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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Great Idea, Difference when I was in was Dress Uniform versus Full Dress Uniform. Dress Uniform was adepuate form most occasions and that was without medals but they only time required full dress was Important Enough Visiting Dignitary, I served on the Presidents Flag Ship USS Arkansas, If he dropped by for a visit and you were part of the welcoming committee it was full dress uniform.
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A: they don’t wanna look like a North Korean general. Wearing the ribbons is more streamlined and classy.
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They are very expensive and the foreign awards are almost impossible to get. When I asked for a DD-215, to combine dual services, I actually was awarded a medal from WW2... before I was born. It was those two darn Good Conduct Medals I never qualified for. A lot of us wear our top 3 and badges.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
The foreign medals You would have to order and purchase from a private source as they are NOT ever U.S. government issued. Medals of American is one private company that carries those plus US medals and ribbons. I did buy two foreign ribbons that were shown on MY Military Personnel records but was issued all the US Ribbons and also the hanging medals I was authorized.
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Marines are recuired by P1020.34g to wear medals with dress blues jackets if the award has a corresponding medal
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If the CO says Medals, you wear Medals. If he says Ribbons and badges, you wear ribbons and badges. It’s all about the Uniformity in the Corps. Personal preference doesn’t play into it at a mandated function very much.
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If it's a black tie or white tie ball, in the evening, everyone should be wearing miniatures not full sized. I never had a chance to wear miniatures when I was on active duty, but now, as a civilian, I get to wear them about once a year.
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It might be a cost issue by the army, but when a MARINE receives a citation for the medal, WE also receive the medal! ; It then becomes a requirment for our uniform!
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Another thing. I grew up in the airborne community so balls are the opportune time to show off skills badges. Generally, people go to show badges off but I'd they want to sport both, they wear the mess uniform.
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Honestly, it looks better with a mandarin style collar shirt. That's why they do it and we don't. That and I think their regs call for it.
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