Items to be worn/not worn on ASU for DA Photo? Here's my question: I have been told by a senior NCO a few years back, something that has stuck with me even until now, but currently I am unsure as to the validity of this information. The issue pertains only to two areas of the ASU for a DA Photo. First: DUI, are they to be worn or not worn on the ASU for a DA Photo? Second: Unit Awards, are they to be worn or not worn on the ASU? I am aware, if you were/are in a unit that receives an award, that that award is a permanent award that you can wear on your ASU. But for a DA Photo, do you wear unit awards that are not permanent? I have tried to research the RallyPoint Discussions but unable to find one that answered this question. As always, if you are able to provide a regulation, in any form, please post a link to it or direct quote that regulation.

Posted on Dec 3, 2013

Items to be worn/not worn on ASU for DA Photo?

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Here's my question:  I have been told by a senior NCO a few years back, something that has stuck with me even until now, but currently I am unsure as to the validity of this information.  The issue pertains only to two areas of the ASU for a DA Photo.First: DUI, are they to be worn or not worn on the ASU for a DA Photo?Second: Unit Awards, are they to be worn or not worn on the ASU? I am aware, if you were/are in a unit that receives an award, that that award is a permanent award that you can wear on your ASU.  But for a DA Photo, do you wear unit awards that are not permanent? I have tried to research the RallyPoint Discussions but unable to find one that answered this question.  As always, if you are able to provide a regulation, in any form, please post a link to it or direct quote that regulation.

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Posted 11 y ago

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Responses: 28

SGT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

SSG, this could serve as a quick reference guide.

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

I have no idea where I found this. Maybe, LFTF FB Page.

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SGT(P) (Join to see)

>1 y

http://kansastag.gov/AdvHTML_Upload/files/DA_Photo_ASU_Setup.pdf

DA_Photo_ASU_Setup.pdf

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CSM John Mead

6 y

That diagram tells it all. It should be marked as DA Photos for Dummies.

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CW4 Craig Urban

5 y

Guess some people cannot read

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SGM Matthew Quick

Posted 11 y ago

DO NOT WEAR:
- Infantry Cords, Blue Discs, or Flash
- Leadership Tabs
- French Fourragere

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SGT Tony Clifford

>1 y

You can wear unit awards if they were awarded to your unit while you were in the unit.

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SGT Layne Jeffery

6 y

No Infantry cord that is earned? That sucks.

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MSG (Join to see)

>1 y

Alway airborne units or air assault units no backing

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MCPO Jerry Woller

>1 y

CPT (Join to see) - There is NOTHING in the regulations that states the button must be removed. Whoever tells it must be is an ignorant liar.

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MSG (Join to see)

Posted 11 y ago

SSG McIntosh, hope this helps:

The following Army Regulations govern Official Photographs: AR 640-30 - Photographs for Military Human Resources Records; AR 670-01 - Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia; AR 600-8-22 - Military Awards; DA PAM 25-91- Visual Information Procedures

Effective 1 JUL 2009 Soldiers may wear either the (green) Class A Uniform or the NEW (blue) Army Service Uniform. The green uniform is authorized until the fourth quarter of the year 2014. Soldiers cannot wear the old dress blues. The Soldier is responsible for ensuring that his or her uniform fits properly, is pressed and that all ribbons/medals/badges/rank are correctly displayed for official military photographs. ** IAW Army regulation, Soldiers, anyone assisting the soldier or D.A. Photo Studio photographers cannot not pin, clip, stuff, or otherwise change or alter the appearance of the uniform to make it fit properly.** Female service members may wear either the skirt or slacks for their photo. Wear Distinctive Unit Insignia (Unit Crests). Unit crests and your unit patch are the only exceptions to the permanent rule. Soldiers who are regimentally affiliated should wear their Regimental Distinctive Insignia. Wear only those unit citations that you have permanent orders for and are listed on your ERB, ORB, or other personnel records. The wearing of one (1) foreign award is authorized. Do not wear French Fourrageres. Do not wear blue Infantry cords or discs. Do not wear green leadership tabs. The photograph is a ¾ length photo; shoes will not show in the photo, but you are required to have something on your feet other than socks

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MSG (Join to see)

11 y

No prob, that's what RP is for right? Helping each other!! Good luck on the board!

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CSM John Mead

6 y

They’ve definitely changed the appearance of the photo since I was in. All DA photos were full length, with the soldier standing next to a placard with his/her name, rank, MOS, and date of the photo on it. Properly hemmed trousers were a must. Other than that, all is still pretty much the same. I don’t care much for the current class A uniform, or ASU. Unit patches instill pride and wearing a piece of tin on your blouse’s front seems a poor substitute for one worn on your sleeve. It would seem that higher’s preoccupation over the last two decades has been either with the ASU or ACU. Hasn’t the military got better things to worry about? The Marines have had the same service uniform for decades and it never gets old.

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CPL Cord Nipper

6 y

CSM,
I agree. Although I got out long ago I always thought the old green Class A was a pretty sharp looking uniform.
The new ASU just doesn't compare.

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CSM Charles Hayden

5 y

CSM John Mead ‘Properly hemmed trousers’?

Did you ever wear trousers with a ‘military cut for the hems’?

I recall trousers whose crease did not ‘break’in front and was tapered to cover the socks and part of shoe’s heel in the rear.

Do you?

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Lt Col Paul Maxwell

Posted >1 y ago

Ah yes, the incredible level of fine point and frequently contradictory "rules" and guidelines for the DA PHOTO. Remembered fondly. Board members performing Microscopic examination w magnifying glasses looking for flaws. I get the " attention to detail" factor... but always thought that perhaps evaluations might provide more usable data for selection committees.

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LTC Jason Mackay

7 y

Lt Col Paul Maxwell the boards have a system to evaluate your file in 37 seconds. The DA Photo becomes a quick discriminator. They can tell right off if you are fat (which historically been more important than performance) or don't care because your photo is old or your uniform looks bad. If your evaluations show the right senior rating comments (potential, promotion, professional education, assignment considerations) and your senior rater blockings are solid. On your ORB/ERB they are checking integrity and whether you kept your uniform up to date between your OMPF and your ORB/ERB.

If they spend too much time on your file, it is usually bad. They are not marveling on the rater comments brilliant crafting (expected, if they are thin or trite that cuts time off the 37 seconds) Means they found something "wrong", real or imagined. Now they are full on digging. Never good.

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Lt Col Paul Maxwell

6 y

I know how it ‘works’...
And as you alluded to, I would prefer a system more
Dependent upon ratings and performance,
Than upon appearance, and the Quality of photographic effort of the overworked GS9 staffer in base photo shop. That’s just my opinion...
I wish all the hours spent trying to write good, concise, accurate evaluations had more apparent weight in the system.

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SGM Matthew Quick

Posted 11 y ago

DO WEAR:
- Unit Crest
- Regimental Crest
- PERMANENT Unit Citations (only if the award is annotated on your ERB)

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SSG Dan McIntosh

11 y

This is very helpful information MSG. Thanks, now I see where I made my mistake from my last photo and previous ones. Good thing I have a new DA Photo appointment in January, to fix all the mistakes on my uniform.

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LTC Paul Labrador

>1 y

Pretty much. Your photo should match your ORB/ERB when it comes to awards and badges.

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SGM (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

You may only wear permanent awards for a DA photo. If you were not in the unit when the award was conferred, it can be worn while serving with the unit but must come off for the official DA photo and when you leave the unit.

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CW4 Randy Pace

Posted 6 y ago

My understanding is that when you are assigned a unit, you may wear the awards that unit has earned, regardless. Once you leave that unit, you may no longer wear that uint award. As you said, if you were a member of that unit when the award was presented, you may wear that aware in perpetuity.

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Kerry Eakins

Posted 6 y ago

A pledge pin

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SFC Carlos Cruz

Posted 6 y ago

SSG Dan McIntosh, I am very surprised the today NCO don’t know this answer.
"Army Regulation 640-30 outlines the Soldier's responsibility when taking the photo. And in that regulation, it states that Soldiers must come in with a properly fitted and pressed uniform. ... "Most Soldiers need a DA photo for a promotion, and a promotion is an evaluation.Aug 21, 2015

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SGT Joseph Gunderson

Posted >1 y ago

You wear only what you have on your ERB. They are going to cross reference your DA photo with your awards and decorations list on your ERB and if something is off that could negatively affect you.

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Items to be worn/not worn on ASU for DA Photo?

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