Posted on Oct 31, 2014
Why don't officers wear marksmanship badges?
762K
5.72K
1.87K
522
522
0
The day I turned my chevrons in for gold bars I noticed something. All the officers I've ever seen never wore marksmanship badges in dress uniforms. I just assumed they were unauthorized for officers and removed it voluntarily. I honestly never desired to wear the badge (probably because I was only ever a sharpshooter), but I haven't found any documentation specifically preventing officers from wearing them. Do you think officers should wear them?
Officer
Uniforms
Marksmanship
Badges
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 764
33
33
0
I think the reason officers "choose" not to wear the marksmanship badges has more to do with being ashamed of their skill than anything else. Young Lts come into units basically brainwashed that they are "Leaders of Men" and the best of the best. How would it look if the officers showed up with qualification badges lower than the people they command? I don't believe AR 670-1 says that you are to wear all authorized awards and decorations except the ones that you don't want to. If you have a skill badged it should be worn. I agree with CW3 Keck above and the principle that the Marines have. Every soldier is a basic rifleman first last and always. The only reason for not wearing a badge is that you are not qualified. If you are not qualified on the military's basic weapon then you aren't qualified to serve.
How many five jump chumps are there that are wearing officer rank and not wearing their jump wings? I would guess that number would be zero. Shouldn't that same pride extend to marksmanship badges?
How many five jump chumps are there that are wearing officer rank and not wearing their jump wings? I would guess that number would be zero. Shouldn't that same pride extend to marksmanship badges?
(33)
(0)
CPT William Jones
I think the ones that dont wear the shooting badges are just to lazy to put them on. It is a little trouble to get them on properly all those straight lines show when they are crooked.
(0)
(0)
MAJ Tracey Nash, CISSP, MS, GCIA
I qualified many times - that is the only requirement. The badge is not a requirement.
(1)
(0)
33
33
0
Sgt Dan Catlin
2LT (Join to see) - Yes, and speaking of uniforms: Army uniforms always confuse me anyhow. Too much on them, then officers have to take some off, but you get to wear some things only when in a particular unit ... I prefer to keep things simple. Less is more!
(1)
(0)
32
32
0
CPT (Join to see) There is no regulation that prohibits commissioned officers from wearing marksmanship badges, it is just a tradition that they don't. I don't know how or why that tradition started, but it is just one of those strange facts.
I have seen many officers wear them in the past and I have found that most of them who do are former enlisted or members of the reserve components.
Interesting question ... May have to do a little research on that one.
I have seen many officers wear them in the past and I have found that most of them who do are former enlisted or members of the reserve components.
Interesting question ... May have to do a little research on that one.
(32)
(0)
CPL Joseph Elinger
Perhaps self conscious about wearing Marksman or Sharpshooter, rather than Expert.
(2)
(0)
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
CPL Joseph Elinger - That's kind of what I was thinking also but then that's just speculation I guess.
(0)
(0)
CW3 Harvey K.
CPT Lorenzo Lama - So we are expected to conclude from an officer's insignia of rank that he has qualified as "expert" with the rifle. That conclusion is what we are supposed to think, in spite of the absence of any marksmanship qualification badge on that officer's uniform.
Sorry to disappoint those illogical people who think they can substitute a rank insignia for a marksmanship medal, but the only valid assumption to make in the absence of that marksmanship medal is "non-qualifier".
Sorry to disappoint those illogical people who think they can substitute a rank insignia for a marksmanship medal, but the only valid assumption to make in the absence of that marksmanship medal is "non-qualifier".
(0)
(0)
24
24
0
As a retired Infantry Officer, I wore the US Army Distinguished Rifleman Badge and Presidents 100 Tab proudly. Officers command and NCO lead, but Officers set the example and when needed lead. There was not a weapon that I did not qualify Expert and set the example and bar for achievable goal.
(24)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
I have only heard of the DRB, and while I could look it up, I wold rather ask someone who has been-there-done-that. How does one earn it?
(0)
(0)
MAJ Hugo B. Adelson
Its earned by shooting in Excellence in Competition marksmanship events. No sighter shots so you must know your weapon zeros out to various ranges. Once completed, only the top 10% earn points on sliding scale; 10 Points for top finishers, 8 Points for next group and 6 points for remaining top 10%. To earn, you must get 30 points and one of these must be at either the All-Army Championships or Interservice Championships. The Presidents One Hundred Tab is earned by finishing in Top 100 of the Presidents Match at the US National Championship.
(4)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) the challenge in earring distinguish is getting to sanctioned matches that would award leg points. Then actually finishing in the to 10% and now there is a minimum score threshold because the quality of distinguished shooters was declining.
(2)
(0)
23
23
0
It's not in any regs, but it's an Army officer custom thing. Just like not having facial hair and 2LTs not saluting 1LTs.
(23)
(0)
LTC John Griscom
MAJ Glenn Bergeron - The Infantry School DUI at Fort Benning confused some soldiers into saluting the wearer because it resembled an LT's bar when the sunlight reflected off it. Although the DUI was worn on the opposite side.
(0)
(0)
CW3 (Join to see)
My first Battalion Commander when I was a WO1 approached me at the PX on a Saturday and said “Chief, Officers in my Battalion shave daily”. A different world.
(0)
(0)
SFC Ernest Thurston
LTC John Griscom - So what's the problem with saluting another soldier, regardless of rank. It's " Customs and Courtesies". It's a gesture of recognition and respect. I would be like living in a very small town and not saying hi to a neighbor walking down the street. What harm would it do if an Lt accidentally saluted a Pvt? Or a Cpt salutes a WO1.
(1)
(0)
22
22
0
Of course this is an Army perspective, the Marine Corps takes a much different view of the matter. A Marine officer is expected to extoll the same warrior virtues as the enlisted Marines he leads. Even wing wipers are motivated to exhibit proficiency with the basic weapons, different culture.
(22)
(0)
CWO3 (Join to see)
GySgt John Olson - Man that's double distinguished shooting there Guns, I had hard enough time at 200 in offhand....a whole lotta luck and firing the wobble area...sprayin n prayin was more like it. I always lost the most points at 200 and maybe spazz and lose a point or two on mag changes at 300, 500 were like base libo, once you got your sling locked in, body alignment and elbow dug in then just center front sight post and bring it up till you had a match tip for brain housing group on top and squeeze em off for center mass, I never moved shooting elbow and just rolled over a tad to load each round and it's all good from there, that WTB bunch and Team were different breed, the armorers were awesome as we were sending 45's out to convert to SOC 45's for Force Recon Dets with MEUs....before they started buying off the shelf high speed low drag stuff
(1)
(0)
LTC Christopher Hills
Well, i’d say it isnt an Army perspective. It may be an Armor perspective or a “leg” perspective but in the airborne everyone fights and fits their other duties in around it. That is core to success and survival when you expect to be outnumbered and surrounded as a rule. If the rest of the army doesnt agree with that it is to their detriment and a damn shame to hear as well. If officers arent warriors then they cant lead warriors. That is leadership 101 when tge shit hits the fan.
(0)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
BG Donald Currier - Well in defense of the Army or any other branch I have to say there is not enough time allocated to developing the skill or people to teach them let alone the ammo needed. Since shooting is a perishable skill one needs to practice on a constant basis and in all kinds of environment especially the cold. the military will not budget the money or allow for members to practice.
To get to my level I spent 6 days a week at the range. A Trap competition over 10 days was 300 rounds per day not counting practice or shoot offs so that's at least at a minimum of 3,000 rounds. Preparation was 5 rounds in practice for every round shot. that's a lot of ammo.
I believe adopting IPSC and 3 gun competition are great avenues for weapon training.
To get to my level I spent 6 days a week at the range. A Trap competition over 10 days was 300 rounds per day not counting practice or shoot offs so that's at least at a minimum of 3,000 rounds. Preparation was 5 rounds in practice for every round shot. that's a lot of ammo.
I believe adopting IPSC and 3 gun competition are great avenues for weapon training.
(1)
(0)
BG Donald Currier
SGT (Join to see) - I admire your enthusiasm and professionalism. I wish the Army would budget more for ammunition. My units shot twice as often as our peers but that was nowhere near enough to stay proficient. Frankly, unless you find a way to shoot outside of the Army's regular training program you are not likely to develop the kind of confidence in your weapon that you need in combat.
(1)
(0)
20
20
0
LTC Paul Labrador
MEDCOM (non-PROFIS) are only required to qual every 3 years. PROFIS are required to qual annually.
(1)
(0)
20
20
0
I didn't know that most officers don't wear them. Here's what I would say though if I were an officer and it ever came up in conversation.
"I don't wear the marksmanship badges because my job isn't to shoot a rifle or pistol, my job is to lead soldiers and direct them where to shoot!"
"I don't wear the marksmanship badges because my job isn't to shoot a rifle or pistol, my job is to lead soldiers and direct them where to shoot!"
(20)
(0)
(1)
(0)
ENS (Join to see)
Maybe this is just an Army thing. I wear my marksmanship ribbons and so do the other Naval officers I know who have them.
(0)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
if your job is not shooting then tell me what good are you in a fight. Its not that your the troops don't know how to return fire.
(0)
(0)
14
14
0
Can't speak for the Army......The Marine Corps requires all officers to wear qual badges with SS A, and DB B uniforms. Never saw a reg but none of us (E's and O's) wore shooting badges with a ss khaki shirt. The Corps requires our officers to be expert shots, as the inability to hit displays resistance to instruction(it's not an art- it's science.as a Marine Primary Marksmanship Instructor, give me a railroad car full of bannanas, and I'll get a chimp to hit at 500 yds) And the aforementioned "Setting the example". But then again, only in the Marine Corps are ALL officers expected to be "Riflemen First". That, Gentlemen, is why the Marine Rifle Platoon Commander's T/O weapon is a RIFLE.
(14)
(0)
Sgt David Hesser
Yes I agree but her is the problem with that, a enlisted gets one shot at making their badge and it is what it is, a officer gets to keep trying until they get expert, and on one more side note senior S/NCO,s and Officers don’t have to qualify any more
(0)
(0)
LTC Christopher Hills
Sgt David Hesser - Don't know how you define "senior" and I don't know what units your in... but officers go to the range with troops and they all get the same opportunity to qual and leave. the officers dont' get special treatment and the officers do still qualify. My son is a CPT in a special ops unit and he runs ranges all the time for his battalion with all the officers up to and including the battalion Commander still qualifying. sounds like an armor or leg unit. Never served in one and the more I hear on hear... folks are either bitter and clueless OR those soldiers would have been greatly shook up under my command.
(2)
(0)
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google