Posted on Feb 20, 2018
What is everyone's thought on wearing service ribbons in rows of 4 rather than the usual rows of 3?
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DA PAM 670-1 is the Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and paragraph 20–6.a.(2) states that "The determination of whether three or four ribbons are worn in each row is based upon the size of the coat and the position of the lapel." That said, the only photos I can find of people switching from the standard 3-across rack to the "grande" version are General Officers, Command Sergeants Major, and other ultra-senior service members.
I've been considering going big for a while to help with my OCD regarding alignment (4 across is a nearly identical width to the pocket), and now with the addition of 2 more hero medals, I'm starting think that it makes sense to go wide before I end up with a CIB on my shoulder!
Curious to get the group's throughs. Is 4-across something that people have seen in the real (non-Pentagon) world? Does it give off an air of pretentiousness or elitism that one may want to avoid? Does it risk giving some CSM a turrets tick because one of these things is not like the other? Or is it something that literally nobody has ever or will ever put this much thought into again.
I say again... OCD.
Thanks for the insight!
I've been considering going big for a while to help with my OCD regarding alignment (4 across is a nearly identical width to the pocket), and now with the addition of 2 more hero medals, I'm starting think that it makes sense to go wide before I end up with a CIB on my shoulder!
Curious to get the group's throughs. Is 4-across something that people have seen in the real (non-Pentagon) world? Does it give off an air of pretentiousness or elitism that one may want to avoid? Does it risk giving some CSM a turrets tick because one of these things is not like the other? Or is it something that literally nobody has ever or will ever put this much thought into again.
I say again... OCD.
Thanks for the insight!
Ribbons
Awards
Medals
Dress Uniform
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 39
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The reason most people go to four-across is because they have so many that it is as you say: it's either that or wear your CIB on your shoulder. I'm my humble opinion, wearing four across with only two or three rows looks kinda silly. But that's just my opinion.
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I wore my medals four across when I only had four medals; it looked better than wearing them with the lone medal on the second row. After I earned a few more, I wore my medals in rows of three. It really depends on personal preference and if you have the chest for it (if your chest is wide enough and has pockets wide enough to not look like an idiot with a wide rack). I would just say that you should use your best judgment; if someone thinks that you look like an idiot they will more than likely tell you.
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Once I got to 13 ribbons, I started aligning left and going four across. It minimizes covering things up under the lapel, and frankly looks better. This is less important for normal wear, but matters quite a bit for a DA photo, since you want the Promotion Board to see your accomplishments.
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CPT (Join to see)
13 is the number that triggered this conversation! I tend to agree that 4 across actually helps UNhide things, especially when you taper up 4-4-3-3-2...
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I thought the four across looked better and I hate the idea of fluffing up my awards. The four also just matches the pocket really well and makes aligning a badge very easy and if the badge is tall the lesser height of the rack means you will have to justify less and if you to justify, the badges(s) will be all the more visible.
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SFC (Join to see)
...but yes's I wore 3 across with the spaces because of potential CSM "tick". Didn't want to be that tall Blade of grass.
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I think most folks should stick with the 3-across rows. If your chest measurement is large enough that the right-most ribbons on the 4-across aren't obscured by the lapel, then go for it if you want. Another reason would be a military member who had so many rows of ribbons that they pushed qualification badges actually up to the shoulder seam of the uniform jacket or under the shoulder loop on shirts, or Air Force or Marine class A uniforms.
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It’s all about presentation. As some other members already stated, going to rows of four makes a great deal of sense when the change reduces clutter on the uniform and creates a neater appearance. Once we start approaching a rack of 20 - 24 ribbons, the CIB/CAB/EIB/EFMB etc...end up just below the shoulder boards and we end up looking like a South American dictator. Ultimately, it’s the wearer’s call, but I think it serves a purpose.
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I'm a rather large individual, in my younger years I sported a 52" chest. Being, at that time, a high speed NCO who was a winner of several NCO boards I knew the refs concerning the wear of 3 or 4 ribbons across, so for one board a was preparing and had my jacket hung up when my PSG came in the room to check on me. I thought he was going to shit himself into a coronary when he saw I had a 4 wide double stack.
But I've also mostly seen GO's and senior E-9's that wear the 4 across, I feel it depends on the size of the uniform jacket, and placement, for females.
But units have their own SOP's when it comes to this as well I've found on a couple occasions.
But I've also mostly seen GO's and senior E-9's that wear the 4 across, I feel it depends on the size of the uniform jacket, and placement, for females.
But units have their own SOP's when it comes to this as well I've found on a couple occasions.
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I've never been a fan of the 4-stack. It looks messy to me having uneven rows that are off centered like in that example photo. 3 until you have less looks cleaner and my preferred look.
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This is interesting, I’ve never considered the rows of four until you mentioned it. I’ll have to find a rack and see what it looks like. One of the things I like about the row of four is the uniformity above the pocket it provides, removing that weird gap on each side of the pocket seam.
Now if they could only fix the cheap quality of the uniform. The pocket on mine becomes angled towards the edge making the whole rack look tilted.
Now if they could only fix the cheap quality of the uniform. The pocket on mine becomes angled towards the edge making the whole rack look tilted.
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CPT (Join to see)
I’ve got the same funky pocket stitching. Actually use the pins on the rack to force-align the pocket a bit. Doesn’t matter though, we’ll all be forced to buy new uniforms again soon enough
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MSgt Gerald Orvis
Used to have the same problem in the Marine Corps, with the top of the pocket flap slightly curved. Of course, that necessitated a trip to the tailor to get it straightened, otherwise one couldn't align one's shooting badges properly at 1/8" above the pocket flap edge, and the lower edge of the ribbons 1/8" above that.
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I rarely see ribbon racks four across. Usually the people that where four across are stacked with medals.
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So, for those who were following the headline news that is my ribbon rack, I finally bit the bullet and bought the 4-across model. The photo comparison below doesn’t do it justice (less hidden ribbons when worn vs. on a hanger), but I’m pretty darn happy with the shift that a wider rack affords to the badges above. No longer is my CIB maintaining proper cover and concealment! Bit a final decision by any means, still toying with the layout. Sad that the DA Pam calls for the bottom two rows to be the same width — this would make for a perfect 4-3-3-2-2 stack if that weren’t the case.
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CW3 (Join to see)
I am needing to go four wide simply because my lapel covers more than half on rows 3 & 4 otherwise. I have searched online for a 4 row mounting option. All I can find is the thin ribbons, which I don't like particularly. Where were you able to find a 4 row with space? Thanks in advance.
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I think it's a good idea if you have over 6 rows or more with a three bar (or 18+ individual ribbons). When you only have a handful of awards though it looks silly. If you're gonna do rows of 4, you should have a massive rack to justify it...
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I have only known a couple folks who wore the 4 ribbon rows and even then only a couple rows were 4 wide due to the lapel hiding ribbons. They were well and highly decorated, as they were Rangers and SF and had participated in most of the fun and games from Panama forward and for them the space gained in using 2 or three rows of 4 kept them from looking like north Korean generals.
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Best way to solve that problem quit handing out bullshit medals for wiping their ass. Eliminate worthless awards, ban them!
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MSgt Gerald Orvis
Couldn't agree more. Many of the current medals and ribbon-only awards are for participation (the Armed Forces Medal?? Please!). When I retired (1988), most troops just got a NDS Medal (aka The Firewatch Medal), and nothing else until they got their Good Conduct Medal. But I have a few suggestions: How about the Road Guard Ribbon? Or the I Painted Rocks Medal? Or the I Remembered How to Stand at Attention Ribbon? Or the I Stayed Married Medal? I could go on...
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SSG Kenneth Ponder
ASR,OSR,NPDR,AAM,ARCOM
If it's not a combat awd(valor) rescind&revoke. Ban the wear of it.
If it's not a combat awd(valor) rescind&revoke. Ban the wear of it.
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If you have a heavy rack, it can trim it up- any grizzled NCO will know the regs enough to not cause a fuss.
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When you have 26 separate awards it become necessary to go to rows of four in many cases. That is one reason senior enlisted and officers do it.
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Some Coast Guard/Navy folks have so many awards that they only wear enough to complete the top two rows of three across. I don't recall seeing four across in the sea services. See what your awards and decs manual sez and go with that.
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IIf the uniform regulations prescribe it- then do so- just be advised- it will probably look stupid.
In the Marine Corps, there are a specific number of ribbons that must be attained before you can switch to a “4 Stack”. Once u hit 15 ribbons, u are authorized to do it. Otherwise- everyone must wear the traditional 3 stack, regardless of how it makes their uniform look.
In the Marine Corps, there are a specific number of ribbons that must be attained before you can switch to a “4 Stack”. Once u hit 15 ribbons, u are authorized to do it. Otherwise- everyone must wear the traditional 3 stack, regardless of how it makes their uniform look.
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Consider the rules for weight, etc. Four ribbons might not fit right on a tailored uniform, which is why there is the choice of wearing all your ribbons or only the top one or two rows.
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