A friend offered to update my command photo with the Legion of Merit I received after I retired. Does this seem ethical?

COL Francis Petrell — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 21:39:12 -0400

Although I was, in fact, awarded the medal, I feel uneasy about photoshopping my rack after the fact.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2024 10:04 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 22:04:05 -0400

COL Francis Petrell Colonel, I will let a couple of knowledgeable individuals weigh in on this topic.

LTC Kevin B., COL Randall C.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2024 4:13 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 04:13:44 -0400

Well, you earned the medal, so one could consider you are photoshoping your age more so than that medal.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2024 5:38 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 05:38:23 -0400

Sir, I'm not sure but I feel like you could put the uniform on one more time and go get a command photo on post. If you earned the award, then by all means wear it.

At least you can say you tried for whatever reason you need your command photo in retirement. Thanks for your commitment sir!

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Oct 30 at 2024 9:26 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 09:26:26 -0400

Sir, what does your DD214 say??

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Oct 30 at 2024 5:11 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:11:33 -0400

Much in line with what LTC Kevin B. and COL Randall C. said. They gave you the letter of the law, but you were asking about ethics, so I will answer that part of the question.

First, ethics are personal. So the most important answer to your question is your own. Do YOU feel it is ethical? It appears by your post, "I feel uneasy about..." that you do not feel it is ethical to do. If that is the case, nothing us armchair quarterbacks say should make one whit of difference. Never EVER let anyone convince you that something you feel is unethical is not. Going the other way - you think it is ethical, but they point out that it is not - is a different story, but I digress.

Having gotten that out of the way, I would say that it really depends on your intent. If the intent is to hang above your mantle or for your wife's wallet, then I see nothing unethical about it, personally. If the intent is for distribution in ANY way outside of immediate friends and family - and then only with the caveat that the photo is altered and not for distribution - then we start getting sketchy. And if it is for social media, campaign materials, business cards, dating apps, or anything of that ilk, it goes beyond sketchy to straight up wrong.

But that is just *my* take on it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2024 9:25 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 21:25:28 -0400

I wouldn't say no unless somebody was using it to their benefit or to yours. If not, then I would go ahead and accept as a token of friendship. That being said, that is up to you sir.