Does everyone need something "shiny" to make themselves stick out from other branches/services?

Then why did you join the Army?

Always thought all the Boy Scout badges the Army Handed out were a bit much. Read a map get a badge, start a fire get a badge.

Yeah, those bright blue pants with a large red stripes scream "subtle".

Be nice to Sgt Briggs, MSgt Bailey don't want to hurt the marines feeling, he might start talking about our uniform next.

Would you even be on a sub, if you weren’t already qualified?

Yes. A third of the crew is non-qualified. Thats how they learn. Sub school is only basics as they don't know what class of sub you will eventually serve on. And even tho you are qualified on your sub, if your next sub is a different class, you will need to requalify.

PO3 Bob McCord - Its been said that a submarine is more danger to its crew than to the enemy. Thresher is a good example. Sadly, the Cold War was ratcheting up and the last thing the government wanted to do was advertise that a builder (or two) screwed up the piping. An under the table witch-hunt commenced and soon, every sub was launched to a certain safety standard. I won't get into 1968's USS Scorpion as there are several schools of thought on how she went down. I think a few more higher up people need to die before the classifications can allow the info to be released.

As for the combat aspect, the training is tougher than it needs to be. And when the fit hits the shan, if you're where SONAR says you are, you're getting a torpedo that takes no prisoners. And sub-launched cruise missiles are 10 for 10 as far as shooting goes. One of our nav Chiefs was brown water Navy. You might have known him: Stephen Kollars. Crazy mo fo.

Chief Kollars' Nam stories always involved him machine-gunning someone or something. He had the worst PTSD ever. You couldn't wake him up for watch without him grabbing you, reaching for a gun, etc. Of course, back in my day we didn't know what PTSD was and just referred to him as "crazy Chief Kollars."

SPC (Join to see) - I believe that it was Napolean who said, a soldier will go that extra bit for a piece of ribbon to put on his shirt. I know I did not quote it exactly right, but that was the gist of what he was saying, so putting bling, or swag or whatever is something that has been around for a very long time. I do think maybe we put too much on, but then, looking at my own rack, I see a lot that were for different missions, or in the case of Desert Storm 4 different ribbons just for being there, but they were each from different country in the case of 3 of them, the 4th being Nat Def which I will admit I am more ambivalent about.

Its all about those who put a bit more effort into their jobs. Who would you follow, the sergeant who goes back to his room and prep for a night on the town, does the minimum through out the week to feel as though he earn his pay check or the guy who sacrificed months of his life to attend Ranger School? There was and is a reason why Airborne School is all voluntary.

The Stetson and Spurs, coins, shirts... I'm retired Air force but always thought these were so distinctive!

As someone who proudly earned the blue beret as a both a USAF Security Forces enlisted troop and commissioned officer, I can affirm that the little things go a long way!