Posted on Nov 6, 2015
When are you authorized to wear two of the same ribbon?
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When are you authorized to wear two of the same ribbon? I've only seen it one time and it's on the current Sergeant Major of the Army's dress uniform he wears two AAM ribbons.
DA Pam 670-1
Dress Uniform
Awards
Ribbons
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 196
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It's because it's his 10th award. There's a four device limit on any ribbon. Once he receives another AAM he'll be able to switch back to one ribbon...
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SSG Byron Howard Sr - Good conduct medals are different. With the GCM, the appurtenances indicate the TOTAL amount of awards. With personal awards, the appurtenances indicate ADDITIONAL awards.
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SSG Byron Howard Sr
SFC Fred Youngs hen Col Howard had his change of command ceremony he was ask what award he wanted he said AAM. When ask why such a low award he said I already have the rest. He got his AAM. He had a MOH and just about everything else. He was a great man.
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Section II
Service Ribbon Accouterments
6–3. Oak leaf clusters
A bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem, 13/32-inch long for the suspension ribbon,
and 5/16-inch long for the service ribbon bar and the unit award emblem is issued to denote award of second and
succeeding awards of decorations (other than the AM), the ARCAM, and unit awards. A silver oak leaf cluster is worn
instead of five bronze oak leaf clusters. If the number of authorized oak leaf clusters exceeds four, a second ribbon is
authorized for wear. When wearing the second ribbon, place it after the first ribbon; the second ribbon counts as one
award. Wear no more than four oak leaf clusters on each ribbon. If the receipt of future awards reduces the number of
oak leaf clusters sufficiently (that is, a silver oak leaf clusters for five awards), remove the second ribbon and place the
appropriate number of devices on a single ribbon. Oak leaf clusters are not issued for the LM awarded in degrees to
foreign nationals. Five-sixteenths inch oak leaf clusters joined together in series of 2, 3, and 4 clusters are authorized
for optional purchase and wear on service ribbons, and unit award emblems.
Service Ribbon Accouterments
6–3. Oak leaf clusters
A bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem, 13/32-inch long for the suspension ribbon,
and 5/16-inch long for the service ribbon bar and the unit award emblem is issued to denote award of second and
succeeding awards of decorations (other than the AM), the ARCAM, and unit awards. A silver oak leaf cluster is worn
instead of five bronze oak leaf clusters. If the number of authorized oak leaf clusters exceeds four, a second ribbon is
authorized for wear. When wearing the second ribbon, place it after the first ribbon; the second ribbon counts as one
award. Wear no more than four oak leaf clusters on each ribbon. If the receipt of future awards reduces the number of
oak leaf clusters sufficiently (that is, a silver oak leaf clusters for five awards), remove the second ribbon and place the
appropriate number of devices on a single ribbon. Oak leaf clusters are not issued for the LM awarded in degrees to
foreign nationals. Five-sixteenths inch oak leaf clusters joined together in series of 2, 3, and 4 clusters are authorized
for optional purchase and wear on service ribbons, and unit award emblems.
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SGT Greg Gold
SFC William Huse - The short answer is no. Regs allow you to wear some, none, or all awards and decorations at your discretion. The only requirement I'm aware of is if you want to wear a foreign decoration you nave to wear at least one US one.
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SGT Robert Jensik
SFC Michael Hasbun - I’m sorry, did you just mention a person and a, uh, strolling effluent, in the same breath? How you eat wi’ dat mouth? Somebody has to say it, that’s a lot more than an opinion. C’mon man.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SGT Robert Jensik - No. This is a thread about awards and clusters and my last comment was a year ago. I didn't"just mention" anything.. No idea what you're talking about..
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The question is well answered but I want to add a personal note. In Hawaii prior to my retirement, I was sitting down with my new soldiers and one an E7, was wearing his full dress greens battle rattle and I noticed his two AAM ribbons. I didn't say anything in front of the other troop but afterwards I held him back to explore why. During the discussion and my education on the topic I couldn't help joking why so many AAM's and not a ARCOM. I suggested maybe on the 10th he could have traded up? He didn't think that was funny but I also said his hero wall would be like a AAM wallpaper if he was to hang all the certificates up. After some time, I had to visit the DIVARTY SGM and he had 8 AAM' framed on his wall along with his other see me collection. I couldn't take my eyes off that for a good part of our meeting!
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SSG Jason Penn
MSgt Gilbert Jones - AAM is the abbreviation for the Army Achievement Medal it is on par with the Air Force Achievement medal and the JSAM (the joint service version of the medal).
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Suspended Profile
SPC Craig Miller - I concur, reminds me of when I was aboard the 6th fleet flagship back in early 1980's the ship was awarded the meritorious unit and battle E. The CO would not allow it placed in our records but he damned sure put it in his. Years later it was added to my record. Another prime example is the jumped up jag officer who became governor of a state. Lots of awards from the navy that he never earned himself.
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Consider the fact that he is the youngest SMA ever. When he was a younger Soldier and doing great and noteworthy things, he was probably only recommended for AAMs because he was a young Soldier. Once he received his first ARCOM, he was probably still doing great things, but was by then "mature" enough for the ARCOM. He will not get an 11th AAM - he is far beyond that for a long time now.
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SPC Daryl Ritchie
At the end of my deployment, everyone E5 and below got an ARCOM and everyone E6 and above got a BSM, just for doing their job. It's not what you do, it's what rank you wear when you do it.
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SFC Norman G. Mayers
The interpretation of regulations and doctrines have been a matter of discussion for a very long time. Rank should have nothing do with it; but, that concept has been branded into officers and NCOs for a very long time now; and even when you try to change it they will always be someone above who will kick you in the teeth and tell you he didn't do enough; but really what he met is he don't have the rank to assume the responsibility. Awards are given out as candy these days and non deserving individuals get recognize for just doing their jobs, and displayed and recognized as if they were pulling a fellow soldier out of a burning truck while taken enemy gun fire. We have so many soldiers who were well deserving; but, was treated as less because of their rank.
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SGT Eric Knutson
One of my NCO's in Desert storm tore his BSM up because, as he said, "I didn't earn any part of it, then pointed at our squad and reeled off lists of accomplishments of his troops, he was able to get them to upgrade the AAM's to ARCOMS, but he was still mad, and still refused to wear his star while still around. That was where I learned the true depth of integrity, and looking out for your troops.
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SGT Charles Bartell
SPC Daryl Ritchie - Then Their Are The One's That Get A Silver Star For A Convoy Run That Was Pepper Sprayed From A Unknown Element. The Award Was For Heroism In The Face Of The Enemy. By The Way No One Was Hit. Not Even A Cracked Wind Shield. All Members Of That Convoy Received Their Combat Bage's. Funny Other People I Know Have Been Out For Year's And Still Have Not Received The Paper Work For Those As Well As Some Purple Hart Paper Work.
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When you have 10 awards of the same chatchkie. Only 4 appurtenances are authorized on any ribbon. For 10 AAM's the max that can be displayed is 9, so the 2nd award follows. I have been grilled over that very issue time and again. I fell into that category.
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SPC Rick Eachus
Someone's not looking at records when they are doing the awards. If he has 10, someone's doing him a disservice (that I think I just misspelled). They should be looking to beef stuff up to ARCOM or MSM level.
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SSgt Christopher Brose
SFC Mark Merino " chatchkie... appurtenances..."
Are you making words up? Or is that what those things are actually called? (I'm going to be mildly disappointed if you didn't make those up.)
Are you making words up? Or is that what those things are actually called? (I'm going to be mildly disappointed if you didn't make those up.)
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SSG (Join to see)
Well considering you get an award for waking up, breathing and doing the bare minimum it is no surprise that we have a chest filled with "glorious" ribbons.
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MSG (Join to see)
SSgt Christopher Brose - All of those little pieces of bling you add to your uniform and medals are officially called appurtenances. Chatchkie is a slang term for baubles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tchotchke
Tchotchke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A tchotchke (/ˈtʃɒtʃkə/ CHOCH-ka)[1][2][3][4][5] is a small bauble or miscellaneous item. The word has long been used by Jewish-Americans and in the regional speech of New York City and elsewhere.
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I've been in for 37 years. I've never seen anyone with 10 AAMs or two ribbons for the same award. Hmmmm... I have all the ribbons/medals I need, except for this. Yes, just seven more, I have five more years to try and accomplish this. Can't wait for the promotion board to see my photo (if I can pull it off). How fast can you make 10 officers pick up a magnifying glass? That is all, carry on.
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SSG Byron Hewett
well I worked my tail end off and retired from the army and all I got was this silly little t-shirt that said- "I retired from the army and all they gave me was this silly little t-shirt"
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CSM Richard StCyr
Chief I thought it was odd but it's the real deal. When I hit ten AAMs I had to wear two ribbons and spend a lot time 'spaining to everyone why. Here's the excerpt from the reg. "To display the 10th award, soldiers wear a second ribbon, placing it after the first ribbon; the second ribbon counts as one award. Soldiers may wear no more than four oak leaf clusters on each ribbon. If the receipt of future awards reduces the number of oak leaf clusters sufficiently (that is, a silver oak leaf for five awards), soldiers will remove the second ribbon and place the appropriate number of devices on a single ribbon. (Ref: para 29-12a(2), AR 670-1)"
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I have 5 ARCOM's, one with V. As a result, per AR 670-1, I wear two ribbons, one with 3 OLC and a V device, (keeping to max 4 devices on a ribbon) and a stand alone "plain" ARCOM in the next lower position. I don't understand why this is so difficult to understand. It's an unusual but not unheard of situation, and perfectly supported in the reg.
AR 670-1 paragraph 29-12
AR 670-1 paragraph 29-12
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SGT Doc Abel
I have been in a similar situation. I have an ARCOM/V and 3 other ARCOMs as well. I have always worn two separate ARCOM ribbons. My V device has been on a ribbon stand alone with my oak leaves on a second ribbon. Since the ARCOM/V is a higher precedent than an ARCOM the V has always come first. I've talked to CSMs and 1SGs to COLs about this and no one seemed to agree on how to wear them. Even though I'm a veteran now this topic of how to wear a V device with other awards has always been gray area to many.
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SFC Freddie Porter
I still get a bit of a chuckle in myself when I think about the AAM. I started in the Army in 71. Back then, guys came out of Vietnam with ARCOMs, a lot of times with v devices. Campaign ribbons, CIB and that was about it. I look back at our old unit photos and see guys with 12 months in country wit 5 awards including the national Defense Service Medal. After they stopped awarding the NDSM, soldiers only had an ARCOM on their uniforms for several years. That made the personal awards side pretty bare. So, they Army came up with a peace time award anyone could earn; the AAM. That was in the early 80s. Being a battalion level award, the standards for award were pretty fluid but, troops had something else on their uniforms. The standard for award of the AAM have always been pretty fluid. This discussion is a product of the local nature of the award and the standard for award being local. It's fun to watch the discussion knowing why the award of the AAM is there
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Can't be...you wear an oak leaf cluster. I was accused of this once because the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Humanitarian Service Medal are very similar. When I pointed that out, the General walked away in a huff.
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SSG Mark Metzler
With Respect Sir, This is why there different color, Bronze & Silver, Oak Leaf clusters. My own opinion, you won the disagreement, the General just didn't like losing. Respectfully, SSG Mark Metzler USA Retired Military Police Corps
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CH (LTC) Robert Leroe
Can't imagine anyone having that many...a leadership problem; and if I had that many, I'd wear one ribbon to keep from having to explain to everyone why I was wearing two.
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When you have a crap ton of them and one can't hold all your "clusters", or if they were awarded different things like ARCOM vs ARCOM-V
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And then one day, long after you've ETS'd, retired, or otherwise separated your chosen service branch, you realize there is so much more important stuff to worry about. For me it's grandkids and fishing. Just saying! Be glad you no longer shine your boots.
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1SG David Spalding
Agreed Chief. I had 6 Adams, and 7 ARCOMS. For the rare occasions I wear my uniform now, the ARCOMs are the lowest award I wear. And yes, grandkids definitely change how you see life!
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