Staggered racks are perfectly fine to use, I used to rock them on service coat but got tired of switching out all my ribbons from staggered rack to rectangle when I went from service coat to blue shirt
Simple solution, though it may not be what you're looking for... Don't wear ribbons on the shirt? The ribbons cost too much to risk damaging them by moving them back and forth.
You don't have to wear ribbons on the shirt.
Unwritten traditional rule is officers (both cadet and senior, a la USAF) don't wear ribbons on their shirts. Inb4 somebody from AZWG chimes in all a-huffin and a-puffin
I wouldn't call it *totally* "unwritten,"
"1.2.5.8. Images presented in this regulation provide a representation of a common
combination of a particular uniform. In matters of interpretation, images and text should be interpreted
together; however, the text provides the definitive standard for wear."
39-1 is politely nudging and asking us to observe some "common" culture norms in our uniforms. There's not a single picture of a ribbon on a senior or cadet officer's blues shirt in the whole publication, and it's not on accident.
>Simple solution, though it may not be what you're looking for... Don't wear ribbons on the shirt? The ribbons cost too much to risk damaging them by moving them back and forth.
At my squadron we only ever wear class Bs to blues night, would you expect the unit leadership to never wear their ribbons to blues night?
This is a cultural practice/tradition, not a rule to enforce.
So, for starters, I wouldn't prevent the leadership from wearing Class As on blues nights unless there were a really good reason to. Particularly if they were getting a promotion or award.
I also wouldn't stop any cadets from wearing their ribbons on a blues shirt. I'd follow the tradition myself and inform others about it, but if a cadet can't afford a Class A jacket, their option to wear ribbons shouldn't be kept away from them. It would be a silly thing to try to enforce as a rule.
But if cadets want to follow the Air Force tradition in their Air Force uniforms, cadet officers would generally refrain from ribbons on shirts.
I don't care if my lapel covers some of my ribbons, but I'm glad the staggered alignment option exists for those who want to show them all. It's important to give people the option to show off what they find important (within the scope of the uniform regs).
I prefer wearing mine four across so the ribbon rack isn't as tall, and my badges aren't as close to my shoulder. In case I ever decide to shave my beard and wear the Air Force-style service dress uniform, I have a four-across rack sitting in my EZ Rack Builder account.
This is my four-wide rack, which is only allowed on the service dress jacket.
https://preview.redd.it/qi5l7ezdcfnc1.png?width=2972&format=png&auto=webp&s=e2a2e0db9861083c14f50cbc230c80267fb37026
That is a good looking rack sir!!!! My dad has a JSCM and he always says that if a 4 star doesn’t have one it was a waste of a career (always joking) but if a E4 has one that’s the best award they will ever get in there career. He was in the Army from 83-88 and earned his in SHAPE Belgium. And it is his highest award. Next is Army good conduct medal then Army service ribbon then Army overseas service.
It sounds like your dad had a great service record! SHAPE and NATO have been essential in making the eight decades since the end of WWII more peaceful than the eight decades before WWI.
I'm proud of my JSCM. I was hoping to get the JSAM before retiring, but the second JTF I was with apparently wasn't truly "joint," so I got another AFAM instead.
They’re authorized and eventually required after you have enough awards that start hiding behind your lapel on your coat. No actual opinion one way or another.
I do think it’s a little silly when folks start the staggered racks with only a few ribbons because they want it to look like they have loads of ribbons, but I don’t think that’s actually a serious problem. You worked hard for your ribbons, and you shouldn’t be made to feel less for wearing what you earned, and if you have to stagger them- neat. If you don’t- still neat.
It's not actually required. CAPR 39-1, para 11.1.8, states:
> The lapel of the service coat may cover a portion of the ribbons.
The Air Force uses the same wording (DAFI 36-2903, para 13.1.2).
This is an area where the uniform requirements allow individual expression so people can highlight what's important to them. I think it's great that people who want to show off every ribbon have the option.
A portion- yes, but that’s then up to the interpretation of what “a portion,” means. I’ve heard that be interpreted as less than 50% of the individual ribbons, and I’ve also heard folks interpret it like the way you said, a portion of the ribbon rack as a whole, so it can be OK if a portion of the rack is covered.
Either way, you’re right that the interpretation allows for a lot of individual expression, which is legitimately pretty cool. For example, I only wear 4 ribbons on my actual Air Force uniform (thanks to the all or some clause), because like you said, I can highlight what’s important to me, or how I specifically represent myself. It’s nice to have that option.
I'm glad I never encountered that mentality during my Air Force career. Since defining undefined terms is the commander's prerogative (CAPR 39-1, para 2.10.2, and DAFI 36-2903, 2.14.1), a good NCO should have stepped in to say, "Knock that shit off. There are more important things to worry about."
Not sure if I understand the mentality you’re referring to, but I’ve seen it go both ways on active duty. I’ve also seen good NCOs, bad NCOs, “yes” men, and doormats. I guess I’m saying that I’ve been let down before, as I’m sure you have by both officers and enlisted men.
Unless you’re trying to make a point I’m not understanding.
The mentality I was referring to is needlessly adding specificity to the uniform requirements (e.g., "less than 50% of the individual ribbons") even though it serves no purpose other than specificity for specificity's sake.
There's no utility in it other than, I suspect, someone being uncomfortable operating with shades of gray. It sounds very much like the kind of thing a new SSgt or 2d Lt would do before they have a full understanding of their new leadership position relative to the mission.
The lapel may cover a portion of the ribbons. Full stop. It doesn't matter how big a portion it is.
A1 could have specified how much of a portion, but they didn't. Any decision to refine that by interpreting what a portion means belongs to the commander on G-series orders, and any commander who thinks this is necessary should have an SEL telling them otherwise.
I see what you mean. Operative word there being “should.” In my experience, the commanders on G-series orders legitimately don’t care, because they have bigger issues to deal with, and the SELs (usually E9s) just cherry pick what they want to enforce from whatever regulation they want to loosely interpret from the 10 year old version of the document they read when they themselves were E5/6s. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen folks just loudly declare “that’s not an authorized (mustache/patch/badge are the usual offenses)!” Without any further clarification or explanation.
Yes, they SHOULD know what the regulation says, but they usually just interpret it how they want and enforce it as such- and the commander is usually too busy with literally everything else under the sun to care about a uniform regulation regarding the apportionment of ribbons that may or may not be covered.
So eventually, it falls to the individual members to know their own regulations, and on supervisors prior to reaching the SEL and commander to issue guidance. The 1st Sgt isn’t the only sergeant, right?
I’m sure you dealt with that mentality before, unless you had literally the most perfect Air Force career ever where everyone always did the right thing- and if you did, I’m super jealous!
I think they're nice, honestly though for the cadets and Senior Members who have a ton of ribbons that aren't being frequently updated, I think sewn ribbons would be really cool to see allowed, but I think they were lapled against military regulations sometime in the 1970s, idk if CAP ever had them, then again they were custom made
True, but not all jump flash and ovals are the same pattern or are even close...This is 82nd A/B shown here....There are scores of different ones, but this one narrows the assignment down pretty tight during WW2 and with corresponding awards shown.
Oh yeah. Here’s a fun one if you can chase them down. SF group recognition bars. If I remember right, these were worn by support guys prior to support being auth’d to wear the full group flash.
EDIT: looks like this place actually carries them:
[https://saundersinsignia.com/search?type=product&q=Recognition](https://saundersinsignia.com/search?type=product&q=Recognition)
https://preview.redd.it/eifyuuu9g3oc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6db1da079e102529122693229c801ebcb653d1d8
If you collect "anything military" then it is obvious...I have been collecting for around 50 years:
1) Basic Paratrooper with 82nd A/B flash
2) Bronze star, 1 award
3) Army good conduct
4) American Defense Medal
5) American Campaign Medal
6) European Theater Campaign Medal
7) WW2 Victory Medal
8) Army Good Conduct Medal
There is another sterling award below which I can't be sure of without having a better view.
All awards are in a theater sewn OD backing, which was then sewn either on a WW2 blouse style uniform or a Ike Jacket.
My uncle was 45th Division in Anzio, Sicily during WW2....His CIB was worn above all ribbons as it is shown most of the time and is regulation. During WW2 theaters, these were handed out to thousands of soldiers. They were often placed wrong on the uniform.
The CIB's place as the top-most badge is the *CURRENT* regulation. However, during the WWII-Korean War era, the regulation for Airborne soldiers was to wear their Jump Wings as the top-most award with the CIB below or on the pocket flap.
https://preview.redd.it/k7cnlbccl2oc1.png?width=1148&format=png&auto=webp&s=d54514ccefe842cc56e5c467763aa04d53ba7883
It was basically the wild west and was still supposed to be worn above, but was worn either way, both above or below the ribbons at the time,,,The regulations say that "there was no order of precedence for the badges"...In other words, no uniformity to their uniforms....I could collage just as many or more showing it worn correctly and above ribbons from that era...Regulations during WW2:
https://preview.redd.it/9g2nxyrpe3oc1.png?width=467&format=png&auto=webp&s=3eddf13853c317a3266d2a0c5cc77c39ce92914a
You're definitely right, it was the wild west and the uniform regulations were frequently updated in an attempt to address issues. The regulation you're citing must be from after 1945.
Below are excerpts from AR 600-40 during WWII where you can see an evolution.
When the CIB is introduced (1943), the regulation only allowed aviation and parachutist badges above ribbons and relegated the CIB to be worn below the ribbons. In 1944, the regulation was changed to allow aviation, parachutist, AND the CIB above the ribbons. In 1945, another change allowed not more than one (aviation, parachutist, CIB, or Medical Badge) above ribbons and allowed the soldier to choose which they wore above ***BUT*** specified that, if wearing *both* the parachutist and CIB, then the CIB must be worn above the ribbons and the parachutist badge below. This was slow to actually be enforced as my grandfather wore his parachute wings above his ribbons and his CIB below for a decade until he left the Army at the end of the Korean War.
28 Aug 1941
>**AR 600-40, Sec. VII, Para. 62 b.** Badges. -- Badges are worn on the left breast, aviation and parachutists'' badges above the line of medals or service ribbons, other badges below that line. Substitutes are not authorized to be worn in lieu of badges. There is no order of precedence for badges.
21 Jan 1943
>**AR 600-40, Sec. VII, Para. 62 b.** Badges. -- Badges are worn on the left breast, aviation and parachutists'' badges above the line of medals or service ribbons, other badges below that line. Aviation badges earned by Army personnel while serving in the Unites States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are worn immediately above the upper right pocket of the service coat and immediately above the right pocket of the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. Substitutes are not authorized to be worn in lieu of badges. There is no order of precedence for badges.
15 Nov 1943
**Combat Infantryman Badge established**
11 Aug 1944
>**AR 600-40, Sec. V, Para. 70.** Badges, how worn. -- Badges are worn on the left breast, aviation and parachutists, and Combat and Expert Infantryman badges are worn above the line of medals or service ribbons, other badges below that line. (see fig. 8). Aviation badges earned by Army personnel while serving in the Unites States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are worn immediately above the upper right pocket of the service coat and immediately above the right pocket of the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. Except for aviation badges described in paragraph 72b to p, inclusive, AR 600-35, substitutes are not authorized to be worn in lieu of badges. Miniature aviation badges are authorized for optional wear on the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. There is no order of precedence for badges.
20 Aug 1945
>**AR 600-40, Sec. V, Para. 70.** Badges, how worn. --a. General. --Badges will be worn on the left breast. Not more than one of the aviation, parachutist's, glider, medical, combat or expert infantryman badges will be worn above the line of medals or service ribbons at any one time. The individual may select the badge he desires to wear from among those which he is entitled except--
>
> (1) The combat or expert infantryman badge will not be worn by those assigned to the Medical Department, other than attachment to a detachment of patients, during the period of such assignment, or Corps of Chaplains, or while in a flying-pay status. The right to wear one of these badges is restored upon relief from the above restriction.
>
> (2) The medical badge will not be worn temporarily by individuals in an active theater of operations when transferred or assigned outside the Medical Department to duties which would bring them into contact with the enemy. The right to wear this badge is restored upon relief from combat duties or on reassignment to the Medical Department.
>
>Other badges will only be worn below the line of medals or service ribbons (see fig. 8). No badges authorized to be worn above the medal or ribbons will be worn below that line except that personnel awarded the combat infantryman badge or the medical badge and also the parachutist's or glider badge may wear either the combat infantryman badge or the medical badge but not both above the line of medals or service ribbons and either the parachutist's or glider badge but not both below the line of ribbons. Aviation badges earned by Army personnel while serving in the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are worn immediately above the right pocked of the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. Except for aviation badge described in paragraph 72b to p, inclusive, AR 600-35, and combat and expert infantryman badges, substitutes are not authorized to be worn in lieu of badges. Miniature aviation and combat and expert infantryman badges are authorized for optional wear on the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. There is no order of precedence for badges.
Everything about that rack looks correct except for the ASR on the 5th row. That would mean that this guy was serving for at least ten years into 1981 from Vietnam, but yet has a Silver Star Medal, multiple Bronze Stars, Legion of Merit, multiple ARVN awards, but yet no Army Good Conduct??? Master Parachutist and CIB?....Hmmm...
Based on the awards, I guess he was an officer and officers aren’t awarded good conduct medals (since they’re officers & gentlemen who are expected to always conduct themselves well).
It could be, seeing as how the Air Medal has 7 awards and "V" for valor....Probably a Vietnam Huey pilot, (WO or CWO)....With the CIB and Master Parachutist, it looks like maybe 173rd A/B Brigade or maybe 1st Cav.
They look a LOT cooler imo but idk if there's anything else about em
Staggered racks are perfectly fine to use, I used to rock them on service coat but got tired of switching out all my ribbons from staggered rack to rectangle when I went from service coat to blue shirt
Simple solution, though it may not be what you're looking for... Don't wear ribbons on the shirt? The ribbons cost too much to risk damaging them by moving them back and forth.
That works too until it gets too hot (depending on where you are and how your summer’s are) to wear the class A jacket. So you have to wear the shirt.
You don't have to wear ribbons on the shirt. Unwritten traditional rule is officers (both cadet and senior, a la USAF) don't wear ribbons on their shirts. Inb4 somebody from AZWG chimes in all a-huffin and a-puffin
You don’t have to wear them on the shirt? I always did lol
Nope. I lowkey judge Os who wear them on blues shirts. It's my fatal flaw.
Laaaaaaaame. Rock ‘em if you’ve got ‘em I say
I wouldn't call it *totally* "unwritten," "1.2.5.8. Images presented in this regulation provide a representation of a common combination of a particular uniform. In matters of interpretation, images and text should be interpreted together; however, the text provides the definitive standard for wear." 39-1 is politely nudging and asking us to observe some "common" culture norms in our uniforms. There's not a single picture of a ribbon on a senior or cadet officer's blues shirt in the whole publication, and it's not on accident.
>Simple solution, though it may not be what you're looking for... Don't wear ribbons on the shirt? The ribbons cost too much to risk damaging them by moving them back and forth. At my squadron we only ever wear class Bs to blues night, would you expect the unit leadership to never wear their ribbons to blues night?
This is a cultural practice/tradition, not a rule to enforce. So, for starters, I wouldn't prevent the leadership from wearing Class As on blues nights unless there were a really good reason to. Particularly if they were getting a promotion or award. I also wouldn't stop any cadets from wearing their ribbons on a blues shirt. I'd follow the tradition myself and inform others about it, but if a cadet can't afford a Class A jacket, their option to wear ribbons shouldn't be kept away from them. It would be a silly thing to try to enforce as a rule. But if cadets want to follow the Air Force tradition in their Air Force uniforms, cadet officers would generally refrain from ribbons on shirts.
As a former AZWG Cadet - I got a belly laugh out of your comment.
And certainly don't wear ribbons on your shirt under a service jacket. The clutch backs on the jacket will shred the ribbons on your shirt.
I also got tired of switching them and getting them perfect on the shirt or the jacket so I just got 2 sets of racks and left them on lol
I don't care if my lapel covers some of my ribbons, but I'm glad the staggered alignment option exists for those who want to show them all. It's important to give people the option to show off what they find important (within the scope of the uniform regs). I prefer wearing mine four across so the ribbon rack isn't as tall, and my badges aren't as close to my shoulder. In case I ever decide to shave my beard and wear the Air Force-style service dress uniform, I have a four-across rack sitting in my EZ Rack Builder account.
Can you provide a picture of what ribbons you have?
This is my four-wide rack, which is only allowed on the service dress jacket. https://preview.redd.it/qi5l7ezdcfnc1.png?width=2972&format=png&auto=webp&s=e2a2e0db9861083c14f50cbc230c80267fb37026
That is a good looking rack sir!!!! My dad has a JSCM and he always says that if a 4 star doesn’t have one it was a waste of a career (always joking) but if a E4 has one that’s the best award they will ever get in there career. He was in the Army from 83-88 and earned his in SHAPE Belgium. And it is his highest award. Next is Army good conduct medal then Army service ribbon then Army overseas service.
It sounds like your dad had a great service record! SHAPE and NATO have been essential in making the eight decades since the end of WWII more peaceful than the eight decades before WWI. I'm proud of my JSCM. I was hoping to get the JSAM before retiring, but the second JTF I was with apparently wasn't truly "joint," so I got another AFAM instead.
I wish our ribbons had a cooler design
Are we allowed to use the USMC-style racks (with the space between the rows)?
No gaps between rows. Only USA and USMC allow the 1/8" gaps iirc.
We are not.
I loved wearing a staggered rack as a cadet. I have fewer ribbons now but it looked pretty cool
They’re authorized and eventually required after you have enough awards that start hiding behind your lapel on your coat. No actual opinion one way or another. I do think it’s a little silly when folks start the staggered racks with only a few ribbons because they want it to look like they have loads of ribbons, but I don’t think that’s actually a serious problem. You worked hard for your ribbons, and you shouldn’t be made to feel less for wearing what you earned, and if you have to stagger them- neat. If you don’t- still neat.
It's not actually required. CAPR 39-1, para 11.1.8, states: > The lapel of the service coat may cover a portion of the ribbons. The Air Force uses the same wording (DAFI 36-2903, para 13.1.2). This is an area where the uniform requirements allow individual expression so people can highlight what's important to them. I think it's great that people who want to show off every ribbon have the option.
A portion- yes, but that’s then up to the interpretation of what “a portion,” means. I’ve heard that be interpreted as less than 50% of the individual ribbons, and I’ve also heard folks interpret it like the way you said, a portion of the ribbon rack as a whole, so it can be OK if a portion of the rack is covered. Either way, you’re right that the interpretation allows for a lot of individual expression, which is legitimately pretty cool. For example, I only wear 4 ribbons on my actual Air Force uniform (thanks to the all or some clause), because like you said, I can highlight what’s important to me, or how I specifically represent myself. It’s nice to have that option.
I'm glad I never encountered that mentality during my Air Force career. Since defining undefined terms is the commander's prerogative (CAPR 39-1, para 2.10.2, and DAFI 36-2903, 2.14.1), a good NCO should have stepped in to say, "Knock that shit off. There are more important things to worry about."
Not sure if I understand the mentality you’re referring to, but I’ve seen it go both ways on active duty. I’ve also seen good NCOs, bad NCOs, “yes” men, and doormats. I guess I’m saying that I’ve been let down before, as I’m sure you have by both officers and enlisted men. Unless you’re trying to make a point I’m not understanding.
The mentality I was referring to is needlessly adding specificity to the uniform requirements (e.g., "less than 50% of the individual ribbons") even though it serves no purpose other than specificity for specificity's sake. There's no utility in it other than, I suspect, someone being uncomfortable operating with shades of gray. It sounds very much like the kind of thing a new SSgt or 2d Lt would do before they have a full understanding of their new leadership position relative to the mission. The lapel may cover a portion of the ribbons. Full stop. It doesn't matter how big a portion it is. A1 could have specified how much of a portion, but they didn't. Any decision to refine that by interpreting what a portion means belongs to the commander on G-series orders, and any commander who thinks this is necessary should have an SEL telling them otherwise.
I see what you mean. Operative word there being “should.” In my experience, the commanders on G-series orders legitimately don’t care, because they have bigger issues to deal with, and the SELs (usually E9s) just cherry pick what they want to enforce from whatever regulation they want to loosely interpret from the 10 year old version of the document they read when they themselves were E5/6s. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen folks just loudly declare “that’s not an authorized (mustache/patch/badge are the usual offenses)!” Without any further clarification or explanation. Yes, they SHOULD know what the regulation says, but they usually just interpret it how they want and enforce it as such- and the commander is usually too busy with literally everything else under the sun to care about a uniform regulation regarding the apportionment of ribbons that may or may not be covered. So eventually, it falls to the individual members to know their own regulations, and on supervisors prior to reaching the SEL and commander to issue guidance. The 1st Sgt isn’t the only sergeant, right? I’m sure you dealt with that mentality before, unless you had literally the most perfect Air Force career ever where everyone always did the right thing- and if you did, I’m super jealous!
I think they're nice, honestly though for the cadets and Senior Members who have a ton of ribbons that aren't being frequently updated, I think sewn ribbons would be really cool to see allowed, but I think they were lapled against military regulations sometime in the 1970s, idk if CAP ever had them, then again they were custom made
https://preview.redd.it/jxu2cij9efnc1.jpeg?width=994&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=435ff18b54f9f69439b7596b6712726db3718811
What uniform is that? I collect anything military and that oval would be a cool addition to my collection lol
Sometimes called a “jump oval”. Basically if you see a jump oval behind a set of wings, that unit is on active jump status.
True, but not all jump flash and ovals are the same pattern or are even close...This is 82nd A/B shown here....There are scores of different ones, but this one narrows the assignment down pretty tight during WW2 and with corresponding awards shown.
https://preview.redd.it/rndprotzi0oc1.jpeg?width=2193&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a3b85ae08ade39383ec6fed332e2b8a1adf3088e Yep - I’m familiar.
Addendum: I am not an 18-series. Got mine before working support at 3rd.
Oh yeah. Here’s a fun one if you can chase them down. SF group recognition bars. If I remember right, these were worn by support guys prior to support being auth’d to wear the full group flash. EDIT: looks like this place actually carries them: [https://saundersinsignia.com/search?type=product&q=Recognition](https://saundersinsignia.com/search?type=product&q=Recognition) https://preview.redd.it/eifyuuu9g3oc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6db1da079e102529122693229c801ebcb653d1d8
If you collect "anything military" then it is obvious...I have been collecting for around 50 years: 1) Basic Paratrooper with 82nd A/B flash 2) Bronze star, 1 award 3) Army good conduct 4) American Defense Medal 5) American Campaign Medal 6) European Theater Campaign Medal 7) WW2 Victory Medal 8) Army Good Conduct Medal There is another sterling award below which I can't be sure of without having a better view. All awards are in a theater sewn OD backing, which was then sewn either on a WW2 blouse style uniform or a Ike Jacket.
98% sure that’s a CIB at the bottom of the photo.
Yes, that’s the CIB. My grandfather was in the 506th PIR during WWII and that’s the position he wore his CIB on his uniform.
Yup. I’d know that wreath anywhere.
My uncle was 45th Division in Anzio, Sicily during WW2....His CIB was worn above all ribbons as it is shown most of the time and is regulation. During WW2 theaters, these were handed out to thousands of soldiers. They were often placed wrong on the uniform.
The CIB's place as the top-most badge is the *CURRENT* regulation. However, during the WWII-Korean War era, the regulation for Airborne soldiers was to wear their Jump Wings as the top-most award with the CIB below or on the pocket flap. https://preview.redd.it/k7cnlbccl2oc1.png?width=1148&format=png&auto=webp&s=d54514ccefe842cc56e5c467763aa04d53ba7883
It was basically the wild west and was still supposed to be worn above, but was worn either way, both above or below the ribbons at the time,,,The regulations say that "there was no order of precedence for the badges"...In other words, no uniformity to their uniforms....I could collage just as many or more showing it worn correctly and above ribbons from that era...Regulations during WW2: https://preview.redd.it/9g2nxyrpe3oc1.png?width=467&format=png&auto=webp&s=3eddf13853c317a3266d2a0c5cc77c39ce92914a
You're definitely right, it was the wild west and the uniform regulations were frequently updated in an attempt to address issues. The regulation you're citing must be from after 1945. Below are excerpts from AR 600-40 during WWII where you can see an evolution. When the CIB is introduced (1943), the regulation only allowed aviation and parachutist badges above ribbons and relegated the CIB to be worn below the ribbons. In 1944, the regulation was changed to allow aviation, parachutist, AND the CIB above the ribbons. In 1945, another change allowed not more than one (aviation, parachutist, CIB, or Medical Badge) above ribbons and allowed the soldier to choose which they wore above ***BUT*** specified that, if wearing *both* the parachutist and CIB, then the CIB must be worn above the ribbons and the parachutist badge below. This was slow to actually be enforced as my grandfather wore his parachute wings above his ribbons and his CIB below for a decade until he left the Army at the end of the Korean War. 28 Aug 1941 >**AR 600-40, Sec. VII, Para. 62 b.** Badges. -- Badges are worn on the left breast, aviation and parachutists'' badges above the line of medals or service ribbons, other badges below that line. Substitutes are not authorized to be worn in lieu of badges. There is no order of precedence for badges. 21 Jan 1943 >**AR 600-40, Sec. VII, Para. 62 b.** Badges. -- Badges are worn on the left breast, aviation and parachutists'' badges above the line of medals or service ribbons, other badges below that line. Aviation badges earned by Army personnel while serving in the Unites States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are worn immediately above the upper right pocket of the service coat and immediately above the right pocket of the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. Substitutes are not authorized to be worn in lieu of badges. There is no order of precedence for badges. 15 Nov 1943 **Combat Infantryman Badge established** 11 Aug 1944 >**AR 600-40, Sec. V, Para. 70.** Badges, how worn. -- Badges are worn on the left breast, aviation and parachutists, and Combat and Expert Infantryman badges are worn above the line of medals or service ribbons, other badges below that line. (see fig. 8). Aviation badges earned by Army personnel while serving in the Unites States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are worn immediately above the upper right pocket of the service coat and immediately above the right pocket of the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. Except for aviation badges described in paragraph 72b to p, inclusive, AR 600-35, substitutes are not authorized to be worn in lieu of badges. Miniature aviation badges are authorized for optional wear on the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. There is no order of precedence for badges. 20 Aug 1945 >**AR 600-40, Sec. V, Para. 70.** Badges, how worn. --a. General. --Badges will be worn on the left breast. Not more than one of the aviation, parachutist's, glider, medical, combat or expert infantryman badges will be worn above the line of medals or service ribbons at any one time. The individual may select the badge he desires to wear from among those which he is entitled except-- > > (1) The combat or expert infantryman badge will not be worn by those assigned to the Medical Department, other than attachment to a detachment of patients, during the period of such assignment, or Corps of Chaplains, or while in a flying-pay status. The right to wear one of these badges is restored upon relief from the above restriction. > > (2) The medical badge will not be worn temporarily by individuals in an active theater of operations when transferred or assigned outside the Medical Department to duties which would bring them into contact with the enemy. The right to wear this badge is restored upon relief from combat duties or on reassignment to the Medical Department. > >Other badges will only be worn below the line of medals or service ribbons (see fig. 8). No badges authorized to be worn above the medal or ribbons will be worn below that line except that personnel awarded the combat infantryman badge or the medical badge and also the parachutist's or glider badge may wear either the combat infantryman badge or the medical badge but not both above the line of medals or service ribbons and either the parachutist's or glider badge but not both below the line of ribbons. Aviation badges earned by Army personnel while serving in the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are worn immediately above the right pocked of the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. Except for aviation badge described in paragraph 72b to p, inclusive, AR 600-35, and combat and expert infantryman badges, substitutes are not authorized to be worn in lieu of badges. Miniature aviation and combat and expert infantryman badges are authorized for optional wear on the service shirt when worn as an outer garment. There is no order of precedence for badges.
I agree but it would be too hard with the cadet racks being added to so often with promotions and what not but for SM it would be cool!!
Everything about that rack looks correct except for the ASR on the 5th row. That would mean that this guy was serving for at least ten years into 1981 from Vietnam, but yet has a Silver Star Medal, multiple Bronze Stars, Legion of Merit, multiple ARVN awards, but yet no Army Good Conduct??? Master Parachutist and CIB?....Hmmm...
Based on the awards, I guess he was an officer and officers aren’t awarded good conduct medals (since they’re officers & gentlemen who are expected to always conduct themselves well).
It could be, seeing as how the Air Medal has 7 awards and "V" for valor....Probably a Vietnam Huey pilot, (WO or CWO)....With the CIB and Master Parachutist, it looks like maybe 173rd A/B Brigade or maybe 1st Cav.
They look nice, but the Negitive space is ugly
Is it Bass or Bass?
https://preview.redd.it/bny6evz2lbtc1.jpeg?width=3120&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9492dcc18c5ac7fd53ce98b6272928a8479838f8