[IYAS9YAS]

How about the guy with Air Force uniform on, wearing the CIB? The pic was posted here a couple weeks ago. Got busted. Wonder why?

I'm asking an honest question to vets with better memories than mine. Say you are in one branch of the military, and earn medals distinct to that branch. If you separate from that branch, and enlist in a different branch, are you allowed to wear the medals you were awarded in your prior branch? I thought the answer was "yes, in certain situations", but cannot remember.

Does anyone know for certain?

[jdfromny]

Army Reg 670-1:
a. U.S. Military Decorations. A decoration is an award to an individual for an act of gallantry or meritorious service. Listed below in order of precedence are the U.S. military decorations authorized for wear on the Army uniform:
Medal of Honor (Army, Navy, Air Force)
Distinguished Service Cross
Navy Cross
Air Force Cross
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard)
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Soldier’s Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Airman’s Medal
Coast Guard Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Navy Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Coast Guard Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Coast Guard Achievement Medal
Prisoner of War Medal
Combat Action Ribbon.

[tanknetter]

I'm asking an honest question to vets with better memories than mine. Say you are in one branch of the military, and earn medals distinct to that branch. If you separate from that branch, and enlist in a different branch, are you allowed to wear the medals you were awarded in your prior branch? I thought the answer was "yes, in certain situations", but cannot remember.

I have a friend who was a Marine E4 (I think), activated reservist, during the assault into Kuwait during Desert Storm, earning his Combat Action Ribbon.

When he got home he decided that he wanted to stay in the uniformed services and become an officer, but didn't want to stay in the Marines as such and ended up going into the Coast Guard.

Fresh out of Yorktown as a newly-minted Coastie Ensign, he shows up at his first posting to find a grizzled old CPO licking his chops at an opportunity to break-in a new officer. Said CPO has a "holy-sh*t" moment when seeing my friend's CAR ribbon and asks "Prior service ... Sir?"