Posted on Jan 23, 2014
CPO Jon Campbell
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Every time I pick up a new issue of the Reservist magazine, I seem to see photos of people wearing the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM) improperly. It is probably the most complicated medal / ribbon in the military, but still, a Master Chief or Admiral should be able to wear it correctly. It is never worn without an attachment of some kind, so a naked ribbon immediately jumps out as just plain wrong. Are there other ribbons that rival the AFRM for improper wear?
Posted in these groups: Ribbons banner2 MedalsUs medals AwardsRibbons logo Ribbons
Edited 8 y ago
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SCPO Machinist Mate
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My pet peeve is stars on the Navy Expeditionary Medal. While not impossible, it is extremely difficult to earn stars on this medal, while many sailors essentially add a star for each additional deployment, this is not correct.
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SFC David Hudson
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I'll just share a story: My Airborne unit in Alaska received a visit from the Army Chief-of-Staff, and of course, we all turned out in our Class As. One of our NCOs was told he "looked outstanding!", and received a CoS coin. After it was over and we were BSing, I mentioned that he looked great, but was out of uniform. He had worn both his CIB and his Master Parachutist Badge above his ribbons. The CoS missed it, our CSM missed it, and our 1SG missed it...despite every last one of us, including them, only wore our CIB above our ribbons.
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2LT Jumpmaster Chief Instructor
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You can wear up to 3 badges from groups 1-4 above your ribbons. Group 1, 2, and 3 badges have to be above the ribbons
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MSG Johnathan Mathes
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Wow a ssg with a LOM
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SFC First Sergeant (Acting)
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That was my first observation!
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MSG Johnathan Mathes
MSG Johnathan Mathes
8 y
Lol and a non airborne ranger.... whoever put this uniform wasn't a service member
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COL Charles Williams
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I don't see it in your example...
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SSG Drill Sergeant
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All of them if the reflection on the ribbon isn't V's pointed down, according to TOG.
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SPC Nathaniel Femiano
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How does this work for someone who got out prior to the ref change my dd214 doesn't reflect the 2 service stars I should have.
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MSG Eplo Nco
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you can request dd215 to have your record correct
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SSgt Jessie Bolado
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Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon when wearing medals.
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SGM Chief Executive Officer (Ceo)
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8 y
That one could be place backward as a ribbon pretty easily!
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SPC Carl K.
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Aircrew basic
Other than my Expeditionary Medal, I am most proud of this:
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SGT Anti Armor Specialist
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I think that the NDSM worn by People who have been deployed more than once without the correct star on it is just wrong.
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SPC Owner
SPC (Join to see)
8 y
.... deployments have nothing to do with the NDSM though...
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MSG Michael McEleney
MSG Michael McEleney
8 y
NDSM is awarded for service during Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and post 9/11
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SSG Richard Reilly
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Unit awards. Just remember the corn grows up.
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1SG Civil Affairs Specialist
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I see the Kosovo Campaign Medal worn upside down a lot.
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MAJ Intelligence Officer
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The challenge with the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM) is that it has three separate devices that can be worn on it (Hourglass, "M", and numerals), and the positioning changes depending on which ones you have. Having one (either Hourglass -or- "M") is easy; you just center it. Having two (Hourglass -and- "M", or "M" -and- numeral) is strange because the "M" *always* goes centered while the Hourglass or numerals go on either the left or right, respectively, which makes the ribbon/medal seem unbalanced. The solution to that is to get all 3, so that it is balanced again...
BTW, mine is unbalanced in exactly this way. Hourglass and M, but no numeral. I have mild OCD so it bugs the hell out of me.
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SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee
SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee
>1 y
I was in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard for a total of 14 years, transfered to the IRR and was then mobilized out of the IRR for OEF. Do I wear a bronze hourglass and M device?
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SFC Bruce Pettengill
SFC Bruce Pettengill
8 y
if you had 10 years of consecutive service in the Reserves the you could wear the bronze hour glass if you were involuntarily mobilized from retired reserve then you can wear the M divice
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
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I'm retired and don't wear them anymore but I have one that has an Oak Leaf on it. I think it is something like a Joint Meritorious Unit Award with a Presidential Border and Oak Leaf. One of those real odd ball things and had something to do with my participation with Fiery Vigil I think. 
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