What awards/badges can prior service wear on Army uniforms?

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 21:34:43 -0500

When I was in the Navy, I was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. Do I wear them on the Army uniform when I go back in? I was a member of the crew when the ships earned the awards.

I also earned my Enlisted Submarine Warfare qualification "Dolphins" and have seen other prior service wear them on their Army uniforms. Are they following regs or just wearing them anyway?

I have looked at AR 670-1, but it's not very clear about awards/decorations earned in another service.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 10:16 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 22:16:06 -0500

Check out DA-Pam 670-1. section 22.5 Order of Precedence. It shows the order of similar awards by branch, as well as, compared to other awards.

The unit awards are also listed in the next group. Both of the ones you have are on the list, so they are authorized by my read. I did note in AR 670-1 that "marksmanship badges from other US services are not authorized for wear on the Army uniform" (para 22-12, c). I don;t know if the "Dolphins" fall under that or not.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Dec 28 at 2014 11:26 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 23:26:04 -0500

Years ago I had a book that described if you were going from X service to Y service what you could wear and what you could not. Each branch of service does award transfers differently.

I clearly remember that marksmanship badges from other services do not transfer to the Army.

However, regulations do change so what may have been unauthorized 14 years ago may be ok now.

My recommendation is that you contact the awards branch at Human Resources Command (HRC) and address the awards situation.

https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/Awards%20and%20Decorations%20Branch

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 11:38 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 23:38:37 -0500

After more research (after some direction, thanks to those who've commented so far), it looks like my Dolphins qualify as a Combat and Special Skill Badge, though I am unsure of which group (it looks like Group 1, but I'm not positive), and I'll probably have to route a 4187 to wear them.

Response by PO3 Brendan O'Gara made Aug 18 at 2015 11:36 AM

PO3 Brendan O'Gara — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 11:36:45 -0400

what ever they get put into their contract

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Apr 26 at 2016 1:41 AM

Capt Michael Greene — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 01:41:52 -0400

I boosted my career by being out of regs. In the Navy, I had earned wings as an enlisted man. When I joined the AF as an O, the reg specifically said not to wear wings of other services. WHAT! No way. I wore Navy wings "illegally." When I arrived at my first duty station, I was sitting in the cheap seats at a command meeting, when the Wing Commander noticed those big gold wings. "Where'd you get those?" He asked. As a result, I was assigned to a special project coordinating with the Navy, and I earned a good reputation for getting it done. Real good ego boost for a butterbar. Wore those wings until I retired.

Response by SGT David Stead made Jul 28 at 2016 3:03 PM

SGT David Stead — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 15:03:09 -0400

I was USN 1988 to 1994, USA 1994 to 2000, USAF 2000 to 2005 and USA from 2005 to 2008. Unit Awards are worn the same way as Army Unit Awards. on the left side of the Jacket.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 14 at 2018 3:43 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 15:43:33 -0500

I was a FMF corpsman with approved FMF ribbon and FMF insignia. Am I authorized to wear the enlisted FMF insignia on my uniform if I have appropriate orders and DD-214 documentation?

Response by PO3 James Bobiney made Jul 31 at 2018 2:55 PM

PO3 James Bobiney — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 14:55:43 -0400

Can a retired or Veteran military member wear a Masonic breast badge on their Class A's or Mess Dress? Where would I find such info?

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Response by MAJ John Eckholm made Nov 6 at 2019 3:15 PM

MAJ John Eckholm — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 15:15:31 -0500

When I switched from the Navy to Army I was not allowed to wear my FMF device which is in line with Dolphins.

Response by Maj J B made Feb 28 at 2020 5:09 PM

Maj J B — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 17:09:11 -0500

Yes, absolutely. I believe as long as there is an equivalent award you can wear it.

For instance prior service Army could not where the basic training ribbon, but they could where personal awards.

Response by CPL Joseph Elinger made Mar 1 at 2020 8:58 PM

CPL Joseph Elinger — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:58:16 -0500

Awards given to Unit, but not individual / orders / DD214, would NOT carry over from Unit to Unit (even if the Unit earned it during your tenure). Combat Zone Awards, & tenure stripes ok. Training Badges, Patches, & Ribbons, yes.

Response by CW5 Mark Smith made Dec 4 at 2020 10:49 AM

CW5 Mark Smith — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 10:49:06 -0500

USMC to Army. Had to move PUC, NUC, and two VN UCs to the right side. Ribbons mixed with UCs (now with large metal frames) looked dumb but "when in Rome.....".

Response by Cpl Bernard Bates made Jan 8 at 2022 8:56 AM

Cpl Bernard Bates — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 08:56:11 -0500

Any award you received in another branch of the service should be automatic, afterall its the same country you swore to defend against all enemies foreign and domestic and fight for the constitution of the United States of America. Semper Fi.