For example, Colin Powell in this link: http://www.leisuregalleries.com/aapowell.jpg
I know 4 shoulder stars = general, but the things that look like they could be flags from all over the world, I don't know what those mean. Any clarification would be great.
2007-10-24 16:44:38 · 8 answers · asked by darkvelvetrain 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
It's for how many paper cuts he got for pushing paper from one side of the desk to the other and laying low and not having an opinion but was always there to kiss some butt of a hire ranking officer or politician.
2007-10-24 16:48:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 8⤋
Contrary to what John Kerry said, ribbons are not the same thing as medals. You can walk into a military clothing sales story and buy pretty much any RIBBION you want. It is the MEDALS that are awarded and hard to get.
Ribbons are divided into two groups.
Ribbons associated with medals. If you get a medal such as National Defense, there is a ribbon that matches the colors of the ribbon that holds the medal. You wear the ribbon to show you were awarded that particular medal.
Ribbons associated with things other than medals. If you qualify as an expert with a rifle in the USAF, you get a "Small Arms Marksman Ribbon." You get a ribbon for Longevity, meaning you served 4 years in service. You get a ribbon for quite a few things that are NOT the same as medals.
Attached to the ribbons are devices. They show either valor, such as the Bronze Star on a medal, or repeat awards of the same thing. IE: If you serve 8 years in the USAF, you get a longevity ribbon for the first 4 and a bronze oak leaf for the second 4.
In Vietnam, they handed out medals so fast they were sometimes referred to as "popcorn medals." The same was true with Desert Storm. If you were there during the wind up, the war and after the war here is what you got.
National Defense Service Medal (everyone got that.)
Southeast Asia Service Medal (if you were in the area. You got one for before the war, for the war and after the war. If you were there for all three, you got the medal with TWO devices. Each was counted as a separate award.)
Saudi Arabian Kuwaiti Liberation medal. (if you were in the area during the war part of the event.)
Kuwaiti Kuwaiti Liberation medal. (Same as the Saudi medal.)
If you were there for 90 days, you could come home with a total of SIX awards. Popcorn all the way.
My general rule was to only pay attention to the top two medals. And if they had that little blue one with the five stars worn on the other side of their chest, I would stand up and salute.
2007-10-25 20:33:33 · answer #2 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 of those medals are for meritorious action in combat, the 6th is a Bronze Star and the 8th is the Air Medal. The others are a mix of campaign and the Army Commendation Medal. The 7th is a Purple Heart.
The Top badge is the Combat Infantryman Badge, the 2 lower are Airborne (your left) and Air Assault.
I do not see any Unit Badges. You are only authorized to wear a Unit Citation or Presidential Badge while assigned to that unit.
If you were in a unit when the citation was issued you can were it to ID yourself as a member of a Cited Unit in perpetuity.
2007-10-25 00:36:15 · answer #3 · answered by Stand-up philosopher. It's good to be the King 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suspect you're talking about the "fruit salad." They're the cloth representations for medals. Some are "I was there" medals, some for simply staying out of trouble, and some for serious medals like the Purple Heart (AKA "forgot to duck" for being wounded in combat) or medals for valor like the Silver Star or Navy Cross. Just keeping up with which goes where can be a real trick for highly decorated men.
2007-10-24 23:58:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They're called ribbons. Some of them represent medals, some unit citations, some of the represent qualifications, and some are awards for participation in certain events. They're also worn by enlisted personnel.
2007-10-25 01:22:19 · answer #5 · answered by Mike W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those are breast insignia and ribbons. Some ribbons correlate with medals that are awarded. Go to the link I provided and that site will tell you what each ribbon is for.
2007-10-24 23:56:39 · answer #6 · answered by rollinjukebox 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Left side = unit citations
These ribbons are those eaned by the unit during it's life. Soldiers today wear ribbons from WW1 and WW2
right side = personal citations
These are the ribbons that the individual soldier earns for himself.
2007-10-24 23:49:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
they are ribbons they represent rank and what kind of training you have completed and important accomplishments.
2007-10-24 23:47:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋