When are you authorized to wear two of the same ribbon?

Yes, that is an awful lot of AAMs.

The SMA is correct. It clearly states it in the regs. That would be AR 670-1. Look it up.

I had never seen that before. That is a shitload of AAM's. Good on him.

Thius is a very easy question to answer.... All you need to do is quote chapter and verse!
PLEASE READ THE LAST LINE...

AR670-1... 22–11. Appurtenances
Appurtenances are devices affixed to service or suspension ribbons, or worn in lieu of medals or ribbons. They are worn to denote an additional award, participation in a specific event, or some other distinguishing characteristic of an award. The following appurtenances are authorized for wear on decorations, medals, ribbons, and other awards, when authorized by appropriate authority. See DA Pam 670–1 for descriptions and directions for placement of each appurtenance. See AR 600–8–22 for additional information on authority to wear a particular appurtenance.
a. Oak leaf clusters. Bronze oak leaf clusters are worn to denote award of second and succeeding awards of decorations (other than the Air Medal), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, and unit awards. A silver oak leaf cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze oak leaf clusters. A maximum of four oak leaf clusters may be worn on a single ribbon; a maximum of three oak leaf clusters may be worn with the “V” device on a single ribbon, for a total of four devices on the ribbon. If the number of authorized oak leaf clusters exceeds the maximum authorized then a second ribbon is worn to the wearer’s left of the first ribbon.

See DA Pam 670–1 for specific guidance

While I cannot denote exactly why the SMA received that award from his previous assignment, I can attest to his drive, motivation, diligence, professionalism, care of Soldiers and Family members. He absolutely leads from the front, he leaves no doubt of his presence when in a room. If he is wearing an award, he earned it.

I have five Arcoms one with V device. Because of this I’m supposes to wear two, but instead I forgo the V and have the four oak leaves.

I will just take a guess that upon earning the number of awards -1 (lets say Acheivement Medals) the next one may just get upgraded to a Commendation Medal in cases where most/all awarded for the same thing, like “that one guy” winning “Unit SM of the Quarter” repeatively. Id think maybe a Comm would not just be for the 11th win, but kind of an acknowledgement of the whole collection of previous Achievement awards. In such a case it would not only be a nice gesture, but it would also silently prevent the need for the +1 Achievement version.

There was a few guys in my unit that had an ARCOM with a V, and next to it a regular ARCOM.

OK, i've been out for sometime but a I remember it it was 1 oak leaf for the 2d and subsequent awards up to 4 oak leaves. The net one was a Silver Oak Leaf for the 6th award and so on and s forth. . So, theoretically, it you keep getting awarded the same Medal over and over you have 4 Silver Oak Leave you would have been awarded that medal 24 times. So, why were two of the same. How many of us have ever been awarded the same Decoration 25 times?

Now with the “c” device you might have two of the same ribbon