Posted on Jul 25, 2015
Should the PT badge have a ribbon to wear on the dress uniform?
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Responses: 38
SMSgt Thor Merich
No, we already give out too many awards (Ribbons & Medals). Especially in the AF. The AF has a marksmanship ribbon. However, you only have to get an excellent score once and you get the ribbon, even though we requalify on a regular basis. I don't know of anyone who has removed his previously earned ribbon because he didn't get a high enough score.
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No, this is a horrible idea. We give out too many awards already. I have been able to have been awarded one but I never wanted it nor have I ever worn it. The award is your success.
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CPT (Join to see)
MSG (Join to see) - I have been led to be believe that the NCOs wear them as they are the ones that soldiers should look to as the SMEs.
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MSG (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see), what is the difference between a SFC and a CPT wearing a marksman qual badge? Neither is the SME at BRM and definitely not ARM by that definition. So, why are Officers advised to not forecast this to their troops, whether they are experts or marksman, yet NCOs are expected to be the shining exemplar of either excellence or mediocrity? Why should the badge show proficiency in teaching troops the fundamentals? I know many a Soldier who are great at shooting only through repetition but could not couch their peers or subordinates in technique. You then have Soldiers who are excellent with theory and can explain it all day to the degree that even the simplest can understand yet when put in to practice fall short of excellence on occasion. So at glance that SFC with a sharpshooter badge may not be approached by their subordinates for coaching even though he is the better couch but they would rather go to the SGT that can't explain how he shot 40/40 just because of the badge?
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CPT (Join to see)
MSG (Join to see) - I honestly don't have an answer. I never knew that either. When I commissioned I was told that officers don't wear marksmanship badges. Technically they are allowed to by regulation. I have heard a few reasons such as officers focus on cumulative task while NCO focus on individual tasks, so they display individual awards. These are things that only live on through word of mouth. It is the same way why 2LT doesn't salute 1LT. They should but they don't. I never knew that. I thought you salute anyone of a higher rank. I was told otherwise. But these are the ways of the army.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
It's one of those weird unofficial things. There's no regulation or doctrine stating Officers don't wear them, but every single one I've ever met (with a couple of exceptions who said it was a stupid unofficial tradition) won't wear it because "Officers don't wear them"..
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CH (MAJ) William Beaver, we have a system in place to recognize those that score a minimum of 90 points per event and it has served well for a long time. As we transition into a more home-station type military (cutting an additional 40,000 - from the Army alone), we have other things to worry about other than adding a PT ribbon to our uniform. What's next, a Soldier breaks an arm or leg during a training mission and they get a cast ribbon?
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SPC John Cummings
The amount of dumb ribbons for "commanding" is what needs to be removed. The idea that you wear a ribbon based on the quality of you soldiers. You accept you pay for the quality of work and your rank for the type of work.
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