Why don't officers wear marksmanship badges?

All military service awards and decorations should be proudly displayed for recognition of the professional achievements in their career. It shows great pride in their dedication and commitment to the defense of the United States Constitution.

Officers wear expert (if awarded) or nothing at all is the reason I was given as a new second lieutenant. Col T. Wright, USA Ret.

As a country boy I did okay in basic training and fired expert on the M14. A little later , after commissioning, I found the 45 caliber pistol to be a area denial weapon and could not hit squat with it. Then I bought a 45 caliber colt pistol in a pawn shop in Aberdeen, Maryland. Took it to a gunsmith and had things tightened up. Things picked up thereafter...and it is a superb handgun.
Badges - hmm... I think we wear too many of them. Stick to the basics ...that identify with your core function. If you are an infantryman - the CIB....if you are Ordnance - the EOD badge...and so on. Generals today wear more medals than the mostly highly decorated heroes of WWII, Korea and Vietnam ( won for valor) ...check out the photos and the bios of Audie Murphy and the current CSA.
Final bit of advice : Work hard at being tactically and technically proficient ...and enjoy the voyage.

Honestly, I have always thought that it was a strategy to maintain their Soldiers confidence and giving the appearance of being the highest standard, even if they are not. LTs are already looked at, in many situations, as "over-paid privates" and if this young LT is only a marksman out would only reinforce that notion that officers cannot do "real Soldier work" and that officer loses some respect from his element. In a like manner any leader who struggles to pass an apft loses all respect when they smoke a Soldier. By not wearing the badge, their ability to perform this basic Soldier task is rarely, if ever thrown into question.

Us warrants are funny. I've seen more warrants wearing driver's badges but not qual badges on their DA photo than O grades. I am sure that is because few O grades have them but it looks silly IMO.

I think the real reason is that some nut job O got him/herself assigned multiple weapons are tried to look like a weapons master with 6 or more badge addons.

DA PAM 670-1. Section 22-15. Sub-Section B
How worn. Marksmanship badges are worn in order of precedence from the wearer’s right, and to the left of any special skill badges that are worn. Soldiers may wear up to three marksmanship badges (total does not include marksmanship tab), unless they fail to qualify in accordance with AR 350–1 or are exempt from qualification by Army regulations. No more than three marksmanship qualification clasps may be worn on each marksmanship qualification badge.

USMC officers wear and are expected to maintain expert rifle and pistol qualifications but no one really cares about such trifles except junior personnel. If a Marine has been in at least ten years he doesn't care that much about how many or what kind of ribbons and badges another Marine wears. Competence in one's abilities, the ability to communicate in all forms and through all channels, and displaying compassion for one's Marines is what matters. I couldn't tell you anything about my previous leaders' marksmanship abilities but I could tell you everything about my perception of their leadership abilities.

I am not a great shooter - I always qualify and i stot without CCO expert and expert with CCO; I am currently deployed and carry a 9 - I would much rather carry a M4!! I think it is a much better shot! Regardless of which one I carry, I can qualify with both and I am not a 60 holder nor have I shot one so if anyone expexts me, a personnel warrant to get behind a 60 and know how to shoot it, they are in for a rude awakeing LOL! What we wear on our uniform doesn't dignify the type of Soldier that we are! I agree with COL Smallfield!

I don't wear one either and haven't for about 10 years.

the reason for this is because officers are SUPPOSED to lead by example, so if they cant shoot expert then it would look bad on the officers corps so none of them wear it, i asked the same question to a captain and that is what i was told