Posted: 10/27/2010 5:54:13 PM EDT
I have my father's uniform hanging in a closet and thought I would find out about some of his ribbons and awards (if that's the right term). Point me in the right direction or point a couple out please. Thanks!  |
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1st one is obvious, the rank is that of a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) as confirmed by the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 4 in his ribbon rack.
left side (as worn): Combat infantryman's badge (two awards), Navy scuba diver badge (see ArmyAirborne's comments below), along with master jump wings with Airborne background trimming and master HALO you can check the awards here http://www.armyawards.com/awards.shtml Awards and ribbons (from top innermost ribbon): Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 awards), Army Commendation Medal (2 awards), Army Achievement Medal (2 awards), Army Good Conduct Medal (8 awards), National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars (see note below), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with roman numeral 4 signifying completion of Army Sergeants Major Academy course, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon note: Service stars are worn to denote an additional award or service in a named campaign and are centered on the ribbon and suspension ribbon with one point upward Right Side: Special forces regimental insignia, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2 awards) Canadian jump wings ETA: Fixed with ArmyAirborne's input, sorry I messed up on the ribbons, rackbuilder wasn't working and I was copying and pasting. |
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left side: skill badges include halo, and scuba diver, along with jump wings and Combat infantryman's badge (two awards) Right Side: Special forces regimental insignia Canadian jump wings I thought that that badge was the Space Shuttle Door Gunner Badge! 
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left side: skill badges include halo, and scuba diver, along with jump wings and Combat infantryman's badge (two awards) Right Side: Special forces regimental insignia Canadian jump wings I thought that that badge was the Space Shuttle Door Gunner Badge! no, that is the one on the upper left of this pic 
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Given your father's SF connection, the dive bubble is probably not for the Navy scuba course, it is probably for the Combat Diver Qualification Course.
I'm the S1 (admin guy) for the Special Forces Underwater Operations school here in Key West. We've been teaching CDQC since 1964. Up until 2005 or so that was the badge given to Army graduates of any dive school. In 2005 they approved a separate design for combat divers. If you want to IM me his full name and approximate dates of service I may be able to confirm that (I only have verified rosters back to 1987, our records are incomplete before that point). I also may be able to provide you with a photo of his class plaque. Almost every class to have graduated made a class plaque. They usually have photos of the class, names, dates, and quotes. ETA: The backing behind his wings denotes he was a member of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). AJM1911 also missed a ribbon and put two service stars on the wrong one. First from left in the second row from the bottom is the National Defense Service Medal with two stars, next to it is the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with no stars). |
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When did he serve? That uniform doesn't appear to be to old. Well it looks like he got out before 2001 or shortly after. The rack is missing any Iraq or Afghanistan campaign ribbons and his NDSM ribbon has two stars, indicating two terms of servince in a national emergency. I also don't see any other campaign ribbons from Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, or Panama. OP, I would ask if your dad's rack is complete? A CSM, certainly an SF CSM, should have run across one of these operations during the past 30 years. |
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When did he serve? That uniform doesn't appear to be to old. Well it looks like he got out before 2001 or shortly after. The rack is missing any Iraq or Afghanistan campaign ribbons and his NDSM ribbon has two stars, indicating two terms of servince in a national emergency. I also don't see any other campaign ribbons from Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, or Panama. OP, I would ask if your dad's rack is complete? A CSM, certainly an SF CSM, should have run across one of these operations during the past 30 years. Can't be complete. 2nd award CIB would have to be from two different periods, and I only see an expeditionary medal with no stars. |
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Quoted: thanks for the link and the info1st one is obvious, the rank is that of a Command Sergeant Major (CSM) as confirmed by the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 4 in his ribbon rack. left side (as worn): Combat infantryman's badge (two awards), Navy scuba diver badge (see ArmyAirborne's comments below), along with master jump wings with Airborne background trimming and master HALO you can check the awards here http://www.armyawards.com/awards.shtml Awards and ribbons (from top innermost ribbon): Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 awards), Army Commendation Medal (2 awards), Army Achievement Medal (2 awards), Army Good Conduct Medal (8 awards), National Defense Service Medal with two bronze service stars (see note below), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with roman numeral 4 signifying completion of Army Sergeants Major Academy course, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon note: Service stars are worn to denote an additional award or service in a named campaign and are centered on the ribbon and suspension ribbon with one point upward Right Side: Special forces regimental insignia, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2 awards) Canadian jump wings ETA: Fixed with ArmyAirborne's input, sorry I messed up on the ribbons, rackbuilder wasn't working and I was copying and pasting. |
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the small vertical stripes are overseas service bars
1 for every 6 months served oustide CONUS (or 1 for every 6 months addititve (3months here, 3months there equal 1 bar)) see below for more in depth explanation from 670-1 d. By whom worn. Soldiers are authorized wear of the overseas service bar as indicated below. (1) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of active Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service outside CONUS, from 7 December 1941 until 2 September 1946, both dates inclusive. In computing overseas service, Alaska is considered outside CONUS. An overseas service bar is not authorized for a fraction of a 6-month period. (2) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of active Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Korea, from 27 June 1950 until 27 July 1954, both dates inclusive. Credit toward an overseas service bar is authorized for each month of active Federal service as a member of the U.S. Army serving in the designated hostile fire area in Korea from 1 April 1968 until 31 August 1973. The months of arrival to, and departure from the hostile fire pay area are counted as whole months. When credit is given for a month for hostile fire pay, credit for a corresponding month is given toward an overseas service bar. (3) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period active Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Vietnam, from 1 July 1958 to 28 March 1973. The months of arrival to, and departure from Vietnam are counted as whole months for credit toward the overseas service bar. Periods of TDY service in Vietnam where credit is given for hostile fire pay for 1 month, also may be given credit for a corresponding month towards award of an overseas service bar. (4) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in the Dominican Republic, from 29 April 1965 to 21 September 1966, both dates inclusive. (5) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Laos, from 1 January 1966 to 28 March 1973. (6) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Cambodia from 1 January 1971 until 28 March 1973. Personnel must qualify for hostile fire pay to receive credit for an overseas service bar. The months of arrival to, and departure from the hostile fire pay area are counted as whole months. (7) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Lebanon, from 6 August 1983 to 24 April 1984, for the two units listed in paragraph 28-17 b (6) . The months of arrival to, and departure from the hostile fire pay area are counted as whole months. (8) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in the Persian Gulf from 27 July 1987 to 1 August 1990, for Operation Earnest Will. The months of arrival to, and departure from Operation Earnest Will are counted as whole months. (9) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in the Persian Gulf from 17 January 1991 to 31 August 1993, for Operation Desert Storm. The months of arrival to, and departure from Operation Desert Storm are counted as whole months. (10) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service who participated in El Salvador, from 1 January 1981 to 1 February 1992. The months of arrival to, and departure from El Salvador are counted as whole months. (11) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service in Somalia, from 5 December 1992 to 31 March 1995. The months of arrival to, and departure from Somalia are counted as whole months. (12) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service participating in Operation Enduring Freedom, the CENTCOM area of operations, or under the control of the Combatant Commander, CENTCOM, from 19 September 2001 to a date to be determined. The months of arrival to, and departure from the CENTCOM area of operations are counted as whole months. (13) One overseas service bar is authorized for each 6-month period of Federal service as a member of a U.S. Service participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the CENTCOM area of operations, or under the control of the Combatant Commander, CENTCOM, from 19 March 2003 to a date to be determined. The months of arrival to, and departure from the CENTCOM area of operations are counted as whole months. (14) Service as a member of a U.S. Armed Service for periods of less than 6 months duration, which otherwise meets the requirements for the award of overseas service bars, may be combined by adding the number of months to determine creditable service toward the total number of overseas service bars authorized for the following: World War II, Korea, Vietnam, The Dominican Republic, Laos, Cambodia, Lebanon, Operation Earnest Will, Grenada, Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Storm, El Salvador, Somalia, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. the diagonal stripes are service bars stripes for NCOs enlisted members, they are 1 for every 3 years of service IIRC. From AR 670-1 (uniform reg) d. By whom worn. Enlisted personnel wear the service stripes as members of the Active Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve, when they have served honorably, as indicated below. (1) In Active Federal service as a commissioned officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. (2) In Active Reserve service creditable for retirement for non-regular service, in accordance with chapter 1223, title 10, United States Code, as a commissioned officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member of any reserve component of the Armed Forces, including the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. e. One stripe is authorized for each 3 years of honorable active Federal service; active Reserve service creditable for retired pay for non-regular service; or a combination. There is no limit to the number of stripes worn; however, service stripes will not cover the chevrons. Service need not have been continuous, and the 10 th stripe is authorized after 29½ years. Individuals authorized more than 10 service stripes may elect whether or not to wear them. Additionally, since he has the green leaders tabs (under his SF insignia on his epaulettes) that means this uniform is from when he actually had responsibility for Soldiers under his responsibility |
| Then you're missing a few ribbons. I'm certain there's something for Panama but the Afghanistan campaign medal's ribbon is here. He is also eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal . |
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Quoted: Then you're missing a few ribbons. I'm certain there's something for Panama but the Afghanistan campaign medal's ribbon is here. He is also eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal . I'm assuming it's not complete because he didn't have a need to update it? Parties and pictures, right? |
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Then you're missing a few ribbons. I'm certain there's something for Panama but the Afghanistan campaign medal's ribbon is here. He is also eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal . I'm pretty sure Panama would be the Expeditionary Medal already on there. Probalby what happened is he retired not long after getting back from Afghanistan, and simply never updated his Class A's. I know mine sat in the closet for years after I got back from Iraq, I never updated them until I came back in the Guard. The green leader's tabs would go hand in hand with the CSM rank, as I'm certain a CSM rates them, whereas a SGM may not (SF Company SGM being an exception). Looks like your pops had a long and distinguished career, please thank him for me. |
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Quoted: Well, after carefully looking over the pictures you posted, it's pretty clear to me that he's a badass. When my Uncle was putting togehter a medal display for my Granddad (he was in the Army 2ID during Korea), he used my Granddad's DD214 as a reference, with some help from a friend that had done the same thing before. It did turn out that my Granddad was missing a couple service medals. |
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When did he serve? That uniform doesn't appear to be to old. Well it looks like he got out before 2001 or shortly after. The rack is missing any Iraq or Afghanistan campaign ribbons and his NDSM ribbon has two stars, indicating two terms of servince in a national emergency. I also don't see any other campaign ribbons from Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, or Panama. OP, I would ask if your dad's rack is complete? A CSM, certainly an SF CSM, should have run across one of these operations during the past 30 years. Can't be complete. 2nd award CIB would have to be from two different periods, and I only see an expeditionary medal with no stars. It could be complete. A 2nd award of the expeditionary medal may not have been given for a number of reasons. As is the case for SF, they are often attached/assigned to duty where they qualify for the CIB (2nd/3rd), but not authorized for subsequent awarding of the expeditionary medal...Or possibly star just fell out. To the OP...be a good son, get your dad's DD-214 and put together something to honor his service in a more befitting manner than a uniform hanging in the closet. My kids put together a shadow box for my ribbons/awards and flag. The effort alone meant a lot. It doesn't matter how hardcore your dad may be, I'm sure he'll appreciate it. |
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When did he serve? That uniform doesn't appear to be to old. Well it looks like he got out before 2001 or shortly after. The rack is missing any Iraq or Afghanistan campaign ribbons and his NDSM ribbon has two stars, indicating two terms of servince in a national emergency. I also don't see any other campaign ribbons from Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, or Panama. OP, I would ask if your dad's rack is complete? A CSM, certainly an SF CSM, should have run across one of these operations during the past 30 years. Can't be complete. 2nd award CIB would have to be from two different periods, and I only see an expeditionary medal with no stars. It could be complete. A 2nd award of the expeditionary medal may not have been given for a number of reasons. As is the case for SF, they are often attached/assigned to duty where they qualify for the CIB (2nd/3rd), but not authorized for subsequent awarding of the expeditionary medal...Or possibly star just fell out. To the OP...be a good son, get your dad's DD-214 and put together something to honor his service in a more befitting manner than a uniform hanging in the closet. My kids put together a shadow box for my ribbons/awards and flag. The effort alone meant a lot. It doesn't matter how hardcore your dad may be, I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Well, at the moment the expeditionary medal is authorized, and the OIF/OEF with stars are awarded for subsequent deployments to A'stan or Iraq. |
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When did he serve? That uniform doesn't appear to be to old. Well it looks like he got out before 2001 or shortly after. The rack is missing any Iraq or Afghanistan campaign ribbons and his NDSM ribbon has two stars, indicating two terms of servince in a national emergency. I also don't see any other campaign ribbons from Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, or Panama. OP, I would ask if your dad's rack is complete? A CSM, certainly an SF CSM, should have run across one of these operations during the past 30 years. Can't be complete. 2nd award CIB would have to be from two different periods, and I only see an expeditionary medal with no stars. It could be complete. A 2nd award of the expeditionary medal may not have been given for a number of reasons. As is the case for SF, they are often attached/assigned to duty where they qualify for the CIB (2nd/3rd), but not authorized for subsequent awarding of the expeditionary medal...Or possibly star just fell out. To the OP...be a good son, get your dad's DD-214 and put together something to honor his service in a more befitting manner than a uniform hanging in the closet. My kids put together a shadow box for my ribbons/awards and flag. The effort alone meant a lot. It doesn't matter how hardcore your dad may be, I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Well, at the moment the expeditionary medal is authorized, and the OIF/OEF with stars are awarded for subsequent deployments to A'stan or Iraq. Statement in red is incorrect. If Army, I'd recommend you read MILPER Message 08-123 and 10-078 for clarification. |
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When did he serve? That uniform doesn't appear to be to old. Well it looks like he got out before 2001 or shortly after. The rack is missing any Iraq or Afghanistan campaign ribbons and his NDSM ribbon has two stars, indicating two terms of servince in a national emergency. I also don't see any other campaign ribbons from Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, or Panama. OP, I would ask if your dad's rack is complete? A CSM, certainly an SF CSM, should have run across one of these operations during the past 30 years. Can't be complete. 2nd award CIB would have to be from two different periods, and I only see an expeditionary medal with no stars. It could be complete. A 2nd award of the expeditionary medal may not have been given for a number of reasons. As is the case for SF, they are often attached/assigned to duty where they qualify for the CIB (2nd/3rd), but not authorized for subsequent awarding of the expeditionary medal...Or possibly star just fell out. To the OP...be a good son, get your dad's DD-214 and put together something to honor his service in a more befitting manner than a uniform hanging in the closet. My kids put together a shadow box for my ribbons/awards and flag. The effort alone meant a lot. It doesn't matter how hardcore your dad may be, I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Well, at the moment the expeditionary medal is authorized, and the OIF/OEF with stars are awarded for subsequent deployments to A'stan or Iraq. Wrong expeditionary medal. The GWOTEM is the one authorized for OIF/OEF, where the Army Expeditionary Medal was the one given for other smaller conflicts over the last 20-30 years, such as Grenada, Panama, Somalia, etc. |
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When did he serve? That uniform doesn't appear to be to old. Well it looks like he got out before 2001 or shortly after. The rack is missing any Iraq or Afghanistan campaign ribbons and his NDSM ribbon has two stars, indicating two terms of servince in a national emergency. I also don't see any other campaign ribbons from Desert Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo, or Panama. OP, I would ask if your dad's rack is complete? A CSM, certainly an SF CSM, should have run across one of these operations during the past 30 years. Can't be complete. 2nd award CIB would have to be from two different periods, and I only see an expeditionary medal with no stars. It could be complete. A 2nd award of the expeditionary medal may not have been given for a number of reasons. As is the case for SF, they are often attached/assigned to duty where they qualify for the CIB (2nd/3rd), but not authorized for subsequent awarding of the expeditionary medal...Or possibly star just fell out. To the OP...be a good son, get your dad's DD-214 and put together something to honor his service in a more befitting manner than a uniform hanging in the closet. My kids put together a shadow box for my ribbons/awards and flag. The effort alone meant a lot. It doesn't matter how hardcore your dad may be, I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Well, at the moment the expeditionary medal is authorized, and the OIF/OEF with stars are awarded for subsequent deployments to A'stan or Iraq. Wrong expeditionary medal. The GWOTEM is the one authorized for OIF/OEF, where the Army Expeditionary Medal was the one given for other smaller conflicts over the last 20-30 years, such as Grenada, Panama, Somalia, etc. 7th Group would almost certainly be qualified for El Salvador, recent addition for combat patch and CIB. However, the qualifying period for subsequent CIBs is a tough hurdle. Someone who served in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, El Salvador Desert Storm and Somalia would qualify for only 1 CIB. The period stretches form 1961-1995. In order to have two stars, he would have had to have served in A-Stan or Korea. |
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When did he serve? That uniform doesn't appear to be to old. Well, at the moment the expeditionary medal is authorized, and the OIF/OEF with stars are awarded for subsequent deployments to A'stan or Iraq. Wrong expeditionary medal. The GWOTEM is the one authorized for OIF/OEF, where the Army Expeditionary Medal was the one given for other smaller conflicts over the last 20-30 years, such as Grenada, Panama, Somalia, etc. 7th Group would almost certainly be qualified for El Salvador, recent addition for combat patch and CIB. However, the qualifying period for subsequent CIBs is a tough hurdle. Someone who served in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, El Salvador Desert Storm and Somalia would qualify for only 1 CIB. The period stretches form 1961-1995. In order to have two stars, he would have had to have served in A-Stan or Korea. OP stated his dad served in Afghanistan. My guess is he added the 2nd CIB, but never updated his rack with the medals from Afghanistan. |
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When did he serve? That uniform doesn't appear to be to old. Well, at the moment the expeditionary medal is authorized, and the OIF/OEF with stars are awarded for subsequent deployments to A'stan or Iraq. Wrong expeditionary medal. The GWOTEM is the one authorized for OIF/OEF, where the Army Expeditionary Medal was the one given for other smaller conflicts over the last 20-30 years, such as Grenada, Panama, Somalia, etc. 7th Group would almost certainly be qualified for El Salvador, recent addition for combat patch and CIB. However, the qualifying period for subsequent CIBs is a tough hurdle. Someone who served in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, El Salvador Desert Storm and Somalia would qualify for only 1 CIB. The period stretches form 1961-1995. In order to have two stars, he would have had to have served in A-Stan or Korea. OP stated his dad served in Afghanistan. My guess is he added the 2nd CIB, but never updated his rack with the medals from Afghanistan. Hell, fixin' to retire, they probably didn't even have the damn ribbon when he got out. |
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