Some Ribbon Trivia

[Flying Pig]

The Cadet Recruiting Ribbon is also the same ribbon used as the GA Guard Emergency Service Military Ribbon.  Class dismissed. (Yes, I'm currently bored.)

[THRAWN]

The Cadet Recruiting Ribbon is also the same ribbon used as the GA Guard Emergency Service Military Ribbon.  Class dismissed. (Yes, I'm currently bored.)

And the CAP MOV ribbon is the same as the SGAUS Faithful Service Ribbon.

[N6RVT]

The Cadet Recruiting Ribbon is also the same ribbon used as the GA Guard Emergency Service Military Ribbon.  Class dismissed. (Yes, I'm currently bored.)

And the CAP MOV ribbon is the same as the SGAUS Faithful Service Ribbon.

There's also a CAP ribbon that if you turn it upside down its a different CAP ribbon, but I think one of them is obsolete.

[James Shaw]

The Cadet Recruiting Ribbon is also the same ribbon used as the GA Guard Emergency Service Military Ribbon.  Class dismissed. (Yes, I'm currently bored.)

And the CAP MOV ribbon is the same as the SGAUS Faithful Service Ribbon.

There's also a CAP ribbon that if you turn it upside down its a different CAP ribbon, but I think one of them is obsolete.

The current Gill Robb Wilson ribbon is the old National Commander's Citation Award.

[MSG Mac]

The CAC ribbon is the 2nd Byrd Antarctic Medal circa 1936
The Searc and Rescue ribbon is the Army/AF Presidential Unit without the frame.

[MSG Mac]

The Cadet Recruiting Ribbon is also the same ribbon used as the GA Guard Emergency Service Military Ribbon.  Class dismissed. (Yes, I'm currently bored.)

Also the UK's Order of Saints Michael and George

[Shuman 14]

The Cadet Recruiting Ribbon is also the same ribbon used as the GA Guard Emergency Service Military Ribbon.  Class dismissed. (Yes, I'm currently bored.)

And the CAP MOV ribbon is the same as the SGAUS Faithful Service Ribbon.

https://sgaus.org/product/faithful-service-ribbon-set-complete/

[Spam]

Your solid green Unit Citation is the same ribbon as the Australian Order of the Thistle, the Elizabeth-Theresa Military Decoration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Lifesaving Medal of the German Duchy of Brunswick. Also the Ethiopian Order of Solomon, so if you're going to cosplay Alan Quartermain seeking King Solomon's mines, your costume is halfway there already (just get the cool jodhpurs and a big bore elephant gun).

The VFW Cadet Officer of the Year Ribbon is identical to the Royal Bavarian Order of the Lion (Instituted: 1 January 1768 by the Elector Carl Theodor of Electoral Pfalz, Bavaria) and the VFW Unit Cadet NCO of the Year Ribbon is the Bavarian Civil Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown (Those dudes like their pale blue and white, just look at any good Bavarian beer garden!)

The white CAC ribbon is the same as the Cross for Religious Service of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Danish Order of the Elephant. (*That's the Order of the Elephant from Denmark, not an elephant shaped Danish, which would technically be an elephant ear pastry).

The Senior Member Level I Membership Award Ribbon is very close to the National Order of Burkina Faso.

The solid red IACE ribbon is identical to many foreign ribbons, such as the Order of Christopher Columbus of the Dominican Republic, and the Estonian Order of the White Star. Wear that ribbon on your next IACE det to Estonia and someone might mistakenly send your table a round of tasty Põhjala CocoBänger stout (if you're an escort that is).

The Cadet Recruiter Ribbon looks pretty close to the Silver Medal of Military Merit of Equatorial Guinea. I dunno... the shade of cyan may be off... so be careful when wearing your blues in Equatorial Guinea, cadets. You don't want to be accused of stolen valor.

We once had a Captalk member who just wouldn't stop with the East German stuff... he probably knew that our Grover Leoning Aerospace ribbon is very close to the East German Medal of Merit of the Combat Groups of the Working-Class
(Verdienstmedaille der Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse). Not that CAP would condone the wear of a DDR Commie award, you understand.

Then there is the CAP Find ribbons close similarity to the Rhodesian Police Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry. It looks like Mugabe didn't keep that ribbon around when Zimbabwe replaced Rhodesia, but at least we don't face a CAP ribbon that resembles the Zimbabwean "President's Medal for Shooting" (shooting whom, is unclear).

Having lived in Taiwan (and that would be the non Communist version of China) as a youth, I was hoping that they'd match some of our CAP ribbons, but no. I'd like to suggest that we consider their designs for any new CAP ribbons, just so we can share a design with such fantastically-named awards as:  Order of Grand Unity, Order of the Cosmic Diagram, Order of the Book of Nature, Order of Sublime Commencement, Order of Propitious Clouds, and (my favorite), the "Order of the Precious Tripod". You just can't beat the Precious Tripod.


Pig, you and I seem to share a very odd reaction to boredom. Perhaps its something in the Georgia water...

Cheers!
Spam

[Luis R. Ramos]

I am going to request a new CAP ribbon. All seven colors of the rainbow. For the largest and longest comparison of CAP ribbons to other countries, be these former or current ones.

[THRAWN]

Your solid green Unit Citation is the same ribbon as the Australian Order of the Thistle, the Elizabeth-Theresa Military Decoration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Lifesaving Medal of the German Duchy of Brunswick. Also the Ethiopian Order of Solomon, so if you're going to cosplay Alan Quartermain seeking King Solomon's mines, your costume is halfway there already (just get the cool jodhpurs and a big bore elephant gun).

The VFW Cadet Officer of the Year Ribbon is identical to the Royal Bavarian Order of the Lion (Instituted: 1 January 1768 by the Elector Carl Theodor of Electoral Pfalz, Bavaria) and the VFW Unit Cadet NCO of the Year Ribbon is the Bavarian Civil Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown (Those dudes like their pale blue and white, just look at any good Bavarian beer garden!)

The white CAC ribbon is the same as the Cross for Religious Service of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Danish Order of the Elephant. (*That's the Order of the Elephant from Denmark, not an elephant shaped Danish, which would technically be an elephant ear pastry).

The Senior Member Level I Membership Award Ribbon is very close to the National Order of Burkina Faso.

The solid red IACE ribbon is identical to many foreign ribbons, such as the Order of Christopher Columbus of the Dominican Republic, and the Estonian Order of the White Star. Wear that ribbon on your next IACE det to Estonia and someone might mistakenly send your table a round of tasty Põhjala CocoBänger stout (if you're an escort that is).

The Cadet Recruiter Ribbon looks pretty close to the Silver Medal of Military Merit of Equatorial Guinea. I dunno... the shade of cyan may be off... so be careful when wearing your blues in Equatorial Guinea, cadets. You don't want to be accused of stolen valor.

We once had a Captalk member who just wouldn't stop with the East German stuff... he probably knew that our Grover Leoning Aerospace ribbon is very close to the East German Medal of Merit of the Combat Groups of the Working-Class
(Verdienstmedaille der Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse). Not that CAP would condone the wear of a DDR Commie award, you understand.

Then there is the CAP Find ribbons close similarity to the Rhodesian Police Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry. It looks like Mugabe didn't keep that ribbon around when Zimbabwe replaced Rhodesia, but at least we don't face a CAP ribbon that resembles the Zimbabwean "President's Medal for Shooting" (shooting whom, is unclear).

Having lived in Taiwan (and that would be the non Communist version of China) as a youth, I was hoping that they'd match some of our CAP ribbons, but no. I'd like to suggest that we consider their designs for any new CAP ribbons, just so we can share a design with such fantastically-named awards as:  Order of Grand Unity, Order of the Cosmic Diagram, Order of the Book of Nature, Order of Sublime Commencement, Order of Propitious Clouds, and (my favorite), the "Order of the Precious Tripod". You just can't beat the Precious Tripod.


Pig, you and I seem to share a very odd reaction to boredom. Perhaps its something in the Georgia water...

Cheers!
Spam

Yowza, this is fun...haven't done this in a while and it's always kind of neat to see who uses what ribbon for what award. It gets really fun when you work in state awards. For example, the NJ Distinguished Service Medal uses the same ribbon as the USAF Outstanding Unit Award. You should see that mess on a ANG uniform. The Maryland Defense Force IET ribbon looks, at first glance, similar to the Navy MUC, and the Professional Development ribbon is a dead ringer for the old Navy Reserve ribbon.

[baronet68]

Prior to 1964, CAP ribbons were designed by the Army's Heraldry Institute, whose job was to avoid using ribbon designs that resembled those used by foreign (allied or potentially enemy) nations.

When the current cadet program came into being in 1964, the Heraldry Institute was too busy to help CAP design new ribbons so NHQ turned to Charles Wood, CAP's chief illustrator, who designed some very unique and distinctive ribbons:

[PHall]

I am going to request a new CAP ribbon. All seven colors of the rainbow. For the largest and longest comparison of CAP ribbons to other countries, be these former or current ones.

The Army beat you on that about 40 years ago. The Army Training Ribbon. You get it for completing Basic Training.

[supertigerCH]

I am going to request a new CAP ribbon. All seven colors of the rainbow. For the largest and longest comparison of CAP ribbons to other countries, be these former or current ones.

The Army beat you on that about 40 years ago. The Army Training Ribbon. You get it for completing Basic Training.

Is that what I got it for??  I was never quite sure... if it was the one awarded to us for marching in circles, or if it just came out of an MRE

[THRAWN]

I am going to request a new CAP ribbon. All seven colors of the rainbow. For the largest and longest comparison of CAP ribbons to other countries, be these former or current ones.

The Army beat you on that about 40 years ago. The Army Training Ribbon. You get it for completing Basic Training.

Is that what I got it for??  I was never quite sure... if it was the one awarded to us for marching in circles, or if it just came out of an MRE

You got yours in an MRE? I got one in a Cracker Jack box. Was disappointed. Really wanted that stick on tattoo...

[supertigerCH]

you guys got Cracker Jacks??!! 


you must have been part of one of those special identifier units.

[Luis R. Ramos]

I am not sure if you are writing correctly or if I am reading this correctly.

Are you referring to Cracker Jacks, or are you saying these Jacks are going Crackers?

[NIN]

The Air SAR Ribbon (all blue), same color as the "Michigan Broadsword" National Guard longevity award.



Many years ago, I used to wear that one on my ribbon rack just to see who was paying attention. (yes, I know you weren't supposed to wear Guard ribbons)

You'd get a sharp-eyed cadet come up "Sir, uh, why do you have two Air SAR Ribbons?"

For a little while I also wore the mini-medal on my mess dress when it fit in the middle of the rack surrounded by other medals, almost totally hidden. I mean, come on, the medal has a SWORD on it!  It was a conversation piece.

Once in awhile someone would glance at my medals and say "Hey, uhh, wait a minute. What is _that_?"

I haven't done either in over 20 years. It was a gag then. Not so much now.

[THRAWN]

The Air SAR Ribbon (all blue), same color as the "Michigan Broadsword" National Guard longevity award.



Many years ago, I used to wear that one on my ribbon rack just to see who was paying attention. (yes, I know you weren't supposed to wear Guard ribbons)

You'd get a sharp-eyed cadet come up "Sir, uh, why do you have two Air SAR Ribbons?"

For a little while I also wore the mini-medal on my mess dress when it fit in the middle of the rack surrounded by other medals, almost totally hidden. I mean, come on, the medal has a SWORD on it!  It was a conversation piece.

Once in awhile someone would glance at my medals and say "Hey, uhh, wait a minute. What is _that_?"

I haven't done either in over 20 years. It was a gag then. Not so much now.

Thanks for making my collection of gongs look like junk. Guess they'll make great key fobs now....

[N6RVT]

I am going to request a new CAP ribbon. All seven colors of the rainbow. For the largest and longest comparison of CAP ribbons to other countries, be these former or current ones.

The Army beat you on that about 40 years ago. The Army Training Ribbon. You get it for completing Basic Training.

I can remember in the late 1970's seeing Army Captains who had no ribbons at all.  But that was more than 40 years ago, ribbon inflation must have started just after that.

[NIN]

Thanks for making my collection of gongs look like junk. Guess they'll make great key fobs now....

Right? I mean, I never had reason to wear medals in the Army National Guard (except when I got dress blues for my wedding.. Can't remember what I did for decorations then), so the suspension medal with device went essentially "unworn," hence why I wanted to stash it in the middle of my jingle-jangles on my CAP mess dress for fun.

[THRAWN]

Thanks for making my collection of gongs look like junk. Guess they'll make great key fobs now....

Right? I mean, I never had reason to wear medals in the Army National Guard (except when I got dress blues for my wedding.. Can't remember what I did for decorations then), so the suspension medal with device went essentially "unworn," hence why I wanted to stash it in the middle of my jingle-jangles on my CAP mess dress for fun.

You should get a waiver for it. There's precedent for getting permission to wear a state award, and now that you're a wing king you should have a sword...I'm gonna make mine into ornaments for the tree....stupid non-sword medals....

[NIN]

You should get a waiver for it. There's precedent for getting permission to wear a state award, and now that you're a wing king you should have a sword...I'm gonna make mine into ornaments for the tree....stupid non-sword medals....

There may be precedent, but I no longer live in the state for which I was awarded the longevity device. Plus, I wasn't awarded whatever award it was for some kind of Guard - CAP - State Military Department cooperative thing as a member of CAP, only as a Guard soldier.   A waiver request would be on thin ice from day one. 

[PHall]

Thanks for making my collection of gongs look like junk. Guess they'll make great key fobs now....

Right? I mean, I never had reason to wear medals in the Army National Guard (except when I got dress blues for my wedding.. Can't remember what I did for decorations then), so the suspension medal with device went essentially "unworn," hence why I wanted to stash it in the middle of my jingle-jangles on my CAP mess dress for fun.

You should get a waiver for it. There's precedent for getting permission to wear a state award, and now that you're a wing king you should have a sword...I'm gonna make mine into ornaments for the tree....stupid non-sword medals....

No waivers available. CAP-USAF will not even consider it. They have been requested by people fairly high in the food chain and even they had no effect.

[PHall]

If CAP was under the National Guard Bureau there might, and that's a pretty big might, have a case to wear State Awards and Decorations on the Air Force style uniforms. Because in theory we would have the two statuses like the Guard does. Federal vs State  -  Air Force Assigned Mission vs Non Air Force Assigned Mission aka Corporate Mission.
They've had the chance to do this a couple times in the past but nothing has happened.

[THRAWN]

Thanks for making my collection of gongs look like junk. Guess they'll make great key fobs now....

Right? I mean, I never had reason to wear medals in the Army National Guard (except when I got dress blues for my wedding.. Can't remember what I did for decorations then), so the suspension medal with device went essentially "unworn," hence why I wanted to stash it in the middle of my jingle-jangles on my CAP mess dress for fun.

You should get a waiver for it. There's precedent for getting permission to wear a state award, and now that you're a wing king you should have a sword...I'm gonna make mine into ornaments for the tree....stupid non-sword medals....

No waivers available. CAP-USAF will not even consider it. They have been requested by people fairly high in the food chain and even they had no effect.

Not correct. There is a photo of a member on this site, wearing a state award he got a waiver for.

And here's the thread: http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=20651.0

[Flying Pig]

Dang......  I didnt expect this many responses

[PHall]

Thanks for making my collection of gongs look like junk. Guess they'll make great key fobs now....

Right? I mean, I never had reason to wear medals in the Army National Guard (except when I got dress blues for my wedding.. Can't remember what I did for decorations then), so the suspension medal with device went essentially "unworn," hence why I wanted to stash it in the middle of my jingle-jangles on my CAP mess dress for fun.

You should get a waiver for it. There's precedent for getting permission to wear a state award, and now that you're a wing king you should have a sword...I'm gonna make mine into ornaments for the tree....stupid non-sword medals....

No waivers available. CAP-USAF will not even consider it. They have been requested by people fairly high in the food chain and even they had no effect.

Not correct. There is a photo of a member on this site, wearing a state award he got a waiver for.

And here's the thread: http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=20651.0

There's a photo in that thread? Because I didn't find one.

[THRAWN]

Dang......  I didnt expect this many responses

Like I said, this is enjoyable! Who knew we had so many Zimbabwean award winners?

[SarDragon]

Thanks for making my collection of gongs look like junk. Guess they'll make great key fobs now....

Right? I mean, I never had reason to wear medals in the Army National Guard (except when I got dress blues for my wedding.. Can't remember what I did for decorations then), so the suspension medal with device went essentially "unworn," hence why I wanted to stash it in the middle of my jingle-jangles on my CAP mess dress for fun.

You should get a waiver for it. There's precedent for getting permission to wear a state award, and now that you're a wing king you should have a sword...I'm gonna make mine into ornaments for the tree....stupid non-sword medals....

No waivers available. CAP-USAF will not even consider it. They have been requested by people fairly high in the food chain and even they had no effect.

Not correct. There is a photo of a member on this site, wearing a state award he got a waiver for.

And here's the thread: http://captalk.net/index.php?topic=20651.0

There's a photo in that thread? Because I didn't find one.

The pictures no longer load, but the posts cover the situation. Read all the way to the bottom.

[HaroldBuchanan]

I am going to request a new CAP ribbon. All seven colors of the rainbow. For the largest and longest comparison of CAP ribbons to other countries, be these former or current ones.

The Army beat you on that about 40 years ago. The Army Training Ribbon. You get it for completing Basic Training.

I think you are speaking of the Army Service Ribbon - which lacks purple(and indigo if you are a 7 colors fanatic)  1981

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Service_Ribbon

[GaryVC]

I can remember in the late 1970's seeing Army Captains who had no ribbons at all.  But that was more than 40 years ago, ribbon inflation must have started just after that.

That happened occasionally in the Air Force. I had a copilot who had been in the delayed entry program for so long that he made Captain before he got to 4 years active duty (it which point you got a ribbon). The national defense service ribbon's time had ended (we used to call it the alive in 65 ribbon). Soon after the AF added a bunch of new ribbons: training, overseas tours, etc. so people didn't look like bus drivers.

[Flying Pig]

I am going to request a new CAP ribbon. All seven colors of the rainbow. For the largest and longest comparison of CAP ribbons to other countries, be these former or current ones.

The Army beat you on that about 40 years ago. The Army Training Ribbon. You get it for completing Basic Training.

I think you are speaking of the Army Service Ribbon - which lacks purple(and indigo if you are a 7 colors fanatic)  1981

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Service_Ribbon

I like wearing my Marine Corps ribbons with my Army Service Ribbon.   I can see "stolen valor" on the tip of peoples tongues

[PHall]

I am going to request a new CAP ribbon. All seven colors of the rainbow. For the largest and longest comparison of CAP ribbons to other countries, be these former or current ones.

The Army beat you on that about 40 years ago. The Army Training Ribbon. You get it for completing Basic Training.

I think you are speaking of the Army Service Ribbon - which lacks purple(and indigo if you are a 7 colors fanatic)  1981

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_Service_Ribbon

I like wearing my Marine Corps ribbons with my Army Service Ribbon.   I can see "stolen valor" on the tip of peoples tongues

In the Guard and Reserves it wouldn't even get noticed. Lots of people in the Guard and Reserve have served in more then one branch.

[Shuman 14]

In the Guard and Reserves it wouldn't even get noticed. Lots of people in the Guard and Reserve have served in more then one branch.

Yep. I have ribbons from three different Branches and no one questions them.

[Kayll'b]

https://ifunny.co/meme/that-is-100-a-cap-encampment-ribbon-Pmok5hNN6

[GroundHawg]

In the Guard and Reserves it wouldn't even get noticed. Lots of people in the Guard and Reserve have served in more then one branch.

Yep. I have ribbons from three different Branches and no one questions them.

I did/do not have that same experience. I actually carry a copy of my NGB22 and DD214 when I am in uniform because of the flak I take for my odd rack and badge combination. I served in multiple branches and I have ribbons from 4 branches, badges from 3, as well as state, civilian, and foreign awards as well. My guess is that your status as a LTC and mine as enlisted might have something to do with it.

[Shuman 14]

I did/do not have that same experience. I actually carry a copy of my NGB22 and DD214 when I am in uniform because of the flak I take for my odd rack and badge combination. I served in multiple branches and I have ribbons from 4 branches, badges from 3, as well as state, civilian, and foreign awards as well. My guess is that your status as a LTC and mine as enlisted might have something to do with it.

Sorry to hear that. I only had an issue once as a CPT, with an LTC, was able to go straight into iPERMS and provide the requested documentation. Word gets around after that.

[SarDragon]

https://ifunny.co/meme/that-is-100-a-cap-encampment-ribbon-Pmok5hNN6

The Encampment ribbon is one thing, but the Antarctica Service and WWII Occupation ribbons on the left side are even better. Can't figure out what the 3rd one is.

[PHall]

Love the mixture here. US Colonel grade insignia on his shirt collar but what appears to be RAF Group Commander grade insignia on his epaulets.
Not to mention the US Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge (aka Master Blaster Wings) and a Pathfinder Badge.

[PHall]

https://ifunny.co/meme/that-is-100-a-cap-encampment-ribbon-Pmok5hNN6

The Encampment ribbon is one thing, but the Antarctica Service and WWII Occupation ribbons on the left side are even better. Can't figure out what the 3rd one is.

Ever look at The Parade Store, aka Glendale's catalog in the ribbon section? It's probably in there somewhere. You can even design your own.

[SarDragon]

Oh, I have resources. I'm just too lazy to look.

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