Should a Marine pick and choose what ribbons he wishes to wear?
Some people rate Purple Hearts yet don't bear a single scar on their body. Others with the same Purple Heart have no legs. Some have NUCs for taking part in raiding a city. Others have NUCs for 7 days of RA in which they slept in until 4pm every day and then shipped to SOI.
Is this comparable to, say for instance, deciding that "hmm I didnt do as good a job as the other Corporals on this last deployment. I'm going to wear Lance Corporal chevrons on my uniform."?
Another stance could be: These ribbons are as much a part of my uniform as my belt and EGA buttons and its not up to my discretion whether or not I want to wear them or not.
Whats your take?
(Note: I couldnt find any MARADMINs re: whether or not you even have a choice to wear the ribbons you rate...not that its probable anyone would get caught for neglecting one)
(Note: I couldnt find any MARADMINs re: whether or not you even have a choice to wear the ribbons you rate...not that its probable anyone would get caught for neglecting one)
It's in the Uniform Regulations. "5301. WEARING RIBBONS. 1. Marines will wear all ribbons to which they are entitled on service and dress "B" coats. Ribbons will be worn on the dress "A" coats only as authorized in paragraph 5202.
2. When the blue dress "C"/"D" or service "B"/"C" uniforms are worn the wearing of ribbons on khaki shirts is at the individual's option unless the commander prescribes that ribbons be worn. If ribbons are worn on these uniforms, either all ribbons, or personal U.S. decorations with U.S. unit awards and the Good Conduct Medal, may be worn at the individual's option."
I used to piss off some of the blow hards on Okinawa and only wear my personal awards. Two medals and my three shooting awards. It drove them nuts, because none of them, except for a few had any personal awards. I loved it!
(8) Election of Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal/Vietnam Service Medal. Personnel who have earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Vietnam during the period 01Jul58 to 03Jul65, inclusive, may elect to receive the Vietnam Service Medal in lieu of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. No individual may be issued both medals for service in Vietnam during the period 01Jul58 to 28Mar73.
According to the reg, as written it looks like a Marine could receive both medals for service in Vietnam-if he served in Vietnam as say an 03 on a "standard" tour, then went back stateside and became an MSG and went on Embassy Duty in Vietnam and participated in Operation Frequent Wind.
quote:
(5) Operations. The following operations have been designated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as qualifying for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal:
Since Operation FREQUENT WIND became the 18th designated campaign listed for the Vietnam Service Medal, Marines who served in Operation FREQUENT WIND now have the option of exchanging their Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the Vietnam Service Medal.
