What uncommon awards did you earn while in the service?

1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) - It's quite the experience but pretty much any pipeline you attend at MWTC is. They have Summer and Winter formal training packages and they also throw together Unit Training packages that are more Mission specific for where they may be going. They also have some unique training like high altitude Medicine, Mountain Sniper, Animal Packing and a few others. It's hard training but it's absolutely beautiful up there and the staff are amazing. True professionals. Top Tier outdoorsman. The kind of guys that are late to a morning brief because they shot an Elk or Deer off their back porch drinking their morning coffee and had to field dress it before they came in. It's a badge of honor grabbing a beer or burger after a training evolution at the bar on base there named the Pickel Chalet.

Not a device or badge but I took the USMC Brig Chaser - Escort class at Camp Pendleton in the early 80’s.

Probably not one of the easiest assignments you had in your career...

1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) - Fortunately I only had to escort two individuals to the Brig during my active duty days in the Corps. Neither caused any problems and cooperated completely with me and my chaser partner.

1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) - Not really that many AUTHORIZED bars. Just 19 right now, unless one has been added since the last time I downloaded the DA Pam. And with a limit of 3 bars under each marksmanship badge.

There are a few authorized bars that probably ought to be dropped. There is at least one that some units regularly award with a total disregard for any official qualification standard.

Bayonet training is no longer included in Army Basic Training. Flame Throwers were discontinued in 1978. Some of the other 17 bars are "marginally" valid. However, Bayonet and Flame Thrower need to be trashed...

1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) - The TANK WEAPONS bar needs to go away too. The marksmanship badge is for individual marksmanship, not for crew performance. Originally that bar was tied to performance on Tank Tables I, II, and III which were individual exercises. Units either stopped conducting them entirely or quit scoring them long ago. The some units stopped awarding the Tank Weapons bar, other units continued awarding it based on CREW qualification. The Army has not had any official standard for individual marksmanship performance for the Tank Weapons bar in decades.

On the other hand, I have long felt that the Army needs some sort of award for excellence in crew/squad level collective training. Events like Tank Crew Qualification and MISPIC should be recognized with something very similar to the marksmanship badges.

1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) - no more bayonet training??

I Could Have Worn 2 Rows Of Ribbons, But Most Were Given The Units Before I Arrived So I Didn't Wear Them ~ My Favorite Was My "Good Conduct Metal" ~ It's More Fun When Ya Don't Get Caught.