Posted on Oct 31, 2014
Why don't officers wear marksmanship badges?
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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?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 764
That and you know who did all the actual training ? Ncos officers just said let's train this all the rest was nco
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Lt. I served in the AF Reserve and then the AD Air Force and we had a ribbon. So
Whatever the Army says how to wear your uniform Sir, I would surmise you just follow along like a good Lt and do what is required(meanwhile read up on the why's and why-nots Sir and get a better understanding. Some officer who'd been in a way longer time may just give the proverbial "that's the way it is and always will be" Soldier, now buy the ol' man another drink). ...
Whatever the Army says how to wear your uniform Sir, I would surmise you just follow along like a good Lt and do what is required(meanwhile read up on the why's and why-nots Sir and get a better understanding. Some officer who'd been in a way longer time may just give the proverbial "that's the way it is and always will be" Soldier, now buy the ol' man another drink). ...
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I admit I am not up on Army Regs, but I always just figured it was tradition. I never paid that close attention to the racks, so not sure I even saw them on Navy officers
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I was told by a senior officer that officers don't wear marksmanship badges because officers are expected to be experts in everything they do. The reality is is that it would be just too hard to get those people who can't qualify expert to qualify expert. A low score of the PT test is more easily hidden while an expert marksmanship badge is not. No, no, we would not want to embarrass the officer who could not qualify expert.
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I have said this before I do know that Marine Corps officers still wear what they earn even Generals. All Marines primary MOS is 0311 (rifleman). My MOS was 0351 ( Assault man) even though I did not carry an M14 the whole time I still had to qualify for every year. Because I was in Vietnam from 1965 -1966 and then Gitmo for the rest of 1966 they made me qualify 3 times in 1967 with the M14 and the .45. I will tell you there were plenty of officers out there with me.
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