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 Like miniature medals......but for Anzac Day Parades...go with the flow and wear full size medals as all Aussies do. But actually prefer other "decorations" hanging on me.
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We wear full size medals to our Marine ball because of what it symbolizes If you wear the big medals to often, it kinda demeans them. We don't wear our Blues that often.
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as many have said probably the cost. I just checked on rack builder and it would cost me $204.20 for a set. How many times will I wear them? I have been to less than 10 functions in my career that would have been sutable for wearing them. So maybe I could wear them 3-5 more times before I retire. I just don't see it being worth it.
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Here is a "blue suiter's" view.
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/why-don-t-we-usaf-wear-full-sized-medals-on-any-of-our-uniforms
https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/why-don-t-we-usaf-wear-full-sized-medals-on-any-of-our-uniforms
Why don't we (USAF) wear full-sized medals on any of our uniforms. | RallyPoint
The CSAF and CMSAF wear a ceremonial uniform with full-sized medals and so do the Honor Guard. Why not anyone else?I would love to wear my medals. AFI 36-2903 says I can wear them on my suit when I retire, but not on my uniform. SMH
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
Yep, on the AF Side, unless you are AF Honor Guard, CSAF, CMSAF, or AF Band we have no uniform that is authorized full sized medals. The only medals we are authorized are the mini medals on mess dress which for enlisted folks is an optional uniform and you dont see many folks below E7 with it.
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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Yes, as You mentioned Honor Guards wearing these such as this view of the Honor Guard from Hanscom AFB, MA marching in a parade in Boston, MA. They of course also have a special uniform for all the ceremonies they participate in. Mess dress would be miniature medals and service uniform ribbons. The higher full sized medals were n My uniform once when they were pinned on up until I arrived home and put them in the box they came in and there they stayed. I was never a big one for hanging a lot of things all over the uniform anyway but did wear what was required.
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So, I think that the reason(s) no one put on full size medals is because of a few things,
1) They did know they could because all everyone talks about are ribbons.
2) Cost – Yes when you 1st start it is a lot of money to spend but my 1st Sqd Ldr told me his secret and that is that if you maintained your set cost is very low when you have to add a new one and now with 26yrs in I still do it like that. So my cost in very little.
3) Also people think you have to wear anodized medal and that is not true, Yes they look nice but at least for me I like the ones out of the box they have a lot more character. (note: I also do not use the one that was awarded to me I keep those in box and have them put in a safe place I buy a replacement to mount).
4) I own the Dress Mess and use miniature medal on that and again personal preference use ones sold at PX.
5) I know at balls I have attended when my troops have seen that set up they all say they wanted to do the same and a few have done it.
1) They did know they could because all everyone talks about are ribbons.
2) Cost – Yes when you 1st start it is a lot of money to spend but my 1st Sqd Ldr told me his secret and that is that if you maintained your set cost is very low when you have to add a new one and now with 26yrs in I still do it like that. So my cost in very little.
3) Also people think you have to wear anodized medal and that is not true, Yes they look nice but at least for me I like the ones out of the box they have a lot more character. (note: I also do not use the one that was awarded to me I keep those in box and have them put in a safe place I buy a replacement to mount).
4) I own the Dress Mess and use miniature medal on that and again personal preference use ones sold at PX.
5) I know at balls I have attended when my troops have seen that set up they all say they wanted to do the same and a few have done it.
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As far as I know, there is nothing in the Air Force Regs that allow for the wear of the full size medals.... we have our "service dress " (class A), and Mess Dress (formal). Service dress is ribbons, Mess Dress is mini medals. I would LOVE to wear the full size on something....probably cost prohibitive, but would be fun at least once!!
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SSG (Join to see)
Believe me, it is very expensive! Finally put all mine together. If you do go through Medals Of America and have them professionally mounted, it is worth the extra $15.00.
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After my first deployment I had a full-size medal rack made up. I've worn them three times in 10 years. I didn't like the clink-clink noise they made, but I still liked the look. I believe there are two reasons most Soldiers don't wear full-size: they are expensive to get professionally mounted; generally, Soldiers are too lazy to set up the medals on their own.
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It's weird isn't it? I feel like I'm the only SSG who loves to sport them... Having said that, new awards are an EXPENSIVE prospect..
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Navy for Balls we normally wear Dinner Dress Uniforms, that is with miniature medals. If you do not want to wear Dinner dress, then Full Dress is optional.
The only time I have ever worn Large Medals was for Full Dress for Ceremonial occasions. And yes, all Ribbons and Medals are supplied by the Navy as an initial award of any decoration. I still have my first National Defense Medal (new ribbons on it in my shadow box with two bronze stars) along with every other Medal ever awarded. I also sprung for the Anodized Miniature Medals - YES Big Bucks, but they do look good on my Tux.
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