What holds more weight, the ribbons on your DD-214 or the ribbons in your SRB?

Cpl James Fay — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 21:14:29 -0400

I was discharged from active duty from the marines in 1991. My DD-214 shows a handful of ribbons I rated, but not all. I ordered my full SRB through the archives. In my SRB, were all of the ribbons that rated and I wore while active and some I received that I didn't know about. Questions is: Am I only authorized to wear the ribbons that are shown on my DD-214, or, can I wear the ribbons that are in my SRB?? I ask because I belong to a Marine Corps League detachment and wear my medals/ribbons on that uniform.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Jul 9 at 2018 9:20 PM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 21:20:55 -0400

I believe you are authorized to wear all ribbons annotated on in your SRB as the DD-214 only contains awards received during that time of active duty. In other words if a soldier is in the Guards or Reserves and unless they were called to active duty they would not receive a DD-214.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2018 8:23 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 08:23:55 -0400

I just recently updated my ORB and had to get all original paperwork for my awards and schools and whatnot. Even though the awards were listed on my DD-214. But they wouldn't take that as "proof". So based on that, I'd go by the SRB.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2018 9:49 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 09:49:04 -0400

Dude you have a DD-214 why is this even a question, wear whatever you earned with pride, no one can stop you, If you earned it, and have the certificate wear it with pride regardless if it is on your 214 or SRB. It's the certificate that is the really important document.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Jul 10 at 2018 10:23 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 10:23:49 -0400

There is a form you can submit to adjust your DD214 to reflect additional awards or decorations not included in the original. This has happened with several of my friends and their retirement LOMs. It will take me a minute to locate the form number as I can't remember it off the top of my head.
You are authorized to wear what ever you have earned. Just be sure you have orders, an ERB or other documentation that supports your claim. Personally I prefer orders as while the ERB is an official document they have no signature verifying authenticity where as orders have numbers and signatures that can be verified under scrutiny.
I have 10 AAMs; so I have to wear two AAM ribbons or violate the rules on the number of oak leaves on a ribbon. I have a two racks set up, one with the two and one with a silver and four oak leaves on one. Never been questioned on the five oak leaves " which is technically incorrect " but frequently have to pull out the excerpt from the reg and DD214 that I carry in my pocket and answer "why I have two of the same ribbon" which is the proper wear but looks odd.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Jul 10 at 2018 11:10 AM

SGT Tony Clifford — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 11:10:20 -0400

Well, your ERB has information on it that your dd214 is missing. Use your ERB to update your DD214 and then the issue doesn't exist. As for your ribbons, use the ERB until the DD214 is updated.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2018 8:34 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 20:34:52 -0400

The DD214 is actually not considered a 'source document's while still serving although it is treated as gospel when you leave. You can take the 214 and the SRB and request a DD215 to update. This way you're covered if anyone in the MCL challenges you.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 11 at 2018 10:26 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 10:26:40 -0400

Update the DD-214, cause it is the only thing that counts when you get out.

Response by SSG Ralph Watkins made Jul 11 at 2018 6:00 PM

SSG Ralph Watkins — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 18:00:34 -0400

I gave up on fixing my DD-214 when I was about the retire. Sent it back three times. I had an active duty one from being RA & then when I went into the Guard & deployed to Iraq, they had everything screwed up on my second DD-214. I swear the clerks from the NGB learned how to type in AIT & that was about it. During one re-do of my DD-214, it seems they got me mixed up with somebody else's records. Yes, they can be that incompetent. One of these days I will get around to getting it fixed yet again.

Response by SFC Raymond Garcia made Jul 11 at 2018 8:32 PM

SFC Raymond Garcia — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 20:32:56 -0400

The dd214 is a an official document and you need to update it. It’s not to hard if you have a VA office near by. However, not all of us do. So you can use a DD215 to request the correction of a DD 214. Now, you will need the orders for the awards missing. If you don’t have a VA office near by you can mail the information as followed:
You can submit your requests in letter format (dated and with signature) or on a Standard Form 180, (download form in .PDF format).

Mail your request to:
Commander
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
ATTN: AHRC-PDR-H/Dept 420
1600 Spearhead Division Ave
Fort Knox, KY 40122.

Outside the active, guard or reserve components the DD 214 is the only official document that is used to verify. Hope this helps out good luck.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2019 12:03 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 00:03:50 -0500

You will have to get your DD214 corrected to reflect the awards that were not annotated. The DD214 is your military history that holds the most weight because all branches and GS/civil service employee will only utilize the DD214 as the source document. When the awards are on the SRB but not the DD214, it leaves room for suspicious questions. I hope this helps...Good Luck to you...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2019 3:46 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 03:46:29 -0500

Submit SF180, or letter, along with supporting documents to request a DD215.
Addresses are included on the SG180.

Response by SP5 John Anderson made Sep 8 at 2020 8:33 PM

SP5 John Anderson — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 20:33:37 -0400

My generation (RVN) dictated that the awards must be on my DD-214 to wear them. If the awards are not on the DD-214, I have to request that DoD update my records to reflect the awards.

Response by CPL Joseph Elinger made Oct 15 at 2020 4:16 PM

CPL Joseph Elinger — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 16:16:05 -0400

SRB?

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 15 at 2020 6:16 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 18:16:58 -0400

I’d go with the SRB. It’s an official government record. If anybody asks tell them you’re wearing what your service authorized. Unless it looks strange or excessive I can’t imagine anybody asking.