When I see a soldier and they have something wrong with the uniform. The most glaring is someone wearing ribbons on their utility (work) uniform, or in some cases the actual decoration and medals.
The actual medals and decorations are generally only worn on very special occasions.
The military, unlike civilians, wear their “resume” on their uniform. Everything on a uniform means something. Some are decorations, earned by some action on the part of the wearer, some are medals earned by participation in campaign or action (not always during war time). Some are just good conduct medals. Some are badges earned by knowing a special skill or passing a test.
With few exceptions, each branch of service have their own set of badges, medals and insignias.
Most vets can look at someone in uniform (from their branch of service) and immediately know a lot about the person.
There really should never be any mistakes. I know it is the job of wardrobe to provide this stuff, but it does not take much research to get it right. I always thought the easiest thing to do was get real pictures of real men (and women) in uniforms and just copy what they are wearing.
I remember once seeing a movie with these guys all in there dress uniforms. Every thing seemed to be in proper place. It was an outdoor scene, and they must have filmed portion in the morning and portion in the afternoon. The entire scene was all suppose to be at the same time, but sun must of moved and the shadows were wrong, and so someone simply reversed the afternoon shot so as you see these guys outside the scene cuts away and then back and like magic, everything is reversed. All their badges and ribbons were on the wrong side. I guess they thought no-one would notice.
The younger someone is, the less they should have on their uniform (unless you are Audi Murphy).
Besides the uniform thing, I wish the special effects guys would take a box of grenades out and toss a few. Hey guys, there is not big flaming explosion.
Sound is slower than the speed of light. If you see a big gun fired in the distance, it will be a few seconds before you hear it.
Anyway, these are my pet peeves.
I agree on the "Hollywood stunt grenades" which all seem to have a trampoline like effect.
I'm with you, that drives me up the wall. It's almost stupid in a way because I think I should just ignore it but there it is. If any soldier where dressed like that in real life a Seargent Major would spot him from ten miles away through a dense fog. I usually sit there the whole time fidgeting when I see the medals messed up or the uniform worn the wrong way.
Someone told me once that there is some rule that prohibits Hollywood from showing a military person in exact uniform without specific permission from that military branch (impersonating military personnel perhaps?) I don't know if that's true or not but that would explain it. Gardens of Stone with James Caan and James Earl Jones was one military movie that seemed to get it right.
Amen. While they're at it, I'd make them pull a few pins with their teeth. Then, they get to pay for their own reconstructive dentistry. Maybe they'll remember it.