Posted on Jun 30, 2015

Should/Can Prior Enlisted Officers wear NCO Professional Development Ribbon

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I normally pride myself on being able to find information in Army Regulations, DA-Pams, etc.however, I've come across an interesting question. I'm prior enlisted/NCO, and my Reserve Component Manpower System (RCMS) Automated Record Brief (ORB equivalent for Reserves, until the IPPS-A SRB is up and running) is being updated by Reserve Personnel Action Center (RPAC) admin specialist. The admin removed my NCOPDR and I asked why. Admin's response was because I'm an officer and I'm not authorized to wear NCOPDR (with numeral 2 since I completed BNCOC). This was somewhat of a surprise to me, and the Admin said they'll send RFI to Awards Branch at HRC to confirm. I have researched this myself and cannot find a clear answer. If it's a matter of tradition (unwritten rule) such as the case with marksmanship I guess I would understand but I've never heard that about the NCOPDR.

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Posted >1 y ago

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Responses: 25

SFC Jeremy Stocker

Posted >1 y ago

Sir , You earned it and it cannot be taken from you.

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CSM Michael J. Uhlig

Edited >1 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

Sir, you can wear the ribbon...look at page 229 of DA Pam 670-1 (link below) in paragraph 22-5 d
(U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons.)

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/p670_1.pdf

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WO1 (Join to see)

9 y

MAJ Haris Balcinovic - Sir that makes sense that RPAC would say that. I have had the same issue with a National Defense Ribbion and the person would not take a dd214 as a source document.

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Maj Pete Siegel

7 y

I'm an Air Force mustang/retread. The ribbons you earned during your enlisted time are your "creds," and show the troops you've been there, done that etc. You can't fix the admin's stupidity, but you can try to mend it with application of a coal oil soaked 2x4.

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SMSgt Lawrence McCarter

7 y

Maj Pete Siegel - Exactly right Sir ! There are Regulations and Instructions to give awards but never has one been written to rescind one due to promotion, demotion or anything of the like. That so called Administrative type it seems invented His own rules because He didn't have a clue what He was doing. Each and every one of the ribbons are Your service History and wear them with pride.
I notice also You going from MSgt to 2Lt sure represents a lot of experience prior to being Commissioned, that is something to take pride in. A friend of mine did the same went from MSgt to 2 Lt and ended up retiring as a Full Colonel. As a 2Lt He sure had a lot of ribbons, besides no one was going to think He was in the 20s esp as He was as ancient as i was at the time.

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