# Chest full of service ribbons/decorations: how closely are they "read?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 22, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884 "2017-07-22T16:13:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/41 "2017-07-25T16:20:40Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Yes, military jewelry can get quite complicated if you’ve been in a long time and/or qualified for a lot of stuff and/or had a lot of… adventures (There I was…). I personally had three decorations, the NDM I wrote of above, a Good Conduct Medal, and an Expert Pistol Marksman Medal. The last was absolutely bottom in order of precedence but was the one I was proudest of because I’d dome something to earn it. > > I read a book by Harold Coyle, the [_Team Yankee_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Yankee) guy, with a scene where an army major and a captain were standing in a parking lot having a conversation. There was the ever-so-quiet tick of a [pin back](https://www.amazon.com/Plated-Military-Butterfly-Clutch-Included/dp/B002RIUUSK) hitting the ground and they both broke off the convo and started patting their various bits and bobs, trying to determine which had come loose. Since Coyle is an ex-tanker I had no doubt this was based on something that had happend to him. I know mrAru was grumpy that he got a Navy Expeditionary instead of a second Armed Forces Expeditionary for something. Who knew the Med and the Arabian Sea were the same [medalwise] though the medal awarding was a number of years apart [I think one was Libya on the Spadefish] Now want fun, start comparing [“unofficial” certificates](https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/customs-and-traditions/crossing-the-line/list-of-unofficial-us-navy-certificates.html) - I know he got Bluenose and Magellan on the same trip, and as I have said before, I think it is cheating to go around the world under the ice pack … ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/42 "2017-07-25T16:45:07Z")
To my mind, a trip is a circumnavigation iff it includes a closed loop, at least one pair of points on which are antipodal. It’s not enough to just hit every longitude line. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/43 "2017-07-26T00:38:58Z")
Parachuting down to the bottom of the thread with a few thoughts: In the Air Force, we only wear our ribbons with our blues, and our medals pretty much only when they’re presented or when in Mess Dress (assuming we own a set of that…) I think I was only ever presented with a couple of my medals, the others just sort of popped up in my record when I had earned them and I went to the BX to buy the ribbon. Incidentally, National Defense Service Medal is one of the ones that just sort of popped up in my record. When we were in Basic, our instructors gave us a list of which ribbons to buy from the shoppette near our dorm and what order to put them on our ribbon racks in. At least where I’m stationed, we wear blues rarely enough that the ribbons become a casual topic of discussion just because we rarely get to see each other’s ribbon racks. I’ve been told I have a spectacular looking rack, although most of it is purely for participation. Also helps that Air Force requires “All or Nothing” when wearing ribbons with our blues. Every so often you’ll see a ribbon that pops out because you didn’t know they, for example, deployed to Iraq, or received the Purple Heart, or spent time in Antarctica. I have one foreign decoration, a NATO Non-Article 5 medal, which Air Force regs state goes at the far bottom left of the rack. I also have a number of Civil Air Patrol awards, which are not authorized on the USAF uniform at all (CAP is a civilian organization, despite the military style uniforms and bling). Conversely, all of my USAF awards are authorized on my CAP uniform. The one time I showed up to a CAP meeting with my full rack of USAF and CAP ribbons, everyone else teased me for all of the bling I had on my uniform (lots of CAP folks are retired military, and usually don’t fuss with most of the military stuff on the CAP uniforms). If one of my airmen showed up in blues with whatever on his ribbon rack, I probably wouldn’t know at a glance what he should and shouldn’t have unless something really out of place turned up, like if they had an Iraq campaign medal with three service stars as an E-3 in 2017, or some particularly distinguished award. (I don’t have easy access to their awards and decs listing without digging through PRDA to find each award citation and set of orders, which I’d need to cross-check with what years which units received awards… frankly, I have better things to do with my time) I might notice if some of the awards I was familiar with were out of place. In the event that I wanted to be particularly picky, as does happen from time to time (such as if an Airman was expected to report to an awards board or meet a visiting general or some such), I’d have them print off their Awards and Decs listing from vMPF so I could check it against their ribbon rack. Most of the time though, we don’t wear our blues at all except for special occasions, so I’m mostly looking to see that their camo uniforms are clean, properly fitting, and have the right rank and badges on them. ---
**Author:** ![JHBoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JHBoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHBoom)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/44 "2017-07-26T01:20:06Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > Are service members required to wear all their ribbons? Depends on which service. I know the Navy allows a single 3-ribbon bar, with the top 3 ribbons/medals you have, to be worn with certain uniforms. No idea which uniforms - the Navy, at least on the enlisted side, has A LOT of different uniforms & uniform variations. Marine Corps is all ribbons/medals worn with certain uniforms. No option to wear only what you want, and no Navy option. Air Force is all-or-nothing, no Navy option. Interestingly, pilot and aircrew wings are required to be worn if awarded, whether ribbons are worn or not. No idea on Army (but I think it’s been covered). > [@](#): > > If, for instance, a grunt got an award but didn’t feel it was deserved, can they just leave their bronze star (or GWOT, or whatever) off their rack? Or will a superior remind them they’re out of uniform (assuming the superior is in a bad enough mood to care about something like that). In the Marines and the Air Force, you don’t get to pick and choose which awards you wear. If it’s been awarded to you, and appears in your records, you have to wear it. [cool story bro] While in the Marines back in the mid-'90s, I once had to participate in a Commanding General’s “[junk on the bunk](http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?44061-Junk-on-the-Bunk-Seabag-Inspection)” Inspection. The inspector (a Captain, not the General himself) had a printout of each Marine’s ribbons/medals, to check against their ribbon rack on their uniform. One Marine took an inspection hit because he didn’t know \*when \*he was awarded one of his “I was there” ribbons. That was one of the few questions we didn’t prep for. [/cool story] ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/45 "2017-07-26T02:00:16Z")
> [@JHBoom](#): > > Interestingly, pilot and aircrew wings are required to be worn if awarded, whether ribbons are worn or not. > No idea on Army (but I think it’s been covered). As I recall, aircrew and chaplain insignia are always required in the Air Force (and Civil Air Patrol). I presume the latter because chaplains are noncombatants (I can’t recall if there is a similar rule for medical types), and the former because flying is the whole point of both organizations. Other occupational badges are optional on most uniforms, but you tend to get a lot of flak from your leadership if you omit them. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/46 "2017-07-26T14:06:20Z")
# FWIW, **Raguleader** ’s post echoes exactly how it was done in my era too. Not much has changed in 30+ years. Except for all that new-fangled online stuff he casually mentions. We had Selectrics and RIPs from CBPO and were glad to have 'em. 🙂 Pre-emptive strike for **Leo** : A “Selectric” was a now-obsolete model of IBM electric typewriter. [IBM Selectric - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Selectric_typewriter) A “RIP” is a “Report on Individual Person”. A “CBPO” is a Consolidated Base Personnel Office. A RIP was a printout done on a mainframe line printer using that traditional 11x14" wide green bar paper with tractor holes down the sides. [Line printer - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_printer). Typically they’d be done on 3- or 5-part paper with carbon paper interlayers. The CBPO kept or distributed the upper copies for their own inscrutable purposes. And gave the servicemember the bottom-most = almost unreadable copy for their personal archive = trash can. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/47 "2017-07-26T14:56:53Z")
> [@JHBoom](#): > > [cool story bro] > While in the Marines back in the mid-'90s, I once had to participate in a Commanding General’s “[junk on the bunk](http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?44061-Junk-on-the-Bunk-Seabag-Inspection)” Inspection. The inspector (a Captain, not the General himself) had a printout of each Marine’s ribbons/medals, to check against their ribbon rack on their uniform. One Marine took an inspection hit because he didn’t know \*when \*he was awarded one of his “I was there” ribbons. That was one of the few questions we didn’t prep for. > [/cool story] Question - why was an officer inspecting uniforms? Isn’t that an NCO’s job? ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/48 "2017-07-26T17:48:06Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > A “RIP” is a “Report on Individual Person”. Is _that_ what RIP means? For the last 10 years, I’ve assumed it was just an abbreviation of “Report”. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/49 "2017-07-26T17:49:16Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Question - why was an officer inspecting uniforms? Isn’t that an NCO’s job? Every so often an officer will inspect for some reason or another. Sometimes the inspection is purely ceremonial, of course. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/50 "2017-07-26T18:14:54Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > The military has an order of precedence also for foreign awards authorized for wear on the US military uniform. Yes, my Dad had all three Philippine medals. Philippine Defense Medal is the rare one, iirc. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/51 "2017-07-26T18:20:13Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Dick Winter’s (of _Band of Brother_’s fame) was recommended for the Medal of Honor, he got a DSC; since there was an unofficial rule of one MoH per division per battle. > > No one has ever managed to explain to me why McArthur got the Medal of Honor for getting his ass kicked in 1942. And that reminds me. The 101st got the [Presidential Unit Citation (United States) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Unit_Citation_(United_States)) and in the miniseries one of the veterans is busting the chops of a newbie who is wearing the award, as the newb wasnt there when the 101 earned it. But the newb still has to wear it anyway right? and yeah many Vets hate old Dugout Doug. ---
**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/52 "2017-07-26T18:23:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Question - why was an officer inspecting uniforms? Isn’t that an NCO’s job? I would do inspections of my platoon for a period of time after the CO would do an inspection and let us know the sorts of things he wasn’t happy with. Once I was confident that the platoon was meeting the CO’s standard then I would let it go back to being handled by the platoon warrant officer. Still it is a good idea for the platoon commander to do an inspection to make things aren’t sliding. If the company commander or the CO does an inspection and is not happy it isn’t the platoon warrant officer’s head in the noose. Also, if a special event is coming up, say a Remembrance Day parade it is a good idea to do an inspection (more than one really, first one to catch mistakes, second one to ensure they’ve met the standard, continue until the standard is met). You don’t want to be the platoon commander whose platoon looks like crap on Remembrance Day. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/53 "2017-07-26T19:20:55Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Is _that_ what RIP means? For the last 10 years, I’ve assumed it was just an abbreviation of “Report”. :smack: I thought that too for a few years. Then I noticed that up on the top at the center they all say (said?) “Report on Individual Person”. I :smack:ed a couple times too. It’s not a RIP if it’s not a page about a single person. An e.g. roster of whoevers is not a RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/54 "2017-07-26T23:00:40Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > My father had 4 rows when he retired after 36 years of service, plus a few badges. I asked him which ones he was proud of the most. The order was > > 1. Campaign Medals. > 2. Some of the professional qualification badges > 3. The long service 10, 20, 30-year ribbons > _4) The gallantry awards_ > 4. Everything else. > Gallantry awards often have an aspect of political pressure behind them, and FME many military men tend to be less overawed by them than civilians. [Ital added] > > … The gallantry awards from grateful non-US nations, right? What the heck is a gallantry award from our (US) side? A list of them is at the bottom of the OP [Wiki cite on Military awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_awards_and_decorations)–did I miss it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/55 "2017-07-26T23:07:18Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > The gallantry awards from grateful non-US nations, right? What the heck is a gallantry award from our (US) side? A list of them is at the bottom of the OP [Wiki cite on Military awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_awards_and_decorations)–did I miss it? [US Military Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_United_States_Armed_Forces#Order_of_precedence_2) Top 3 Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross\*, Silver Star. \*Different names in each of the Services ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/56 "2017-07-26T23:08:04Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [US Military Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_United_States_Armed_Forces#Order_of_precedence_2) > Top 3 > Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross\*, Silver Star. > \*Different names in each of the Services :smack: Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/57 "2017-07-27T05:38:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And that reminds me. The 101st got the [Presidential Unit Citation (United States) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Unit_Citation_(United_States)) and in the miniseries one of the veterans is busting the chops of a newbie who is wearing the award, as the newb wasnt there when the 101 earned it. But the newb still has to wear it anyway right? > > and yeah many Vets hate old Dugout Doug. Yes, certain unit citations are eligible for temporary wear by every soldier currently in the unit. Present day soldiers in the 101st are wearing Presidential Unit Citations earned in WWII. While in the unit, they can (informally, must!) wear all eligible awards the unit earned throughout its history. When appearing before a promotion board, or similar, the soldier would be best prepared to know when/how the unit received each award. ETA: If you are a member of a unit during the period for which it earns a unit award, you are allowed to wear that award permanently. So even after you move on to a different unit, you can still wear the unit awards for which you were an active participant in helping a unit earn it. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/58 "2017-07-27T07:21:28Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > The gallantry awards from grateful non-US nations, right? What the heck is a gallantry award from our (US) side? A list of them is at the bottom of the OP [Wiki cite on Military awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_awards_and_decorations)–did I miss it? Wasn’t American. Pakistani. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/59 "2017-07-27T12:08:16Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I thought that too for a few years. Then I noticed that up on the top at the center they all say (said?) “Report on Individual Person”. I :smack:ed a couple times too. It’s not a RIP if it’s not a page about a single person. An e.g. roster of whoevers is not a RIP. Oh, that’s why I didn’t make that connection. I don’t think any of the RIPs we get in the Air Force actually say that on the top. We have Assignment RIPs (notification of a new assignment, as opposed to actual orders), Fitness RIPs (the fitness test history report from AFFMS), and so on. Usually, like you said, a report about some individual on some particular topic, often used to help us prepare other paperwork or make whatever preparations for the topic at hand. ---
**Author:** ![JHBoom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@JHBoom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JHBoom)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884/60 "2017-07-27T19:55:06Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Question - why was an officer inspecting uniforms? Isn’t that an NCO’s job? Whether it’s a quick look in passing on a daily basis, or a no-shit formation at Open Ranks with everyone in a designated uniform, yes, it’s definitely an NCO’s job to ensure his/her minions are complying with the uniform regs. In this case, however, the Captain was part of the staff of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW), and an official representative of the Commanding General (CG - a 2-star in this case). This was not a normal occasion; it was a Commanding General’s Inspection (CGI) of a Marine helicopter squadron. Scheduled well in advance, with 2 weeks of reduced flying and maintenance, and a full week of no flying and very little maintenance. At the same time my junk-on-the-bunk group was being inspected, another group was doing a Physical Fitness Test, and a platoon was doing Close-Order Drill. Both of these events were monitored by officers and Staff NCOs from the 3rd MAW staff as well. Also, the CG himself was touring the squadron spaces and talking to the handful of Marines not participating in one of the 3 main events. The participants in the main events were chosen by the Wing staff, not the squadron, so squadrons couldn’t stack the deck with skinny PT monsters, uniform models, etc. A CGI was something that could break a CO’s career, so plenty of attention was paid to it. This was a regular occurrence back in the pre-9/11 USMC - in 3rd MAW, you could expect any given squadron to have a CGI approximately once every 2 years. At one point in the very late-'90s/early '00s the CGI program was reworked to not interrupt operations and training as much as it had in the past, since it was understood by everyone (including the CGs who were inspecting…) that an inspection-ready unit =/= a combat-ready unit. I left the Marines in '04; I have no idea if the CGI program still exists as I’ve described it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chest-full-of-service-ribbons-decorations-how-closely-are-they-read/791884.md?page=4)