07T19:39:43-04:00

Until two weeks ago, for the past 7 years my highest award was an Army Commendation Medal

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2014 8:31 PM

2014-09-07T20:31:49-04:00

I know in the Navy we can wear and earn advancement point for ARCOMS and AAM's. We are one military, awards should be universal.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Sep 7 at 2014 9:34 PM

2014-09-07T21:34:59-04:00

I always thought you could if you earned them from another service. As long as your records showed it I would like to say it is permitted. I have seen a few service members wear other branch medals/ribbons before and thought it was great to showcase them.

Response by CW2 Jonathan Kantor made Sep 8 at 2014 6:52 AM

2014-09-08T06:52:29-04:00

It's service-specific, but I think that an award earned should be an award displayed.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Sep 8 at 2014 7:42 AM

2014-09-08T07:42:38-04:00

You would think by now with joint ops being the rule rather than the exception, they'd have fixed the gaps in the intra service regs for awards. In 2005-6 we had AF and Navy SMs attached to us, We could award them an Army award that they couldn't wear, Couldn't award them a JCOM because it wasn't authorized or had to pass up a Navy award through heir AF/Navy CofC which they may or may not have gotten. Weird to say the least.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2014 8:55 AM

2014-09-08T08:55:49-04:00

Being prior Marine I was authorized to wear my Marine Good Conduct while I was in the Air Force.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2014 9:18 AM

2014-09-08T09:18:36-04:00

I know that I can wear other service awards currently. Those awards take the lower precedence versus the Army equivalent if they happen to be commendation or achievement level. I work on a joint task force and we have Soldiers awarded Air Force Achievement/Commendation and vice versa quite often. It just depends on who does the recommendation.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 8 at 2014 9:28 AM

2014-09-08T09:28:39-04:00

If an individual was awarded a medal or qualification badge from another service, I think it should be allowed to be worn by the awardee, if his/her current service has a similar award that it awards to its members.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2014 9:37 AM

2014-09-08T09:37:47-04:00

USAF authorizes wear of multi-service medals, i.e., AAM/ACM.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Sep 8 at 2014 8:09 PM

2014-09-08T20:09:13-04:00

I absolutely think that someone should be able to wear an award given by another service. If I am working an assignment with the Amy/Coast Guard/Navy/Marines, and they are impressed enough to issue an award based upon that performance, I should be proud of that and be allowed to wear it.

I hate that in my dress uniform, I am unable to wear the marksmanship badges earned in the Corps, but am allowed to wear the Expert Rifle ribbon earned while in the Navy Reserves. The badges look great, and would would definitely look great on the uniform. Oh well, they will look outstanding in the shadow box that will hang on the wall when I retire.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2014 7:10 AM

2014-09-09T07:10:43-04:00

Considering we are able to wear some foreign awards, wearing those from another service seems logical. As long as it is optional, i'm okay with it. Personally I would like to wear LESS.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 7:30 PM

2014-11-13T19:30:05-05:00

Maj Chang, yes, because they aren't just from another branch of service, they are from your Government.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2015 4:46 PM

2015-01-14T16:46:46-05:00

I've always thought if you earned it, you can wear it (not you HAVE to, but CAN, because I know sometimes multiple citations are awarded for the same mission/campaign). I've seen prior-service wearing Good Conduct medals from 2 (and sometimes 3) different services. It can be pretty trippy, lol... IF you ever find yourself in that position, always remember that your CURRENT service's award takes precedence, lol...

Response by Cpl Christopher Bishop made Apr 18 at 2015 6:05 AM

2015-04-18T06:05:07-04:00

I had looked up the regs on this at some point just out of curiosity, and technically it seemed that one could wear everything he/she had earn from all branches, as they are all on the same Federal Awards list/source. However the exception as included in said regs was "Only with commanding officer's consent"

I always wondered WHY any C.O. would go out of their way to disallow prior service awards of any kind. Suppose, for example, a Marine who gave the Corps enough years than when he later went Army or ANG he would be TOO OLD to have joined up...its the prior service years and related experience that allowed him to join after age 28...so why can't he sport all he brought with him from the Corps?

Maybe some of you senior Officers can shed a little light on this?

I understand the example/question above was more about what people earn during any kind of joint-branch activity...and while Id like to hear more about that also, I'm equally interested in those who transition branch-to-branch.

Response by SSG Keven Lahde made Apr 19 at 2015 11:44 PM

2015-04-19T23:44:59-04:00

LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® Sir I think you should. When I was on the Border Mission with the Air Force as a Joint Task Force, Air Force received Army awards and Army received Air Force awards and we are allowed to wear them on our uniforms. So yes I think we should be able too. I even have some Navy ones I am allowed to wear as well.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2015 8:52 PM

2015-04-21T20:52:52-04:00

yes, you should be able to wear it.. since you earned those medals/ribbons

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 6:09 PM

2015-04-23T18:09:47-04:00

That's one thing that the Air Force does right. If we presented an award from another service, we are authorized to wear it. I have an Army Achievement Medal and Army Meritorious Unit Commendation from my deployment, and the Navy Rifle Marksman Medal that I earned while stationed here in Guam and I'm able to wear them. If you earned it, you wear it (for the most part). One of my old First Sergeants was prior Navy and half of his rack was Navy awards. The military is preaching working together/joint ops, if that's the case than why shouldn't a Marine be able to wear the ARCOM he was awarded?

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 12:17 AM

2015-04-24T00:17:31-04:00

I wear mine. My Army Achievement medal means more to me I think than all my AF Commendation medals. I helped out an ADA Battalion (Patriots) while deployed by loading all their equipment shipping containers onto trucks. Turns out the equipment load out and movement was a time sensitive critical op. I didn't know, I just enjoyed doing it. Anyway, a few weeks go by and I was told the Bat Commander was coming over to thank me for the help. I assumed a hand shake and maybe a letter. He came in the room and they started with "Attention to orders..." Some might thing an AAM is insignificant, or that the job I did was insignificant, but that was one of the best damn feelings I ever had...

Response by PO1 Matthew Maxon made Jun 19 at 2015 11:56 AM

2015-06-19T11:56:08-04:00

There was a LCPL who qualified for ESWS on the LSD class ship and was told that he could only wear it on the ship.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 12:37 PM

2015-06-26T12:37:28-04:00

I was able to wear my army medals while I was in the Air Force. The only thing I couldn't wear was things such as marksmanship badges..etc

Response by PFC Bradley Campbell made Jan 1 at 2017 3:07 PM

2017-01-01T15:07:45-05:00

if you earned it on our dime serving in our armed forces, what in the hell is the problem? and generals carry 3 square feet of ribbons?

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2017 3:17 PM

2017-01-01T15:17:08-05:00

I wore the ribbons awarded during my active Air Force time on my Army uniform. I never was called for it.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 1 at 2017 3:18 PM

2017-01-01T15:18:47-05:00

Not really sure what we are talking about here from an Army perspective. DoDI 1348.33, AR 670-1, and AR 600-8-22 all provide for award and wear of US military awards.

AR670-1 22–12. Badges authorized for wear on Army uniforms
A badge is awarded to an individual for identification purposes or for attaining a special skill or proficiency. The criteria for the award of Army badges are contained in AR 600–8–22 and in NGR 601–1 for ARNG recruiting and retention identification badges. Most combat and special skill badges are available in full, miniature, and dress miniature sizes. The following badges are authorized for wear on the Army uniform:
a. Military badges awarded by the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Director of Civilian Marksmanship. (See para 22–12g for additional information.)
b. Badges awarded by the Regular Army and Navy Union, and by the Army and Navy Union of the United States.
c. Marksmanship badges pertaining to national matches and approved by HQDA. Marksmanship badges from other U.S. Services are not authorized for wear on the Army uniform.
d. Badges of civic and quasi-military societies of the United States and international organizations of a military nature. These include badges of organizations originally composed of members who served in a U.S. force during the Revolutionary War; the War of 1812; the Mexican War; the Civil War; the Spanish-American War; the Philippine Insurrection; and the Chinese Relief Expedition of 1900. These also include badges (such as medallions) issued by military (regimental) associations. The badges are worn only while the wearer is actually attending meetings or functions of such organizations, or on occasions of ceremony (as authorized by the commander). Personnel will not wear these badges to and from such meetings or events. Items must be similar to those authorized by AR 670–1 and worn in the same manner.
e. Badges awarded by friendly foreign nations in recognition of military activities and authorized by AR 600–8–22.

AR600-8-22. 1–37. Awards to personnel of other Services
a. Peacetime awards of the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM), and Army Achievement Medal (AAM) to a member of another military service permanently assigned to the Army may be approved by the award approval authority of the Army without concurrence from the other Service concerned. Likewise, members of the Army permanently assigned to other U.S. Service units may be awarded other Service decorations (MSM and below) without seeking concurrence from the Army. A copy of the approved award will be forwarded to the respective other Services’ awards office for permanent records keeping. Recommendations for award of the Legion of Merit (LM) and above will be submitted to the Service Member’s parent service for consideration and processing.
b. For personnel assigned temporarily between the Services, the other Service may recommend the MSM and below by forwarding the recommendation directly to the service member’s permanent command for action/concurrence. The award must be approved prior to obtaining concurrence. Addresses for the other Services are provided in table 1–1 below.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2017 1:48 PM

2017-05-06T13:48:22-04:00

Ideally there should be a universal order of precedence the branches (I think there is one but have not been able to locate it). Another method could be for each branch set an order of precedence for their branch to include a proper location for these Awards. In either case that order/directive has to come from the Secretary of Defense.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2017 8:00 PM

2017-05-12T20:00:05-04:00

I'm in the Air Force and wear an Army Achievement medal on my uniform. In fact a number of people I know have sister service medals and wear them.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Jun 14 at 2017 5:15 PM

2017-06-14T17:15:21-04:00

Did I miss something? I always thought those who served in another branch of service were entitled to wear any of those awards-I've certainly seen it occur several times over my years of service.

Response by SPC(P) Mark Newman made Aug 19 at 2017 8:07 AM

2017-08-19T08:07:52-04:00

Marine & Navy are so linked, I could see that working fine. But just sharing willy nilly? No, sorry. These are different organizations. If I Receive a recognition as a law enforcement officer, I know it doesn't belong on my Army Class As. And I wouldn't put a Good Conduct ribbon on my hypothetical deputy's uniform.

Response by CWO4 Frank Williams made Dec 24 at 2017 1:56 PM

2017-12-24T13:56:23-05:00

Marines can and do wear ARCOMs as well as other services personal awards.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2017 5:26 PM

2017-12-24T17:26:10-05:00

Must be a USMC thing. In the USAF, we wear medals presented to us by other branches. Our regs (AFI 36-2903) demand that we wear "all or none." I have a Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal on my chest.

Response by MSG John Hundahl made Dec 25 at 2017 9:27 PM

2017-12-25T21:27:53-05:00

In the Army, many an ex-marine wore the Combat Action Ribbon awarded by the USMC.

Response by SSgt Joseph Clinton made Jan 4 at 2018 8:43 PM

2018-01-04T20:43:03-05:00

Only if you earned them

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2018 5:16 PM

2018-02-03T17:16:05-05:00

You may notice that Cheery Puller wore the Distinguished Service Cross awarded to him by the US Army. You can indeed wear awards from other branches with some exceptions.

Response by CPO Jerry Lawrence made Jun 4 at 2018 5:58 AM

2018-06-04T05:58:48-04:00

I can't speak for the corps but some of my Seabees were awarded the ARCOM along with other awards and the Navy never had a problem with it.

Response by Lt Col George Roll made Jun 16 at 2018 12:20 AM

2018-06-16T00:20:03-04:00

I served in AF and Joint units while on 30 years of Active Duty. In my experience when a member of one service is given an award from another service the award is accepted and the appropriate ribbon is worn in accordance with the honorees service order of precidence. I was awarded the ARCOM, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Navy Expert Marksmanship pistol and Rifle medals. Other awards I was not allowed to wear were ones that had no counterpart in my branch.
So I think there are certain awards that can be worn by other services.

Response by CWO4 Frank Williams made Jun 17 at 2018 9:07 AM

2018-06-17T09:07:03-04:00

Any award earned should be authorized regardless of service for wear.

Response by SSG Kenneth Ponder made Jun 17 at 2018 8:30 PM

2018-06-17T20:30:31-04:00

All they have to do is request permission if its denied sick it up and live with it or change branches

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jun 18 at 2018 10:28 AM

2018-06-18T10:28:52-04:00

Must be a Marine thing if true. My daughter is in Navy Reserve and proudly wears the awards she earned as an enlisted person in the ANG. Worked with several prior service aircrew who wore their Army awards on AF uniform.

Response by SSG Michael Johnson made Aug 1 at 2018 8:25 PM

2018-08-01T20:25:41-04:00

I went through hell with this problem. I was prior service Army, switched to Navy(FMF), then after 6 yrs of that, back to Army. CAR from first Gulf War, no combat unit patch( USMC doesn’t have them) AAM,NAM, FMF NUC, MUC, and PUC, army promotion board threw me out because they didn’t like my awards, then threw me out because I didn’t wear them, 4th time at board, I brought the regs, to include the updates.

Response by Sgt James Lunkenheimer made Apr 19 at 2019 5:44 PM

2019-04-19T17:44:43-04:00

I was in the Marine Corps from 81-85 and received a Good conduct ribbon and Sea Service Deployment. I was in the Army NG from 2000-2002 and Received an Army Achievement Medal/ribbon and the Global War on Terrorism Medal/ribbon. Am I allowed to wear them together on my Dress Blues?

Response by CWO4 Frank Williams made Oct 1 at 2019 8:05 PM

2019-10-01T20:05:17-04:00

I was awarded an AF Achievement Medal for Deny Flight and was authorized to wear it as a Marine Officer. If the award is properly entered into the service record it is authorized for wear.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Monk made Nov 10 at 2019 7:18 PM

2019-11-10T19:18:25-05:00

My sister (AF) is very proud to wear the ARCOM she was awarded while deployed with 4th ID to Iraq. I also was proud of my Marine Combat Patch from my time attached to UCMJ in Fallujha, though I've been told the Army no longer authorizes it. I feel what you earn you keep and should be displayed or you should at east have a choice. My wings matter more than some of my medals and ribbons so I choose them rather than more rows of medals.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2020 4:24 PM

2020-02-09T16:24:57-05:00

I believe this is incorrect. I’ve seen numerous Marines wear other service and even certain foreign awards.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2020 6:16 AM

2020-02-27T06:16:48-05:00

MCO 1020.34 H (excerpt)
Chapter 5

Section 1: General

5100. AUTHORIZATION

1. Marines may wear those awards described in the Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST 1650.1), when authorized by the designated awarding authority.

2. Marines who receive awards from other services, or departments of the United States Government; or from foreign governments or other agencies may wear such awards on the Marine Corps uniform only as authorized herein.

3. Marines who served in or were attached to another branch of the U.S. military services and received a decoration, unit award, or service award of comparable criteria to one issued by the naval service may wear the award on Marine Corps uniforms, unless otherwise prohibited by these regulations.

4. Examples of other U.S. service awards which are not authorized include: marksmanship medals/ribbons (Navy/Coast Guard/Air Force), USAF Outstanding Airman of the Year, USAF Recognition Ribbon, USAF Longevity Service Award, NCO Professional Development/Education ribbons (Army/Air Force), Army Service/USAF training ribbons.

5. The Combat Infantryman's Badge, Combat Medical Badge, and Combat Action Badge are not authorized for wear on the Marine Corps uniform. Upon submission of evidence to their commanding officer, personnel who are awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge may be authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon. Since the eligibility criteria for the Combat Action Badge is not comparable to that of the Combat Action Ribbon, personnel who were awarded the Combat Action Badge are not authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon.

6. Officers suspended from grade and command, and enlisted personnel serving sentence of confinement will not wear any awards.

7. Marines will not wear awards on the boat cloak, cape, tanker jacket, AWC, service or dress sweater, utility uniform, or the maternity work uniform.

Response by Maj Edward Knox made Dec 9 at 2020 10:58 PM

2020-12-09T22:58:54-05:00

I proudly wear the Navy/Marine Corp Presidential Unit Citation given to any aircrew member who landed at Khe Sahn during the siege. The 3rd Marines were gracious enough to add all of us "Mortar Magnets" to the list of those so awarded.