Can prior service Army Officers wear service ribbons on their Army Service Uniform?

2016-01-16T12:49:05-05:00

Today marks my 3rd year of being enlisted in the USAR and I believe I am now authorized to wear a service stripe, however during my enlistment I enrolled in ROTC and became a contracted Cadet. When I commission will I be authorized to continue to wear my service stripe as an officer from when I was enlisted?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 12:51 PM

2016-01-16T12:51:24-05:00

You are not authorized to wear service stripes as an officer, however you are authorized to wear your overseas service stripes. I had to forfeit my two service stripes upon commissioning also.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 12:52 PM

2016-01-16T12:52:14-05:00

Not usually for time in service, but we wear overseas service stripes

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 12:58 PM

2016-01-16T12:58:19-05:00

Nope.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 16 at 2016 1:04 PM

2016-01-16T13:04:30-05:00

Your title doesn't match your actual question, which is a good question. You will also not wear your weapons qualification badges. Just is, no reason for it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 1:06 PM

2016-01-16T13:06:01-05:00

You may wear a service stripe on your enlisted uniform. When I was a cadet, I actually had two sets of uniforms. As for your cadet uniform, check with your professor of military science. Since cadets are not yet officers, it may be authorized. When you get commissioned however, the service stripe goes to your "I love me collection" and not on the uniform. Enjoy your career!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 1:10 PM

2016-01-16T13:10:27-05:00

Thank you all for your quick responses! It certainly clarified things for me.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 1:18 PM

2016-01-16T13:18:01-05:00

Officers do wear service ribbons (i.e. the Army Service Ribbon, which you should already have due to graduation from BCT/AIT). We do not, however, wear Service Stripes. Aside from the Branch specific piping just up from the sleeve cuff, they only thing we wear on the sleeves of the ASU is Overseas Service Bars.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 1:42 PM

2016-01-16T13:42:56-05:00

Just keep it simple as others have previously noted. There are no need for service stripes as an officer. Therefore they are not authorized. Overseas service stripes are definitely authorized and of course you wear your standard ribbons but no qualification or wheeled badges.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 3:10 PM

2016-01-16T15:10:20-05:00

As previously mentioned, you won't be able to wear your service stripes 1LT Private RallyPoint Member . Some good advice that a "Mustang" (prior service officer) had given to me when I was considering commissioning was to do your best to go to WLC or other NCOES schools before commissioning. When wearing your ASUs you will at least have that ribbon to show for your enlisted service. Good luck in the commissioning process!

Response by COL Randy Alicea made Jan 16 at 2016 3:36 PM

2016-01-16T15:36:40-05:00

Good Question. But nope you cant. Back in the 1800 it was authorized... But it confused the Sr. Enlisted with our Generals while in Black Tie events.

Response by CPT Christopher Webb made Jan 16 at 2016 3:46 PM

2016-01-16T15:46:09-05:00

As a Veteran I do have something to share with you!

Once you are out you can do what many of us do, since all those tedious regulations mean pretty much nothing to us. LOL! You can get yourself a Veteran's Cap and put anything and everything you ever earned on it. You can also get yourself something like an OD wool field shirt (Shirt, Cold Weather, Field) and pin everything you ever earned on it.

BUT, never, ever put anything on your cap or shirt/jacket that you didn't earn. That's not a matter of regulation, that's a matter of honor and integrity ... and those qualities should never diminish no matter how long you've been out of the Service. And it's best to pin it all on the way you were taught while in the military. Look sharp! And know that you owe it to every civilian who asks you about it some kind of story or explanation of the badge they point to.

Folks out here in the civilian world are often intimidated by active duty servicemen (servicewomen or servicewhatever the gender neutral malarky requires). Approaching a Veteran is much easier. Never forget that you were privileged to serve, though you volunteered (or were drafted). Many are those whose life just didn't unfold that way and they are the ones who walk up to you and ask you about all the stuff on your hat or shirt.

When all is said and done and your Honorable Discharge hangs on your wall ... what you earned, you own ... and it is yours to display. If you chose to display it in public, remember that you owe it to all Veterans of all time to do so with pride and dignity. Cadet Sanchez, for the record, I have my Cadet Redondo Badge and my Distinguished Military Graduate Badge properly displayed on my Wool Field Shirt.

I salute you, Cadet Sanchez.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2016 8:51 PM

2016-01-16T20:51:02-05:00

Nope. When you commission, your slanted service stripes will go the way of the Dodo bird.

Response by 1LT Ryan Millican made Jan 17 at 2016 9:39 PM

2016-01-17T21:39:54-05:00

Two answers for you here; just like everyone else here has said, once you're an officer, this includes being a cadet, you do not wear service anymore. Also, while in "cadet land" i.e. Military ball or some other formal function, the CCRs (Cadet Command Regulations), yes those are out there, I suggest you look for them, the state that you cannot mix and match "cadet land" rank, awards, etc with Active Army, rank, awards, etc. for example, you go to your schools military ball, and you decide to wear your cadet rank (your C/SSG, not the dot) you cannot wear your Army Service Ribbon, National Defense, or even if you were awarded an ARCOM at your last drill, still can't wear that, same thing for a dining out with you unit, you can't wear your C/SSG and your military ribbons, mainly because all you're NCOs will point at you and say what the hell is that crap. Now your "dot" is an actually recognized rank in " Army Land" so, you can wear your ribbons with your dot. I know this is long, and I'm sorry for that, but just don't want you to go out looking like a tool, cadets already keep a bad enough rep with Soldiers.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 1:59 PM

2016-01-19T13:59:54-05:00

Can we take small steps; how about fixing the "Cadet SSG" thing! ROTC ranks are not "real ranks". I can't take you seriously with that going on.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2016 8:42 AM

2016-01-26T08:42:48-05:00

Nope!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2016 1:04 PM

2016-02-11T13:04:12-05:00

I am so glad I received a direct commission from SGT(P) to LT and skipped this crap. I remember taking one Army ROTC course in military history (Clausewitz 'On War' was required reading) as an elective (the course was not closed to cadets only). During the first day's lessons the instructor directed that everyone wear their uniforms during the leadership section, the following Thursday. Then they announced the training for the day was CPR and would be conducted by one of the Senior Cadets.

So, on the appointed day, I attended the class in uniform, as an Army SGT. We were directed by the instructor to partner up, with one person laying down on the table and the other person preparing to perform CPR compressions on the other partner (which is a 'no no.'). So, like a good NCO, I brought the class to a safety halt.

The next thing I know, I am being dragged out into the hallway by the senior cadets, who commence to surround me and berate me for 'impersonating an NCO' (I guess, much like my drill instructors did in Basic Training). So, I quietly presented my Military ID, EMT credentials and CPR Instructor card and requested the cadets provide the same. Of course, none of them had anything more than a student ID and a driver's license. As a result, the PMS released me from the leadership section for the remainder of the year.

This experience quickly confirmed why too many of the newly minted LTs, I and others had to endure, were ill equipped to lead.

From my perspective, OCS and ROTC should have a prerequisite of prior service and/or prior NCO service. Common sense can't be taught.

Response by COL David Turk made Oct 8 at 2016 7:46 PM

2016-10-08T19:46:59-04:00

You can wear the Good Conduct medal in the appropriate place. I always looked for it when first meeting other officers.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2017 2:04 PM

2017-11-14T14:04:30-05:00

Thanks for the great answers! Section 19–27 of AR 670-1 had me somewhat confused.

Response by COL Paul Bierhaus made Mar 17 at 2019 7:52 PM

2019-03-17T19:52:41-04:00

absolutely

Response by COL Paul Bierhaus made Mar 17 at 2019 7:52 PM

2019-03-17T19:52:57-04:00

absolutely

Response by SGT Marc Riordan made Mar 18 at 2019 3:41 AM

2019-03-18T03:41:41-04:00

Wtf? What are they teaching you people? NO. AR 670-1 is your friend, ask it before you look silly.

Response by CPT Samuel Carlson made Apr 20 at 2019 8:45 PM

2019-04-20T20:45:39-04:00

Bill, I'm prior enlisted (E1 to E8). When commissioned, the service stripes you wore as enlisted go away. Any enlisted specific ribbons,/awards you received as enlisted (Good Conduct Medal. NCOPDR, etc) can still be worn.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Nov 2 at 2019 9:03 AM

2019-11-02T09:03:38-04:00

Check your Army regulation for authorized attached items , sure it will tell you what you can and cannot wear..

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Dec 23 at 2019 7:18 AM

2019-12-23T07:18:50-05:00

Check your refs is always the best fall back
And gives the best answer..

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2020 1:41 AM

2020-03-24T01:41:06-04:00

I have two ribbon racks. One has some prior enlisted Navy ribbons with all my Army ones,and the other has only Army ribbons for official photos. If I am wrong for wearing my prior Navy enlisted ribbons with my Army ribbons at a dinning inn or other social event, sorry :)

Response by GySgt John Hudson made Apr 11 at 2020 6:07 PM

2020-04-11T18:07:09-04:00

Service stripes are governed by service specific regulations to what branch your serving in, however, service ribbon awards and medals earned by prior service in another branch are permanent and are to be worn on the uniform. Specific awards, such as combat action and rifle/pistol qual ribbons/devices must be worn according to specific military branch one is currently serving in.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Apr 12 at 2020 2:08 AM

2020-04-12T02:08:06-04:00

The answer is once You are commissioned or Warrant Army Officer You cannot continue to wear the diagonal service has marks which each indicate three years service on You left sleeve You can however wear the oversea's horizontal stripe on Your right sleeve with one stripe for each 6 months overseas service. NOTE;Places such as Hawaii or US territories however, even though considered oversea's for assignment purposes do NOT authorize or qualify You to wear overseas marks on Your right sleeve. Specific guidance for wear of service stripes and overseas has marks is contained in AR 670-1, within section 19-27 for service Hash marks and Section 19-28 for oversea's hash marks. The Army Regulation 670-1 can be found and read online if You don't have a hard copy.

Response by CPT William Jones made Aug 17 at 2020 12:02 AM

2020-08-17T00:02:10-04:00

The only bars on uniform sleeve are the bars for being asighned to a hostile fire zone. One bar for each six months completed. They are not for being simply oversea you could spend your entire 20
Years overseas and not be elgible to wear a single bar if you were never in a hostile fire zone. Also the months don’t have to be back to back. You could make two full 90 day periods and get one bar

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Nov 17 at 2020 11:50 PM

2020-11-17T23:50:12-05:00

No. Service stripes are only worn by enlisted personnel.