Posted on Mar 30, 2014
Why don't more Soldiers wear their full size medals?
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I have attended dozens of Army Balls thoughout the years. And one thing stands out to me. No one wears full size medals. Everyone to incude senior NCOs and officers are content to wear ribbons. You might have one or two people sporting medals, but they usually are very rare. Why is that? <br><br>Every time I see pictures of Marines in their Dress Blues more often then not they are sporting medals. No matter what rank. I have seen E-2s and E-3s sporting medals during their Balls. Are they "required" to have them? Is it something pushed down by their NCOs, that everyone with wear Medals?
Uniforms
Pride
Medals
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 128
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I used to wear mine all the time when I was recruiting because there was this Marine recruiter that would try to sell the Marines based on a the uniform. Needless to say I made the young man shy away.
I would say the expense is what deters most people, especially if you buy the anodized ones. I'm too cheap for that so I polish mine. I also believe we should wear the belt with the uniform as you can see.
I would say the expense is what deters most people, especially if you buy the anodized ones. I'm too cheap for that so I polish mine. I also believe we should wear the belt with the uniform as you can see.
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SGT Ernest Huerta
Years ago I bought nine "mini-medals" the were set in 3 rows on a single
mount. I got them for wear on civilian suit jackets but never wore them. Got
them partially to STICK IN THE FACE of any Anti-war, "professional college
students" and other low-life pukes who got draft deferments causing some other
less fortunate "son" to take their place. I despise those people, will till I die, but
could never bring myself to wear them. Now they are tarnished and moldy,
just like me. "Illigetimus non carborundom"!
mount. I got them for wear on civilian suit jackets but never wore them. Got
them partially to STICK IN THE FACE of any Anti-war, "professional college
students" and other low-life pukes who got draft deferments causing some other
less fortunate "son" to take their place. I despise those people, will till I die, but
could never bring myself to wear them. Now they are tarnished and moldy,
just like me. "Illigetimus non carborundom"!
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CDR Matthew McLaughlin
SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee That's unfortunate. I would have seen it as you doing honor to a new family member.
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I always wear my full medals, and I am usually the ONLY one at the ENTIRE ball doing so. Honestly I think it's a cost issue - at least many people remark how expensive they are when I go. But I really don't care, if I'm going to wear my dress uniform, it should be DRESS. And to me, dress is full medals.
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CDR Matthew McLaughlin
CMDCM Gene Treants I'm the oddball here, Master Chief. I've gotten far more wear out of mess dress than I ever did out of service dress. I actually had to update my SDBs from ENS to LCDR when a new CO decided to make Dinner Dress Blues (SDB jacket not dinner jacket) the designated uniform for a dining in. Of course, this was on the reserve side, and many times I was at an Army ball for my civilian job.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
CDR Matthew McLaughlin as you can guess, I have been retired many years and when the ocassion presents, I still enjoy dressing in a Tux and wearing my Mini Medals.
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CDR Matthew McLaughlin
CMDCM Gene Treants Looking good, Master Chief! This is my last time in mess dress at the Oct 2019 EDO ball, shortly before the pandemic. I retired Nov 2020, so next time I'll either have to shave my beard for the uniform or buy a tux. Maybe I'll be able to talk my bride into that Polaris Military tartan set I've been looking at...
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CMDCM Gene Treants
CDR Matthew McLaughlin - I'd love to see that. All I have in a kilt is a plain black and never worn that as part of a dinner dress, YET! lol
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But if I wear medals, people won't see my coveted ASR & NCOPDR! How will people know I'm in the Army and have done some NCOES?!<br>
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SGT Greg Gold
SSG(P) (Join to see) - I call them my precision shooter starter kit. I had a Guard buddy who had spent 12 years in SOCOM, most that with 5th Group on a B team, and he had never seen them. I got him started and he earned his rifle EIC.
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SFC Quinn Chastant
Lovely just effing lovely how those ribbons of least importance can plus up some racks to make things stand out. I never understood the need for the superfluous ribbons either, but some goon thought they were important to confer information best relegated to the 201 and 2-1 file for promotion time.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
I know I'm Navy and not Army, but is it really necessary to speak Greek when you post? I hope I do nto do as much ACRONYSPEAK as many of the Army does.
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Full size medals are great when worn to a military ball! Yes they are heavy, yes they jingle jangle but when put together right they bring out a level of "full military glory" that you just do not get when wearing ribbons. You wear ribbons to courts martial, ribbons to inspections, ribbons for payday activity. Your spouse or significant other only gets to see you when you are wearing the "grey digits" or with just your ribbons. Show them your shiny medals hanging from your jacket every once in a while.
As for being expensive, yes, they are a bit pricey. But everyone should have been issued a medal with their first award. Yes a lot of Soldiers do not get them through lack of stock or just plain old not knowing. Go into your supply rooms and and I guarentee that most of the medals you need are stuffed in a dusty box and the clerk keeps ordering more.
Being humble does not mean hiding what you have EARNED. If the Army says you have it, wear it to the big functions!
Shoot, Soldiers coming in the Army are already going to have at LEAST the GWOT and NDM. Even the SPC who cannot seem to get an award will get a GCM after three years. When the wars are over (and hopefully soon) first thing to go will be the combat patches, then in about 3-4 years most of the veterans. Be proud of what you have and learn how to set it up and wear it correctly, then DO IT!
As for being expensive, yes, they are a bit pricey. But everyone should have been issued a medal with their first award. Yes a lot of Soldiers do not get them through lack of stock or just plain old not knowing. Go into your supply rooms and and I guarentee that most of the medals you need are stuffed in a dusty box and the clerk keeps ordering more.
Being humble does not mean hiding what you have EARNED. If the Army says you have it, wear it to the big functions!
Shoot, Soldiers coming in the Army are already going to have at LEAST the GWOT and NDM. Even the SPC who cannot seem to get an award will get a GCM after three years. When the wars are over (and hopefully soon) first thing to go will be the combat patches, then in about 3-4 years most of the veterans. Be proud of what you have and learn how to set it up and wear it correctly, then DO IT!
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SFC (Join to see)
I can't remember ever getting GCM through the guard. Active duty, yes. Guard, never
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SFC (Join to see)
GCM for Guard only if on active duty. otherwise you get an ARCAM. I got 7 ARCAM's for 27yrs. in the guard and 1 GCM for a year in Iraq.
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I never even thought to wear full sized medals. But now that you mentioned it I would love to the next time I am at a formal function. However, I think the last time I did a rack builder with full sized anodized medals it came out to over 180 bucks. Now I see why people rather wear ribbons.
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The Marine Corps Dress Blue 'A' uniform is the most senior uniform that we wear. It is comprised of medals on the left side and ribbons that do not have corresponding medals on the right side. The Dress Blue 'B' is ribbons and marksmenship badges on the left side. You should wear the most senior uniform when you sttend the ball however this is not always enforced though the majority do.
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SSG (Join to see)
Thanks SSgt! It does clear it up on why all (most) Marines wear the medals at Balls.
Unfortunately the army does not make a distinction on a Dress Blue "A" or "B". For us it's wearers choice, and most chose ribbons.
Unfortunately the army does not make a distinction on a Dress Blue "A" or "B". For us it's wearers choice, and most chose ribbons.
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I love wearing my medals. I get ribbed a bit, saying I look like a South American General, but I like the way it looks.
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SSG (Join to see)
1SG,
I've worn my full size medals for my wedding. Looked real sharp too. I'm glad I did because it will be around forever.
I planned on wearing my medals during my last ball. But I had to replace 2 of them, and I could not find replacements in time. Oh well there is always next time.
I've worn my full size medals for my wedding. Looked real sharp too. I'm glad I did because it will be around forever.
I planned on wearing my medals during my last ball. But I had to replace 2 of them, and I could not find replacements in time. Oh well there is always next time.
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MSG (Join to see)
I have never done it for two reasons. First is cost. I have no want, need, or desire to spend over $200 for something that I MIGHT wear once a year. Second, everyone I've ever known to wear them do it for the "look at me" factor. It's just a way to get more attention for them and that's not the group I want to be associated with.
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
Everyone says my husband looks like a Mexican general, haha....and I, on the other hand, look like a stewardess. :/
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I don't want to have to take out a home equity loan to buy medals when I can spend $.35 on a ribbon. Then again, the pictures here do look good.<div><br></div><div>As folks have noted, above, I would consider splurging for a special event. I will get a new uniform and medals for my daughter's wedding. </div>
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SFC (Join to see)
Sir, they do really look sharp and I wore them at my daughters wedding too. I did it mostly for her but it was fun to see the look on my ex-wife's face when she saw me an realized she had really screwed up.
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1SG (Join to see)
I wore them to my own wedding and the pictures came out so good the house looks like a shrine!
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LCpl Jason Keiser
A major that needs to spurge! Way to go! Wish i would have been educated with finances a little more when i had my first 3 years.
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