Why don't officers wear marksmanship badges?

Off the subject, Cpl D, but your comment drew me back to a conversation with my boss at Fort Eustis in the late 80's in which he described meeting a senior Soviet officer at a "meet and greet" at the India War College--the only school at the time were US and Soviet Officers trained together and at a time when Cold War tensions were still high. COL Russ Simonetta recounted that the Russian had asked him what he had done to earn a particular ribbon. "These three," he said, " I got for killing Commies in Vietnam." Knowing Russ, it was undoubtedly said with a smile and a clinched jaw.

When I was enlisted in the early 1970's, I once attended a retirement ceremony for a British Sergeants Major in Yongsan. It was a dress uniform occasion, and as I walked around as a young SSG with 3 rows of ribbon earned in Vietnam I happened upon the retiring SGM who had two ribbons on his uniform. When he saw my jump wings he came up with beer in hand, tapped the wings, and said "Airborne, Jolly Good". He then tapped my Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry ribbon and asked "Wots that one"? I told him, and then I tapped one of two he had. "Whats that", I asked. "Victoria Cross", he replied and then moved on. Since then I have developed a rather acidic view of "been there" and "achievement" awards that make an E4 with a few tours of duty down range look like an Argentinian General. When I retired, I had 8 full rows of ribbons, but if I subtracted all but those for wounds or valor, I was down to 3 that EVERYONE knew what represented. They were the ones that had meaning to me then - and now. When applied correctly and fairly, non-combat awards can improve morale, esprit de corps, and motivation, but when watered down or become an "everybody" gets one kind of thing they can achieve the exact opposite. Sometimes I think the Brits had it right all along!

Cpl Debbie Dave LaVallie - Upon retirement I was the Superintendent of a specialized Air Force Engineer team; our mission was to directly support USA and USMC airfield seizure operations. This required us to attend many cross service schools and field training events to remain proficient in our duties. The problem was leadership, and USAF regulations, did not allow sister service badges on the uniform. I lobbied leadership for and received an exception stating the very thing you claim here; at a glance my engineers received instant validation of their qualifications and capabilities when working with our sister service components. It was such an issue that when my NCO's attended any USAF school I required them to carry a copy of the OI with them to clear up any questions. Conversely; when I showed up at Quantico for the Advanced Course the naval parachutist Master Guns placed myself and the Recon guy up front because we were the only ones wearing gold. We are a culture of instant recognition; there just isn't time for anything else.

COL James Pittman - Excellent point Sir, I belong to the Marine Corps League, I attended a Department meeting and met a fellow Marine that at first glance appeared to be "Chesty's" equal, he sported 7 rows of decorations. Upon engaging him in conversation I quickly discerned that only service ribbon he sported was a Fire Watch Decoration, the rest were MCL awards. I walked away with a slight smile on my face sporting my 5 ribbons all earned in the RVN.

Maybe he forgot to put them on?

Seems unlikely.

It's a fake uniform.

Www.easterncostume.com

I wondered about that myself - plus an MSM but ARCOM with only one OLC and an AAM with none?

Well I suppose if you lead from a kevlar bubble watching satellite views of the battle that's fine. But when the SoB's come over the wall you better be able to hit what you see.

Cpl Debbie Dave LaVallie - Preach it, Corporal.

I sure as hell wouldn't want to serve under an officer that wasn't proud of his marksmanship.