Posted on Nov 30, 2015
Wearing a ribbon or medal you were never issued?
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So, I have never been the one to wear ribbons or medals I don't rate. There is one that I rated but was never given the certificate for. The volunteer service medal. As per the order I rated the medal. I just needed an officer to put me in for it. I asked 3 to do it for me and they never got around to it before I retired. There is no doubt in my mind about my qualifications as per the order. 3 others that worked with me got it awarded to them. I just fell through the crack.
So, would it be unethical for me to add it to my ribbon stack?
For those who may ask, I started and was the unit commander for a Young Marines unit for 5 years in Ca.
So, would it be unethical for me to add it to my ribbon stack?
For those who may ask, I started and was the unit commander for a Young Marines unit for 5 years in Ca.
Stolen Valor
Ribbons
Awards
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 32
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SSgt Dan Montague - It is illegal to wear a medal that you have not been awarded.
If you truly feel that you "earned" it and it was simply an oversight, I recommend that you contact your former chain of command and ask that they take action to have the medal awarded to you (it can be done after retirement, if the circumstances justify it).
Would anybody know or complain if you put it on your rack now? Very unlikely and it is not the sort of award that would generate a lot of "stolen valor" accusations. Having said that, to specifically answer the question, it is not authorized. Let your conscience be your guide.
If you truly feel that you "earned" it and it was simply an oversight, I recommend that you contact your former chain of command and ask that they take action to have the medal awarded to you (it can be done after retirement, if the circumstances justify it).
Would anybody know or complain if you put it on your rack now? Very unlikely and it is not the sort of award that would generate a lot of "stolen valor" accusations. Having said that, to specifically answer the question, it is not authorized. Let your conscience be your guide.
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PO2 Michael Henry
Also the "15 rows, 4 across" of ribbons as well. Yes the trident is a dead giveaway, since no Marine has ever been accepted to BUD/s. I ran into some guy saying he was in the Marines, completed BUD/s and served with SEAL teams 5 and 6 in Coronado. 6 is stationed at Dam Neck Oceana. My FC "C" schools were just barely up the street from them. He left out just enough to avoid getting called out. I had to verify that no Marine had ever been to BUD/s. He also never stated he was in the Navy. Never found him again.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SSgt Dan Montague - there is a two year statute on retroactive awards by federal law. The Army uses AR600-8-22 Military Awards to give instructions on the lesser included cases. You'd need to find the MCO that governs military awards. The Army's procedure is to send the recommendation and documentation to a specific office at HRC for processing as described in the relevant paragraph in 600-8-22. You can try...
SECNAV 1650H https://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/SecNavInst%201650.1H.pdf
Chapters 2,3 and Appendix A
SECNAV 1650H https://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/SecNavInst%201650.1H.pdf
Chapters 2,3 and Appendix A
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Sgt Robert Beckwith
I was surprised to see an active reservist wearing commemorative awards on his dress blues at The Ball. What do y'all think of that?
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If you feel you deserve the medal than the proper course of action is to appeal to the appropriate board of correction for military records. There are systems in place for seperated members to apply for awards, but to otherwise wear the medal when not authorized is an issue of integrity. No matter how much one feels they qualify for a medal, unless properly awarded one they should not wear or display it.
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SGT Aaron Atwood
That's something I looked into when admin wrongly stated to me as they handed me my dd214 that I only rated the overseas service ribbon vs the sea service ribbon with one star. Never got around to it due to being too busy in college, but I got it fixed after I came back to active duty. Wild guess: whichever admin Marine it was who did that to my record was probably jealous that I rated something they never will unless they actually leave the country for a year or two.
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"So, would it be unethical for me to add it to my ribbon stack or not?"
Yes, fair? perhaps not, but it really is black and white.
You were awarded it or not.
Yes, fair? perhaps not, but it really is black and white.
You were awarded it or not.
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