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
0
0
0
I have never heard of this "rule or reg" until now. I was a draftee and qualified on several weapons during basic. Then enlisted to get schools and qualified on another weapon, and went to, and graduated from Armor OCS. More different weapons. Since I was an expert shot before getting drafted, I believe I could have qualified expert on everything I touched. But as a 19 year old, I wanted "stuff", so purposely got Expert, Marksman, AND Sharpshooters badges. Most of the "tags" were on the Expert badge. No one, including my CG, Brigade, or Battalion commanders ever called me over and said "Lieutenant, you are out of uniform" while wearing all of them on dress greens or Blues. Now this was in 1966 - 1975, so maybe things have changed. 1LT Rich Voss
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I was told this by an Army Officer once, and I believe it. War is war, and some with run to the rear. Officers shoot them to prevent a mass panic and to continue the assault. And to make the point. Makes sense to me.
(0)
(0)
CW4 Tim Claus
Well, the knots on the officer's white cap goes back to the days of marksmen in the fighting tops so they could identify which officers where their own from above and shoot the bad guys instead. There is a lot of formal and informal history in dress uniforms. Each branch has their own history and culture. None is bad, none is better than the others, just different due to the history and culture of the branches. Overall, the Navy and Army need to cover much more ground with their more expansive missions and culture than the Marines or Air Force.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
From the comments here, it seems there's both a lot of local variation on the wear/non-wear of marksmanship badges by officers "culture" and a variance in that "tradition" over time as well. It is well to keep in mind that we are discussing "tradition" in an organization that is over two centuries old.
A good deal of authority is exercised, if not arrogated, by lower level commanders who "discourage" if not outright forbid wearing of marksmanship badges authorized (but not necessarily required) by regulations. The result is that there is no standard, Army-wide consistency in the practice of officers wearing marksmanship badges, neither over time nor over the various subordinate units composing the Army.
A good deal of authority is exercised, if not arrogated, by lower level commanders who "discourage" if not outright forbid wearing of marksmanship badges authorized (but not necessarily required) by regulations. The result is that there is no standard, Army-wide consistency in the practice of officers wearing marksmanship badges, neither over time nor over the various subordinate units composing the Army.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
As a Veteran of two services and currently serving as an Army civilian. If authorized to wear it, wear it. Put the placards or your office walls. But make sure it for the right reason. That recognition is not just about you, it is about inspiration. Actually, inspiration is the biggest factor. Your awards, lame as you may feel they be, might be the only thing that inspires the gal/guy following in your footsteps, to step up and make the critical call.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I don't wear them either and I'm enlisted. I think the Army uniform is over decorated and godey. I believe that if you can't shoot you need to find another profession. Unfortunately the Army prefers Soliders who are good at spreadsheets. I'm waiting for a spreadsheet badge.
(0)
(0)
CW4 Tim Claus
Sure can look like a third world general officer uniform with all the stuff on it. I had hopes with the ASU that we would be able to stay with the traditional look of the very clean dress blues, but the combat arms guys won the argument and junked it up almost as bad as the Class As in their final versions.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
SGM Mark Davis,
Typical response from a SGM whom probably has little, or no, education. This comment is coming from a former Army E-7, with a BSM, two Master's Degrees and currently working as the Operations Manager for the NASA Space Network. My question is this; why should the level of award be predetermined by someone's rank? I am a believer in education, if the Army were to ever require at least a four year degree for promotion to the rank of E-9, how many current SGM/CSMs would be in that rank? Cheers!
Typical response from a SGM whom probably has little, or no, education. This comment is coming from a former Army E-7, with a BSM, two Master's Degrees and currently working as the Operations Manager for the NASA Space Network. My question is this; why should the level of award be predetermined by someone's rank? I am a believer in education, if the Army were to ever require at least a four year degree for promotion to the rank of E-9, how many current SGM/CSMs would be in that rank? Cheers!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Officers are supposed to qualify so no need to show it. That is the theory. I believe no officer wants to be out done by his enlisted personal. But regardless of my thoughts that is the way we wear our uniform.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Most Officers I knew couldn't hit the broad side of a Mountain..At least I can hit my hand....
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google