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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Lazy! Don't want to be bothered to do the maintenance to go out looking dressed to the Nines. I never did the Full Dress with Ribbons and "Medals" exept I think once for a Westpac Picture for Cruise Book but I concur it looks so sharp and so cool and I wish everybody would wear them more.
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I had hoped that the ceremonial uniform coat use going to be our new service coat when there was talk of a new coat a few years back. I'd love to see a AF version of the USMC's Class A blue uniform; you know the iconic one that everyone imagines when you say Marine.
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Start as a young soldier. My SSG got me into wearing them,he came to the army from the marines. I only had 6 but they do look good. Paid over 120 for those but it's cheaper to get them as there earned.
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Never had the opportunity to wear my full medals on my Army Uniform. After 6 years in the Army, I joined the Navy and wore them a lot, go figure. Wearing Army issued medals on my Navy Uniform did get me a lot of questions
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In conjunction to this question... would it be appropriate for a Veteran turned civilian to wear them... much like you used to see in the 'old' days...? (example the guy to the far left...)
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SSG Oscar Buonafina
670-1, 23-6
Retired personnel and former members of the Army (as described above) may wear all categories of medals described
in this regulation on appropriate civilian clothing. This includes clothes designed for veteran and patriotic organizations
on Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, and Armed Forces Day, as well as at formal occasions of ceremony and social
functions of a military nature. Personnel may wear either full-sized or miniature medals. Personnel who wear medals
on civilian clothes should place the medals on the clothing in approximately the same location and in the same manner
as for the Army uniform, so they look similar to medals worn on the Army uniform.
Retired personnel and former members of the Army (as described above) may wear all categories of medals described
in this regulation on appropriate civilian clothing. This includes clothes designed for veteran and patriotic organizations
on Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, and Armed Forces Day, as well as at formal occasions of ceremony and social
functions of a military nature. Personnel may wear either full-sized or miniature medals. Personnel who wear medals
on civilian clothes should place the medals on the clothing in approximately the same location and in the same manner
as for the Army uniform, so they look similar to medals worn on the Army uniform.
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SSG Pete Fleming
SSG Oscar B., thank you for that answer... I think I had heard that before but never took the time to research it...
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My husband always wears his full size medals to 'bow tie' occasions. I think it looks sharp and quite impressive. I'm deployed right now but will try to find a picture, I think it is the best way to go when you wear your uniform on a dress occasion!
From what I can tell, Marines wear their medals and then on the other side will wear their ribbon only awards (where the Army puts unit awards). Just a different setup compared to the Army.
From what I can tell, Marines wear their medals and then on the other side will wear their ribbon only awards (where the Army puts unit awards). Just a different setup compared to the Army.
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CPT (Join to see)
There are a number of reasons. I know a first sergeant that turned in his free Bronze Star license plate for a veteran plate he had to pay for because idiots where coming back with Bronze Stars. They were given out for position and not accomplishment. This makes poor leaders better than they are and diminishes the awards that are justly deserved.
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CPT(P) (Join to see)
It's definitely not a perfect system, my husband had a valor award downgraded because of his rank...and then 4 years and 2 more deployments later got a (well deserved) BSM, but it looks weird next to the ARCOM-V. I know many others that this same thing happened to!
I don't think anything should be diminished -that 1SG knows what they did to deserve their award and that's all that matters. Don't let other people ruin something for you, there's always going to be someone out there who judges you for whatever reason and you can't let that diminish your honor or pride in service.
I don't think anything should be diminished -that 1SG knows what they did to deserve their award and that's all that matters. Don't let other people ruin something for you, there's always going to be someone out there who judges you for whatever reason and you can't let that diminish your honor or pride in service.
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I wouldn't mind wearing them. However yes you do run out of space rather quickly. I think many people are hesitant because of that and unlike the Marines, when they wear medals, ribbons that do not have a medal that has been struck for it, the Marines will wear them on the right side of the uniform with the unit awards in order of their precedence according to DoD. Also to save room, on their uniform they can take them to a shop and have them staggered. Like so:
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This one is easy because they are friggin expensive. I have thought about doing it a couple of times but when I see a 250+ price tag I will stick with the standard ribbon rack.
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