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First, Hello and Semper Fi.
I did 2 enlistments in the Marine Corps, then 1 in the Navy, and then 1 in the Army, exiting in 1990.
I am now 100 % disabled veteran and am going to the Marine Corps Ball...haven't been in 30+ years.
My question is what ribbons/badges can I wear with my dress blues. I believe I can wear my service ribbons, etc from the Army and Navy, i.e. good conduct, NCO academy, Army Service ribbon, etc. If I am wrong, please correct me. I got my parachutist badge in the Army and assume I can wear it? If I am wrong on these please correct me..
My other question pertains to marksmanship badges. Can I wear my marksmanship badges that I qualified for, the last time I qualified in the USMC. And they were the same level in the Army upon my exit in 1990. So are those badges allowed to be worn after separation from service, all these years and if so, would I wear the USMC or Army versions, or does it matter which?
One other question.. Service stripes...USMC is every 4 years, Army is 3...so would I combine all service and divide by 4 for my Marine dress blues?
Thanks so much ahead of time.
t
I did 2 enlistments in the Marine Corps, then 1 in the Navy, and then 1 in the Army, exiting in 1990.
I am now 100 % disabled veteran and am going to the Marine Corps Ball...haven't been in 30+ years.
My question is what ribbons/badges can I wear with my dress blues. I believe I can wear my service ribbons, etc from the Army and Navy, i.e. good conduct, NCO academy, Army Service ribbon, etc. If I am wrong, please correct me. I got my parachutist badge in the Army and assume I can wear it? If I am wrong on these please correct me..
My other question pertains to marksmanship badges. Can I wear my marksmanship badges that I qualified for, the last time I qualified in the USMC. And they were the same level in the Army upon my exit in 1990. So are those badges allowed to be worn after separation from service, all these years and if so, would I wear the USMC or Army versions, or does it matter which?
One other question.. Service stripes...USMC is every 4 years, Army is 3...so would I combine all service and divide by 4 for my Marine dress blues?
Thanks so much ahead of time.
t
Posted in these groups: 
Marine Uniform
Marine Uniform
Edited 6 y ago
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 6
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SGT Tim Hicks Your profile doesn't display dates of service or if you are retired (medical or otherwise) so there is extra in here.the distinction is between honorable service during wartime and retired personnel, both the Marines and Army make the distinction due to federal law 10 USC 772.
MCO 1020.34H dated 01 MAY 2018Page 1-202 (which is a punitive regulation) https://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCO%201020.34H%20v2.pdf?ver=2018-06-26-094038-137
3. According to 10 U.S.C. 772, the Marine Corps uniform may personnel not on active duty under the following conditions:
a. Retired Marine Corps officers may bear the title and of their retired grade be worn bywear the uniform honorable
b. Former Marines who are discharged honorably or under conditions from the Marine Corps may wear their uniform while going from the place of discharge to their home of record, within three months after discharge.
c. Former Marines not on active duty who served honorably in time of war in the Marine Corps may bear the title, and as authorized by regulations prescribed by the President, wear the uniform of the highest grade held during that war (subparagraph 11002.1).
You need to look at para 21-3c (if you are retired from the Army) or 21-4 (served during wartime) in AR670-1. Looking at theses and above out of the Marine Corps Regulation, You can't mix and match rank and service stripes. Looking at 670-1 (since the Army had you last)I don't believe you can wear the Marine uniform unless your period of service was such that you served in wartime with the Marines Corps and not the Army. 670-1 is also a punitive regulation.
21–4. Former members of the Army
a. Unless qualified under another provision of this regulation, or under the provisions of 10 USC 772, former members of the Army may only wear the uniform if they served honorably during a declared or undeclared war, and if their most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions. Personnel who qualify under these conditions will wear the Army uniform in the highest grade they held during such war service, in accordance with 10 USC 772.
b. When authorized, the uniform may be worn only for the following ceremonial occasions and when traveling to and from the event and must follow guidance included in paragraph 3–7c.
(1) When attending military funerals, memorial services, weddings, inaugurals, and other occasions of ceremony.
(2) When attending parades on national or state holidays, or other patriotic parades or ceremonies in which any Ac- tive or Reserve U.S. military unit is taking part. Uniforms for these occasions are restricted to service and dress uni- forms; the combat uniform and physical fitness uniforms will not be worn. Wearing the Army uniform at any other time, or for any other purpose than stated above, is prohibited.
21–3. Retired personnel
a. Personnel who will be advanced to a higher grade upon retirement have the option of wearing the insignia of that grade thereafter.
b. Retiredpersonnelonactivedutywillweartheiruniformandinsigniainthesamemannerasprescribedforpersonnel in the AA of corresponding grade and branch.
c. Retired personnel not on active duty may wear either the uniform reflecting their grade and branch on the date of their retirement, or the uniform prescribed for personnel in the AA of corresponding grade and branch, when appropriate, but may not mix the two uniforms. Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on their retirement order.
d. Retired personnel not on active duty are not authorized to wear the Army uniform when they are instructors or responsible for military discipline at an educational institution, unless the educational institution is conducting courses of instruction approved by the Armed Forces.
e. In addition to the occasions for wear listed above, retired personnel are authorized to wear the uniform only on the following occasions:
(1) While attending military funerals, memorial services, weddings, inaugurals, and other occasions of ceremony.
(2) Attending parades on national or state holidays, or other patriotic parades or ceremonies in which any Active or Reserve U.S. military unit is taking part. Uniforms for these occasions are restricted to service and dress uniforms; the combat uniform and physical fitness uniforms will not be worn. Wearing the Army uniform at any other time, or for any other purpose than stated above, is prohibited.
Your service ribbons (if you are not going full sized medals) and individual decorations shouldn't be an issue. Your parachutist badge is authorized, all branches go to the Army Airborne School for basic parachute training. (Page 1-83)
From the MCO
5102. PRECEDENCE
1. U.S. personal decorations, U.S. unit awards, U.S. nonmilitary personal decorations, U.S. campaign and service awards, U.S. nonmilitary service awards, foreign personal decorations, foreign unit awards, non-U.S. service awards, foreign service awards, marksmanship badges (see paragraph 5500), and awards of military societies and other organizations will be given precedence in the order listed.
2. When Marines are entitled to similar awards from two or more services; e.g., good conduct awards, the Marine Corps award will take precedence. After the Marine Corps award, similar awards of other services will be worn in the following precedence: Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
3. All ribbons and medals must be mounted and worn according to the precedence listed herein.
4. Awards shall be worn in order of precedence from top down and from the wearer's right to left, unless otherwise specified herein.
Marksmanship Badges, it doesn't appear you can wear Army badges on a Marine uniform or vice versa. See Para 20-12 through 20-18 of AR670-1 and pages 1-142 to 1-149 in the MCO.
My gut says you are going to wear your Marine Corps uniform anyway. You must meet all grooming and appearance standards. Medals and Ribbons earned from your collective service is ok. Parachute Badge ok. Rank, marksmanship Badges, and service stripes earned while in the branch of the uniform you are wearing. Would advise you to read for yourself in case I missed something.
Alternative: wear a tuxedo with miniature medals and parachutist badge on your left lapel. This is authorized in AR670-1. See DA PAM 670-1 for approximate placement.
MCO 1020.34H dated 01 MAY 2018Page 1-202 (which is a punitive regulation) https://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCO%201020.34H%20v2.pdf?ver=2018-06-26-094038-137
3. According to 10 U.S.C. 772, the Marine Corps uniform may personnel not on active duty under the following conditions:
a. Retired Marine Corps officers may bear the title and of their retired grade be worn bywear the uniform honorable
b. Former Marines who are discharged honorably or under conditions from the Marine Corps may wear their uniform while going from the place of discharge to their home of record, within three months after discharge.
c. Former Marines not on active duty who served honorably in time of war in the Marine Corps may bear the title, and as authorized by regulations prescribed by the President, wear the uniform of the highest grade held during that war (subparagraph 11002.1).
You need to look at para 21-3c (if you are retired from the Army) or 21-4 (served during wartime) in AR670-1. Looking at theses and above out of the Marine Corps Regulation, You can't mix and match rank and service stripes. Looking at 670-1 (since the Army had you last)I don't believe you can wear the Marine uniform unless your period of service was such that you served in wartime with the Marines Corps and not the Army. 670-1 is also a punitive regulation.
21–4. Former members of the Army
a. Unless qualified under another provision of this regulation, or under the provisions of 10 USC 772, former members of the Army may only wear the uniform if they served honorably during a declared or undeclared war, and if their most recent service was terminated under honorable conditions. Personnel who qualify under these conditions will wear the Army uniform in the highest grade they held during such war service, in accordance with 10 USC 772.
b. When authorized, the uniform may be worn only for the following ceremonial occasions and when traveling to and from the event and must follow guidance included in paragraph 3–7c.
(1) When attending military funerals, memorial services, weddings, inaugurals, and other occasions of ceremony.
(2) When attending parades on national or state holidays, or other patriotic parades or ceremonies in which any Ac- tive or Reserve U.S. military unit is taking part. Uniforms for these occasions are restricted to service and dress uni- forms; the combat uniform and physical fitness uniforms will not be worn. Wearing the Army uniform at any other time, or for any other purpose than stated above, is prohibited.
21–3. Retired personnel
a. Personnel who will be advanced to a higher grade upon retirement have the option of wearing the insignia of that grade thereafter.
b. Retiredpersonnelonactivedutywillweartheiruniformandinsigniainthesamemannerasprescribedforpersonnel in the AA of corresponding grade and branch.
c. Retired personnel not on active duty may wear either the uniform reflecting their grade and branch on the date of their retirement, or the uniform prescribed for personnel in the AA of corresponding grade and branch, when appropriate, but may not mix the two uniforms. Personnel will wear the grade as shown on the retired grade of rank line on their retirement order.
d. Retired personnel not on active duty are not authorized to wear the Army uniform when they are instructors or responsible for military discipline at an educational institution, unless the educational institution is conducting courses of instruction approved by the Armed Forces.
e. In addition to the occasions for wear listed above, retired personnel are authorized to wear the uniform only on the following occasions:
(1) While attending military funerals, memorial services, weddings, inaugurals, and other occasions of ceremony.
(2) Attending parades on national or state holidays, or other patriotic parades or ceremonies in which any Active or Reserve U.S. military unit is taking part. Uniforms for these occasions are restricted to service and dress uniforms; the combat uniform and physical fitness uniforms will not be worn. Wearing the Army uniform at any other time, or for any other purpose than stated above, is prohibited.
Your service ribbons (if you are not going full sized medals) and individual decorations shouldn't be an issue. Your parachutist badge is authorized, all branches go to the Army Airborne School for basic parachute training. (Page 1-83)
From the MCO
5102. PRECEDENCE
1. U.S. personal decorations, U.S. unit awards, U.S. nonmilitary personal decorations, U.S. campaign and service awards, U.S. nonmilitary service awards, foreign personal decorations, foreign unit awards, non-U.S. service awards, foreign service awards, marksmanship badges (see paragraph 5500), and awards of military societies and other organizations will be given precedence in the order listed.
2. When Marines are entitled to similar awards from two or more services; e.g., good conduct awards, the Marine Corps award will take precedence. After the Marine Corps award, similar awards of other services will be worn in the following precedence: Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
3. All ribbons and medals must be mounted and worn according to the precedence listed herein.
4. Awards shall be worn in order of precedence from top down and from the wearer's right to left, unless otherwise specified herein.
Marksmanship Badges, it doesn't appear you can wear Army badges on a Marine uniform or vice versa. See Para 20-12 through 20-18 of AR670-1 and pages 1-142 to 1-149 in the MCO.
My gut says you are going to wear your Marine Corps uniform anyway. You must meet all grooming and appearance standards. Medals and Ribbons earned from your collective service is ok. Parachute Badge ok. Rank, marksmanship Badges, and service stripes earned while in the branch of the uniform you are wearing. Would advise you to read for yourself in case I missed something.
Alternative: wear a tuxedo with miniature medals and parachutist badge on your left lapel. This is authorized in AR670-1. See DA PAM 670-1 for approximate placement.
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If you want to have a really good time wear Army dress blues to the marine corps ball “lol”
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SPC James Neidig
[~1582820:SPC Ron "Ronbo" having served in the Marines and then the Army that’s what I would do
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CSM Charles Hayden
SPC James Neidig The last time I wore my ‘Blues’ to a USMC Birthday Ball, not one Marine acknowledged my presence!
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SPC James Neidig
CSM Charles Hayden That Does Not Surprise me One Bit , I Wore my Blues to My Cousins Memorial Service a few years ago and got the same treatment, he was a USMC Vet who served in Vietnam and had a MARINE Honor Guard They Said Very Little to Me After the Service was Over, even though they could see the USMC Aircrew Wings and Ribbons on my Uniform.
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