Posted on Apr 2, 2016
SFC Platoon Sergeant
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Hi everybody, I'm getting ready to take my DA photo, but I run into the problem of my lapel covering up my awards. The major awards are covered up..my PH and 8 arcoms (one with V). I was wondering if anybody else has this issue and how you fixed it. Should/could I wear my ARCOM with V by itself, and a subsequent ARCOM with a silver olc and 2 bronze olc, or should I wear how I normally do (1 ribbon with V, silver OLC, 2 bronze OLC and rest assured they will see it on my ERB? This is also the case for my foreign jump wings above my unit crest, the lapel completely covers it. I just don't want to try anything to crazy, but also don't want my lapel to hide anything so the board can't see or be able to compare my awards on my uniform with my ERB and my board file. Thanks in advance for any input.
Posted in these groups: Us medals Awards4276e14c UniformsRibbons logo Ribbons
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Responses: 11
MAJ FAO - Europe
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Good luck on the board.

It's a sad bit of commentary that as an institution we are worried about ribbon placement on a uniform for a photo for a board. Surely there's a better way to select folks for promotion than to put so much emphasis on this topic. This isn't a comment about your concern---clearly you're doing the right thing and asking for advice., This is more of a comment on how strange it is that we: 1) still include photographs as part of promotion processes, when this clearly opens the way for bias and discrimination; and 2) have created an environment where folks think deeply about the best way to array awards and other things on their uniform.

In your case, I'd hope those on the board would read your ORB and NCOERs, which hopefully carry more weight than where you place an award.
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MCPO Couch Potato
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Rodney, were you aware that there is a uniform regulation that covers this exact situation in detail?

The fact that you would come on here and publicly announce the fact that you are that unfamiliar with common regulations is distressing. Just... wow. Is THIS what modern NCO's have come to? What will you do WHEN a subordinate comes to you to ask a question? Stand up in front of a formation to ask for the right info? On top of this, there's this REALLY cool thing that's new to the internet - it's called Poodle or Google or something. All you have to do is write out a question there and it comes back with all sorts of suggestions that might fill your needs. Just try these terms, "army uniform ribbons lapel regulation" and see what you get.

Oh, and don't worry. Someone will be there in the morning to lace your boots for you as well.
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CPO Marine Science Technician
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Here's a hint: 2/3 coverage
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CW2 Information Services Technician
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I utilized ultrathin.com and they give you options on how many awards you want per row and if you want them justified or not. they also look more professional than the racks you can buy at any clothing and sales store.

As far your foreign awards/ unit citations. are they justified or centered?
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SFC Platoon Sergeant
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I currently have them centered, but will switch it to the left. However, this still doesn't make all too much of a difference since they go so high up on my jacket that they run into the same issue. I am a smaller frame, and I feel like the lapel isn't tailored to jacket size, rather a standard lapel size for all uniform sizes. Thank you for your input.
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