At what point during boot camp will I be permitted to purchase my awards/decorations from my previous term of service?

SN Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 12:36:35 -0500

I am prior service Navy and will be departing for USCG TRACEN Cape May in a few weeks. At what point during boot camp will I be permitted to purchase my awards/decorations from my previous term of service (GWOT Service/Expeditionary, Sea Service Ribbon, Good Conduct)? Will it be before we take our 'portrait' photos or even the graduation ceremony?

Response by PVT Mark Brown made Mar 3 at 2018 1:50 PM

PVT Mark Brown — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 13:50:07 -0500

When I went through basic we were not even allowed to leave the company area for the entire 8 weeks of BCT. We did get to go to the PX once to purchase toiletries (per the list provided by drill sgt) and footlocker items such as shoe polish. The PX had a bag of these items set up for us, we just went in, got the bag, had it charged against our first pay of $109.50!

Response by CWO3 Dennis M. made Mar 3 at 2018 2:22 PM

CWO3 Dennis M. — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 14:22:10 -0500

SN Private RallyPoint Member That is a good question, I would guess as structured as Boot Camp was when I went through, they would want you to graduate before putting on any awards from prior service. Do you have a company commander you can ask? I would also guess that just because you are in a differant service, your awards listed on your DD214 should be legal to display on any future service uniform...you earned those! But I have been retired from the Navy for close to 30 years now, so hopefully someone with more recent service can chime in help you out. You must have some kind of chain of command that you should be able to get the straight skinny! Good luck!

Response by SSG Lyle O'Rorke made Mar 3 at 2018 4:56 PM

SSG Lyle O'Rorke — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 16:56:10 -0500

No clue since it’s the CG

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 3 at 2018 6:10 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 18:10:32 -0500

You kmow, I realize this might notmfly where youre going, howegerz when I was USAF OTS, one former Navy enlisted guy was actually wearing Navy enlisted dolphins while he was in the program with me, I dont know if that means anything, it was the only time I ever saw that, however, I should certainly think if you:re back on active, then, irrespective of it being foot camp, at least in dress ceremonial uniform circumstances, your legal awards and decorations should certainly ne permissible, I'd just ask if it's allowed maybe as you say it might ne barred initially for sake of uniformity, I suppose, however, quite honestly, I can't perceive any reason why, at least on a superficial level of thohght, you know? Just some thoughts for whatever they might be worth....

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2018 6:16 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 18:16:03 -0500

Are you going through regular basic or is it a shortened class? You have exchange privileges 2 weeks prior to grad and If I recall prior service guys got to go buy there ribbons when we first got uniforms.

Response by SGT Matthew Sesar made Mar 3 at 2018 6:36 PM

SGT Matthew Sesar — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 18:36:12 -0500

How are you on the internet during boot camp?

Response by SN Greg Wright made Mar 3 at 2018 6:43 PM

SN Greg Wright — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 18:43:22 -0500

Don't know why they'd put you through boot again.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Mar 3 at 2018 7:58 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 19:58:03 -0500

You can have those from the get-go. I was in OSUT with a handful of prior service guys and one guy who had gone through air assault while in an ROTC program. They had all of their awards the first time that we wore our As. If they are earned then no one can tell you that you cannot wear them.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Mar 3 at 2018 10:15 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 22:15:22 -0500

The CG uniform and Military Award Manual is accessible on the internet. Not all other service ribbons may be acceptable to wear on a CG uniform. There is a separate prior service company at Cape May. You will be treated differently than traditional recruits. Call your Admin at Cape May with your questions. They will answer your questions. Your will find the CG is not a giant bureaucracy.

https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/29/ [login to see] /-1/-1/0/CIM_1650_25E.PDF

a. Prior Service Members. Coast Guard personnel who previously served in another branch of the Armed Forces and received personal, good conduct, unit, campaign, and/or service awards listed in enclosure (22) are authorized to wear them on the Coast Guard uniform with the exception of marksmanship medals and ribbons. Requests to wear awards not listed must be forwarded to CG-PSC-PSD-ma for review and approval.

CIM_1650_25E.PDF

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Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2018 12:39 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 00:39:53 -0500

You can buy them via phone from Navy/Marine Corps Uniform

Response by SGM Harvey Boone made Mar 4 at 2018 11:44 AM

SGM Harvey Boone — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 11:44:44 -0500

Completion.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Mar 4 at 2018 10:50 PM

MSG John Duchesneau — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 22:50:21 -0500

I would suggest you wait until you graduate. In boot camp its best not to stand out any more than necessary.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Mar 4 at 2018 11:10 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 23:10:31 -0500

Keep focused on the 25 meter Target.

Response by PO2 Steve Harkle made Mar 10 at 2018 9:05 AM

PO2 Steve Harkle — Sat, 10 Mar 2018 09:05:36 -0500

I can't remember when I got mine, think I brought them with me. However that was awhile ago when prior service had to go through the complete training. I was prior navy and wore all my ribbons from desert storm however I could not wear my designators such as wings etc....since they were not earned in the coast guard.