Leadership Award questions

[AC]

I have progressed in my PD to where I will become technician rated. In CAPR 50-17 it says completion of technician rating makes me eligible for the award of the Leadership Ribbon, however, the Benjamin O. Davis Award, which took the place of the COP, is awarded for completion of Level Two. The Leadership ribbon looks like the Davis Award. So which is it? Also, I have a Yeager award. An embossed seal is affixed to the COP if you have the Yeager Award. Does something go on the Leadership Ribbon?

AC

[SDF_Specialist]

You get the leadership ribbon before the Davis award. When you get the Davis award, you are eligible for the senior rating in a specialty if you've met the requirements in the Technician rating.

[AC]

Thanks, Recruiter. So, they are two different things! What confused me was looking on the ribbon chart, the Davis Award looked like the leadership ribbon. So then, I guess that embossed seal goes on the certificate for the Davis Award.

[Eclipse]

Close...

you get the Davis >ribbon< for a tech rating (and attachments for Senior & Master, up to 3, respectively),
and the Davis >award< for completion of Level II (Tech rating, AFIDL-13, SLS).

To achieve the Davis >award<, requires a Davis >ribbon<, first.

And they are not "close", they are the same ribbon, just renamed.  Yes, the Yeager seal would go on your Davis Award.

See the KB Article:

Note: The August 2003 National Board voted to  rename the Level II
Leadership Ribbon (for completing the technician level of a specialty track)
to be called The General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Leadership Ribbon. The March
2006 National Board action above voted to associate the name of General
Davis with completion of the Level II milestone (Certificate of Proficiency).

See National Board Meeting Minutes
25 August 2003

4. ITEM: Renaming of Leadership Ribbon
COL BOYD/KS stated that, as a Tuskegee Airman, he wanted to thank the board
for the opportunity of presenting the following motion. He added, "General
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was Commander of the 99th Pursuit Squadron during
World War II, known currently as the Tuskegee Airmen. Occasionally, we have
the opportunity to rename CAP ribbons."
COL BOYD/KS moved and COL GROSHONG/PCR seconded that the National Board,
with the concurrence of the Davis family, approve the renaming of the
Leadership ribbon to the General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Leadership Ribbon in
honor of this distinguished airman and honored American-the first black Army
Air Corps general and the first Commander of the Tuskegee Airmen.
MOTION CARRIED WITH NO DISSENTING VOTES
FOLLOW-ON ACTION: National Headquarters staff action, notification to the
field, and change to regulation.

Interestingly, they've completely rewritten this article since I quoted it internally last year.  It now says:

The Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Award is given to Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members who complete Level Two of the Senior Member Professional Development Program. It recognizes those members who have dedicated themselves to leadership and personal development in the CAP. This award was first given in 2006 and honors the late General Benjamin Davis. A pioneering military officer who was the leader of the fabled Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, and the first African American to become a General in the Air Force.

See Paragraph 4-7 (below)  of    CAPR 50-17 CAP Senior Member Professional Development Program ,

4-7. Certificate of Proficiency. (now General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award)
Completion of Level II results in the award of the Certificate of Proficiency. Upon completion of all Level II training requirements, the unit's Professional Development Officer records the data on the member's CAPF 45b (Attachment 4). Additionally, the unit Professional Development Officer completes CAPF 24 (Attachment 7), Item 8; the unit commander signs the form, retains a copy, and forwards the original to NHQ CAP/ETP. Chaplains participating in the regular Professional Development Program should also apply for the award by submitting a CAPF 24 and may substitute Chaplains Course 221 for the SLS. NHQ CAP/ETP mails the Certificate of Proficiency to the unit for subsequent presentation by the unit commander.

NOTE: Completion of the technician's rating of any specialty track and 12 months time-in-grade as a second lieutenant or TFO (or combination of the two) satisfies the training requirement for duty performance promotion to first lieutenant. Completion of Level II with 18 months time-in-grade as first lieutenant or SFO (or combination of the two) satisfies the training requirements for duty performance promotion to captain (see CAPR 35-5).

[SDF_Specialist]

I've never heard it referred to as the "Davis >ribbon<". But you do need it to get the Davis award.

[AC]

Well, that's perfectly clear! Thanks! So when you get the Technician rating, you get two things, a badge and a ribbon!

AC

[jb512]

Well here's one for ya...

While doing an image search one day, I ran across a bio picture for some light colonel somewhere who had two Davis ribbons with three silver stars on each in his rack.  Now, we can all assume that he had master ratings in six specialties and we know that for some ribbons you can wear two if not all of your devices fit, but do we think that's within regs for this one...

[SDF_Specialist]

I'd have to agree. I've never seen anywhere in the regs where you can wear two Leadership Ribbons.

[Pylon]

I'd have to agree. I've never seen anywhere in the regs where you can wear two Leadership Ribbons.

How about in the publication that dictates how awards are worn?

Table 5-4, Arrangement of Ribbons:
Notes
...
2. Wear a maximum of four devices on each ribbon. Place silver devices to the wearer's right of
bronze devices. Replace the bronze device with a silver device after receipt of the fifth bronze
device.
3. If all authorized devices do not fit on a single ribbon, wear a second ribbon. Wear a minimum of
three devices on the first ribbon before wearing a second ribbon. When wearing the second ribbon,
place after the initial ribbon. It counts for one award. When future awards reduce device to a single
ribbon, remove the second ribbon.

CAPR 39-3 dictates how awards are earned/how people become eligible for awards/how awards are documented

CAPM 39-1 dictates how your awards are worn.

Always consult the appropriate publication.

[SDF_Specialist]

I'd have to agree. I've never seen anywhere in the regs where you can wear two Leadership Ribbons.

How about in the publication that dictates how awards are worn?

Table 5-4, Arrangement of Ribbons:
Notes
...
2. Wear a maximum of four devices on each ribbon. Place silver devices to the wearer's right of
bronze devices. Replace the bronze device with a silver device after receipt of the fifth bronze
device.
3. If all authorized devices do not fit on a single ribbon, wear a second ribbon. Wear a minimum of
three devices on the first ribbon before wearing a second ribbon. When wearing the second ribbon,
place after the initial ribbon. It counts for one award. When future awards reduce device to a single
ribbon, remove the second ribbon.

CAPR 39-3 dictates how awards are earned/how people become eligible for awards/how awards are documented

CAPM 39-1 dictates how your awards are worn.

Always consult the appropriate publication.

In the three years I've been reading that manual, I've never seen that!! I retract my previous statement.

[davedove]

I'd have to agree. I've never seen anywhere in the regs where you can wear two Leadership Ribbons.

How about in the publication that dictates how awards are worn?

Table 5-4, Arrangement of Ribbons:
Notes
...
2. Wear a maximum of four devices on each ribbon. Place silver devices to the wearer's right of
bronze devices. Replace the bronze device with a silver device after receipt of the fifth bronze
device.
3. If all authorized devices do not fit on a single ribbon, wear a second ribbon. Wear a minimum of
three devices on the first ribbon before wearing a second ribbon. When wearing the second ribbon,
place after the initial ribbon. It counts for one award. When future awards reduce device to a single
ribbon, remove the second ribbon.

CAPR 39-3 dictates how awards are earned/how people become eligible for awards/how awards are documented

CAPM 39-1 dictates how your awards are worn.

Always consult the appropriate publication.

However, the Leadership ribbon has it's own limitation (from CAPR 39-3):

b. Leadership Award. Successfully complete technician rating in a training specialty.

(1) Bronze Star Attachment - Successfully complete senior rating in a training specialty.

(2) Silver Star Attachment - Successfully complete master rating in a training specialty. A
maximum of three silver star attachments may be worn in recognition of each master rating earned.

Note that this doesn't say a maximum of three stars per ribbon, but that a maximum of three stars may be worn.

Based on that, I would say that wearing the second ribbon violates the regs.  You have to see what it says in all the regs, not just the one.

Now, I would like to see the authority to wear as many silver stars as you have master ratings, but I don't feel the regs allow that right now.

[RogueLeader]

(2) Silver Star Attachment - Successfully complete master rating in a training specialty. A
maximum of three silver star attachments may be worn in recognition of each master rating earned.[/i]

Note that this doesn't say a maximum of three stars per ribbon, but that a maximum of three stars may be worn.

No. I says a maximum of three silver stars.  Not three stars.  So I could have three master ratings and six senior ratings; then according to the regs, I can wear three leadership ribbons. 

Not that I would, and it looks really bad; but it is allowable.

[davedove]

(2) Silver Star Attachment - Successfully complete master rating in a training specialty. A
maximum of three silver star attachments may be worn in recognition of each master rating earned.[/i]

Note that this doesn't say a maximum of three stars per ribbon, but that a maximum of three stars may be worn.

No. I says a maximum of three silver stars.  Not three stars.  So I could have three master ratings and six senior ratings; then according to the regs, I can wear three leadership ribbons. 

Not that I would, and it looks really bad; but it is allowable.

I could see that interpretation.  I don't necessarily agree with it, but I could see it.

This is just another example of where CAP regs need to be better written.

[cnitas]

I believe this is really splitting hairs.  The intent is clearly only 1 ribbon with a max of 3 stars is allowed.

It takes a guardhouse lawyer to read anything else into it.

But in a larger sense, I agree that the regs could be re-written to be consistant across awards and more clear in this regard.

Edited to add:

I have spent considerable time on this (more than I would like to admit), and I do not see where the regs authorize more than a single bronze star on the Davis ribbon.  You are allowed a single star when finishing senior rating, but no mention of additional bronze stars for additional senior ratings.

My read is that you wear a single bronze star, which would upgrade to a single silver star when you get a master rating. 

You wear a single silver star until you complete a second master rating, after which you would wear 2 silver stars (no mixed silver/bronze). 

The 3rd silver star is worn after completion of the 3rd master rating, which is where all attachments for the ribbon stop.

This is what I believe the intent, however unclear, really was for the stars/ratings.

[davedove]

I believe this is really splitting hairs.  The intent is clearly only 1 ribbon with a max of 3 stars is allowed.

Thanks, Mark, that's what I was trying to get at, but the phrase completely escaped me this morning, the "intent" of the regs.  In this case, I agree that it means only one ribbon with a maximum of three silver stars.

[jb512]

That was my interpretation too.  One ribbon, three silver stars max.

[Timothy]

I'm somewhat blurting this out when I really dont need to, but does anyone else think the leadership ribbon is a little horrid and out of place with AF/CAP colors and design? To me asthetically it is about a notch below the AFJROTC activities ribbon, which was also half and half, but mercifally used blue instead of purple.

Maybe its just because I am not a big fan of purple, but for a ribbon in PD, and at the upper half of the ribbon chart in importance, I would prefer it not look like an Army JROTC award for selling candy. There really are a million other more important things to do in CAP, but every time I see this ribbon it just bugs me. 

[MIKE]

It's better than how it used to look.