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?
Officer
Uniforms
Marksmanship
Badges
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 764
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I was enlisted in the Navy and earned sharpshooter in both the pistol and rifle. Although not the highest badge the Navy offers, I took a lot of pride in my competence with a gun rather than the highest scores. When I traded chevrons for bars, I continued to represent my marksmanship ribbons along with all of my Navy salad. I use it as a tool of motivation to challenge the young Airmen I lead to be the best they can and earn their stripes.
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I always wore mine; BUT I was/am an expert w/ multiple weapons. I find some Officers are embarrassed to wear bolo badges -- answer is to work at it,, you should be an expert. I also wear my drivers badge.
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2ndLt (Join to see)
In the Army they are not authorized on the dress uniform for officers the logic being that officers are supposed to shoot expert. Reality is they don't all obviously, but that's the mentality they teach at OCS. Other branches wear their rifle and pistol badges. Army officers also do not wear any of the driver badges or additional weapon qualification bars.
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I screwed u pand diid a good job running the range. So I got to do it over and over. From my experience most Officers cant shoot anyway, so why wear a badge.
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In one of the units I served generally the officers who were formerly enlisted wore their marksmanship badges but those who went ROTC often did not for some reason.
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I've been around for many years, enlisted, officer, active, reserve, and guard. I always wear my badges, they are part of the uniform.
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I wore my marksmanship badges. I was on National Guard State Rifle team. I assisted the NCO'S on the range. When officers qualified with 1911's, I was in charge of the small group.
When the Battalion qualified before Bosnia, the NCO'S ran the range. I was available IF necessary.
In Bosnia, I shot my M9 and a random M16. Shot expert with the Berreta. Shot a 1 inch group with the M16.
My soldiers knew that "I could walk the walk".
When the Battalion qualified before Bosnia, the NCO'S ran the range. I was available IF necessary.
In Bosnia, I shot my M9 and a random M16. Shot expert with the Berreta. Shot a 1 inch group with the M16.
My soldiers knew that "I could walk the walk".
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It seems to me, if I recall correctly, that when wearing the Uniform, on should wear all of the medals, ribbons, and devices one is authorized to wear and that if one does otherwise, they are "out of uniform". The very word "uniform" implies sameness and consistency. For leaders to not be in proper uniform as a "culture" sets a poor example for subordinates and really shouldn't be tolerated. That's just my $0.02.
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