Posted on Jan 23, 2014
What is the single most improperly worn ribbon?
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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?
Medals
Awards
Ribbons
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 113
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If it is the one that I'm thinking about, it is , or was, naked until you got your first hourglass.
Maybe 10 years after first award? I think my father had a naked one. He had an ole USNR ribbon that he got for service from 1946 until 1951 and 1954* until 1958 (10 years) and then got the new one in 1968 and retired in 1972, so never got an hour glass.
You could not count AD time so it tolled when on AD for KPA.
Maybe 10 years after first award? I think my father had a naked one. He had an ole USNR ribbon that he got for service from 1946 until 1951 and 1954* until 1958 (10 years) and then got the new one in 1968 and retired in 1972, so never got an hour glass.
You could not count AD time so it tolled when on AD for KPA.
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CMSgt Richard B.
The bronze hourglass was originally awarded for 20 years (the basic medal/ribbon for 10, silver for 30 and gold for 40) up to around the time of the Gulf War. It was changed (bronze for 10, silver for 20, gold for 30 and Gold and bronze for 40) to allow for the addition of the "M" device to recognized those Guardsmen and reservists who were activated.
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SFC Bruce Pettengill
CMSgt Richard B. - yes it changed when the ribbon was changed for involuntary mobilizations
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The others have already been mentioned, but I see confusion with the NATO (ISAF) medal. I see people try to wear the ISAF Bar/Clasp that got issued with it- but while it's part of the medal for the other NATO countries, HRC states the bar is not authorized for US Army wear. I've seen people keep it on the medals (mini or full), and one person even put something on the ribbon. Also, the campaign stars do not carry over to the NATO medal: no stars unless you've been in multiple DIFFERENT NATO operations.
https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/NATO%20Medal
https://www.hrc.army.mil/TAGD/NATO%20Medal
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COL (Join to see)
This is the one that I have seen most recently. The regs on it are just vague enough to be confusing.
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Chief Campbell - Actually, my first AFRM was awarded in 1995 with no device, and it took the system a while to catch up with the change that happened in 1996. Older members who retired before 96 could still sport a bare ribbon. That said, it is a bit confusing.
Another one that gets messed up is the ballistic missile submarine patrol pin. The pin counts for one patrol, then stars for the second and subsequent. The SUBRON even screwed it up on my DD214; I had 6 patrols but they recorded me as eligible for the pin with a 5-patrol silver star and a 1-patrol gold star, which would represent 7 patrols.
Another one that gets messed up is the ballistic missile submarine patrol pin. The pin counts for one patrol, then stars for the second and subsequent. The SUBRON even screwed it up on my DD214; I had 6 patrols but they recorded me as eligible for the pin with a 5-patrol silver star and a 1-patrol gold star, which would represent 7 patrols.
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No idea what the most wrongly warn Ribbon is. But unit awards are pretty easy to keep track of. Their always worn on the left
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I'm more shocked that someone this high speed would be a "leg" Ranger.
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While I’m not familiar with the award .,we’ve all made mistakes and this why there is a manual or chart for awards
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at the SOTU last night an Air Force General had his medals upside down . was this done for a reason?
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CPO Jon Campbell
I think that is the old regulation. It is only issued now with for mobilization (with an M) or 10 years (with bronze hourglass) and then the hourglasses go silver for 20 and gold for 30. It used to be plain ribbon for 10, bronze for 20, silver for 30, and gold for 40. After the 30 year / age 60 cap took effect, the regs changed. Under the current regs, there is never a time when it can be worn without an attachment.
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I have seen some post about the national defense ribbon and stars as an old timer with a break in service I have a star on mine due to being in during the Gulf War got out and came back in 2006 and was awarded the second for OIF in 2007. So there will be some out there wgo will have a star on the NDF ribbon.
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