I have noticed that the CAP National Commander's Commendation Medal looks very, very similar to the Navy Commendation Medal. Was this overlooked when the medal was in development?

I mean, if somone is wearing both ribbons how do you tell them apart? They are almost identical. Here’s a visual representation:

That is no longer the CAP NAT Com Comm.

The current decoration is the standard commendation ribbon with a silver star.

Even if it was the current one, it looks quite different to me.

Honestly, how many different color combinations and patterns can be incorporated onto such a tiny piece of cloth? Some accidental overlap would be bound to happen.

[color]Some accidental overlap would be bound to happen.[/color]

Who has the final say over what CAP ribbons look like?

The USCG keeps this from happening with the USCG Aux by insisting that all Aux ribbons, devices etc be put thru the US Army Institute of Heraldry.

Even with that some Aux ribbons are very close to each other in appearance. Generally an Aux ribbon that is a mirror of a CG ribbon is distinquished from it by having a white stripe down its center.

Since CAP is a civilian legal entity separate from the USAF, I wonder if the USAF could compel CAP to use the IOH or even if CAP is allowed to use its services.

Since ribbons are only worn on CAP's AF-style uniforms, the AF has to approve them.

However, this approval process isn't striclty defined anywhere that I'm aware of, so its hard to say whether it is just someone at CAP-USAF saying, "that looks fine", or whether they submit it through proper AF channels.

Given the lack of coordination between CAP and other AF uniform regulations, I doubt it goes beyond CAP-USAF.

In the total scheme of things does it really matter?

Well, I think there is some value to making sure CAP doesn't accidentally appopriate some other existing ribbon for our use. Conversely, it would be nice to have some "claim" on our own ribbons so that they aren't "stolen" by some other organization.

The world wouldn't collapse if such a thing happened, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be a topic on the radar screen, even if not a major priority.

Don't CAP ribbon and medal designs have to go through the AF Institute of Heraldry before they are approved? Thought I read that somewhere.

Nope.

quote:

Originally posted by JimmyDeano:
Nope.

Then how does CAP make sure that their ribbons are unique, distinctive and separate from those worn by the military?

I'd assume they just look at the colors and figure it out - it isn't rocket science.

It could also be possible that they have a chart with all the most recent Military awards. They are readily available at all MCSS's and online.

quote:

Originally posted by JimmyDeano:
I'd assume they just look at the colors and figure it out - it isn't rocket science.

Makes sense, considering the CAP Inspector General and Quality Assurance programs are the equivalent of a string and two paper cups.