Where are his wings?

Question

I hate to drag Pat Tillman out for another beating but where are his Jump Wings. He has the ranger Beret but no jump wings.

The tan beret indicates Ranger

http://us.altermedia.info/images/Tillman.jpg

I've never known anyone who was airborne who would go out in public without thier wings. I've never heard of taking Ranger before Jump School

He's not "taped up" he is wearing subdued insignia. Why would he go to have his picture taken without his jump wings

Excuse me, I'm retired Army, I live next to a base. Wings are worn on BDus and ACUs. That's why they sell "subued " wings

So the point seems to be Did Pat Tillman go to Jump School?
Without that he could not have gotten into Ranger Training.

Answer 1

Short answer: airborne wings are not worn on the BDU or other class B uniforms.

Successful completion of the airborne school is a prerequisite to attendance at Ranger School.

Regarding the beret: AR 670-1 specifies the tan beret as distinctive to Rangers. Only Rangers wear the tan beret, while 82nd and 101st Divs wear maroon, Special Forces green, and the line wears black. So the tan beret is not indicative of Ranger-qualified but of actual service in the Ranger Training Brigade or in the 75th Infantry. Also, soldiers who served in the 75th infantry are permitted to continue the wear of the tan beret even after they transfer to certain other units.

But to return to the point: if Tillman was posted to the 75th Infantry without completing Ranger School, he would have the tan beret and no wings (and no Ranger tab, either). Notice how this photograph, used over and over and over again, never shows the right shoulder, where the Ranger tab would go. Notice also that the photo in question shows Mr. Tillman as a Spec 4 and not a hard stripe corporal.

However, note that AR 670-1 was amended in 1998 to prescribe that airborne wings are worn on the Green, Blue and White Service uniforms and on the AG shirt when that garment is used as an outer garment and not otherwise, which means that airborne wings are not worn on the bdu or class B uniforms.

However again, there are photos of Mr. Tillman in formation, in the Green service uniform, as a Spec 4 and apparently serving as a guidon, without jump wings. Note also that the picture (see the second link below) show him wearing the ribbons of the NDSM and Army service ribbon as well as the infantry cord, but not the EIB, which might indicate that the picture is of his graduation from infantry school, which would explain the cord AND the absence of the EIB. This photo would have pre-dated his attendance at airborne and ranger school.

The funny thing is, though, given the enlistment-boost that his enlistment and training could have been milked for, why is there no photo of his completion of airborne school or ranger school?
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Look, people, read the friendly regulation. It's right there in Chapter 28 of AR 670-1. It is prohibited to wear jump wings, air assault wings or aviation wings on the ACU and BDU. Subdued wings are a throwback to before 1998, when wings were worn on the BDU.

Answer 2

Everyone in the army wears the beret (that made alot of people on both sides mad) and have been for about 5 yrs, I think. Does he have a Ranger patch on his shoulder?

Answer 3

Only photos I have found of him as a Ranger are in Desert BDUs. Since he was in combat, uniforms are "Sanitized", no unit patches or identifying badges. Only rank, name, and Army tapes. All required to make it a military uniform.
In a dress uniform picture he would be wearing his jump wings as required.
As someone stated "Maybe he chose not to wear them", anyone who has earned them, would not take them off if they didn't have to. Plus it is an "Aviation Badge" it has wings. It is mandatory for wear for anyone who is authorized to wear them.

Answer 4

Here's a wacky idea: perhaps he chose not to wear that optional accoutrement. Another theory: he went to Ranger school before he went to Airborne school.

Answer 5

Take a look at this pic from the same setting. You will see that it was not a situation where he would be displaying his wings. He is taped up.

http://jollyblogger.typepad.com/jollyblogger/images/pat_tillman_1.jpg

Answer 6

Is it possible that the wings have been cropped out of this picture??

Answer 7

What photo are you talking about? Please provide a link. That is kind of irresponsible, especially for a Ranger.