Pre-made ribbon racks for CAP and military

[J2H]

FOUND IT!

[SarDragon]

Found what?

Is it something you can tell us, or is this just a sterling example of a vague-post?

[J2H]

Ultrathin.com

[Starbird]

Ultrathin.com

Ultrathin user here, can confirm.  Have used them for over a year and a half, excellent quality, would recommend!  Only major complaint is the fact you have to buy a new rack whenever you get a new ribbon (and as I've already established in another post that I dislike so many ribbons, so I short stack these days -- which really helps keeping the cost down when ordering from Ultrathin.)  Pretty sure most people know what they look like already, but I'll throw up some pictures of an old rack they made when I was a C/MSgt.  While not shown here, the great thing is they have no problem adding mil ribbons to CAP racks, so adding the AFOEA is no problem.







Cheers,

C/2d Lt Starbird

[Eclipse]

Ultrathins are very sharp, and also inappropriate for cadets due to the expense.

People will spend money as they will, but not generally a good idea.

[LSThiker]

Only major complaint is the fact you have to buy a new rack whenever you get a new ribbon

No, you do not.  You can mail back the previous ribbon rack back to the company and they can add to the rack without having to purchase a new one.  That helps keep the cost down.  Nevertheless, I would never suggest ultrathin ribbons for cadets unless you are buying a nice display set.   

[GroundHawg]

Ultrathin doesn't do the best job at order of precedence either. I had to inform a wing and region commander that their racks were out of order. Both were ultrathin racks,  they were less than pleased.

[Devil Doc]

Ultrathin does not mix CAP and Military, also they get the AFOEA ribbon in the wrong place. I usually make my own rack, it is a PITA with 7 rows.

[Devil Doc]

i w mistaken, I was using ultrathin wrong. However, they dont put the AFOE ribbon in the right spot.

[Paul Creed III]

i w mistaken, I was using ultrathin wrong. However, they dont put the AFOE ribbon in the right spot.

Just had a new rack built with UltraThins: I started with a new rack using USAF ribbons to start with the AFOE, switched to CAP ribbons, and added each CAP ribbon and devices in order one-by-one. Rack arrived a few weeks back and looks great.

[Vegas1972]

i w mistaken, I was using ultrathin wrong. However, they dont put the AFOE ribbon in the right spot.

Just had a new rack built with UltraThins: I started with a new rack using USAF ribbons to start with the AFOE, switched to CAP ribbons, and added each CAP ribbon and devices in order one-by-one. Rack arrived a few weeks back and looks great.

That will work if you don't have any other military ribbons.   If you have other military ribbons added, it puts the AFOE up where it belongs in the military order.

[kwe1009]

Ultrathin does not mix CAP and Military, also they get the AFOEA ribbon in the wrong place. I usually make my own rack, it is a PITA with 7 rows.

They do mix CAP and military ribbons.  If you want to get the AFOEA ribbon in the CAP spot then you need to call them.  They are great to work with. I have used them for over 25 years.

[GroundHawg]

Until they update their software to correct the order of precedence and to include ribbons that they incorrectly say are not allowed to be worn, I wouldn't order anything from them.

[kwe1009]

Until they update their software to correct the order of precedence and to include ribbons that they incorrectly say are not allowed to be worn, I wouldn't order anything from them.

To each his own.  It is very simple to either call or email them asking for the AFOEA ribbon to be put in the CAP-mandated position.  If you want thin ribbons, this is probably the only way to get them.  I doubt any other supplier is going to change their rack building software to account for the AFOEA to be in 2 different places depending on the individual.

[GroundHawg]

Until they update their software to correct the order of precedence and to include ribbons that they incorrectly say are not allowed to be worn, I wouldn't order anything from them.

To each his own.  It is very simple to either call or email them asking for the AFOEA ribbon to be put in the CAP-mandated position.  If you want thin ribbons, this is probably the only way to get them.  I doubt any other supplier is going to change their rack building software to account for the AFOEA to be in 2 different places depending on the individual.

That sadly isn't their only issue. They put foreign ribbons above CAP, and say that many (at least 25 at my last count) military awards are not allowed to be worn on the uniform. I have sent multiple emails to them about this with zero response.

[kwe1009]

Until they update their software to correct the order of precedence and to include ribbons that they incorrectly say are not allowed to be worn, I wouldn't order anything from them.

To each his own.  It is very simple to either call or email them asking for the AFOEA ribbon to be put in the CAP-mandated position.  If you want thin ribbons, this is probably the only way to get them.  I doubt any other supplier is going to change their rack building software to account for the AFOEA to be in 2 different places depending on the individual.

That sadly isn't their only issue. They put foreign ribbons above CAP, and say that many (at least 25 at my last count) military awards are not allowed to be worn on the uniform. I have sent multiple emails to them about this with zero response.

This is honestly the first issue I have heard about Ultrathin and they have always been quick to respond to me.  I don't have any foreign awards and all of my military awards are USAF and their rack builder shows them perfectly (except for the CAP AFOEA). 

[BraveRifles19D]

I always liked putting my rack together. I think that's part of the fun being a cadet.

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

[PHall]

If you provide them with instructions in the remarks block of the Order Form, Ultra Thin will put your ribbons where YOU want them.
But you gotta give them instructions...

[J2H]

I'll have to look where the AFOEA is supposed to go... the website did a good job mixing my AF, Army, and CAP ribbons

[Jester]

It goes behind your last military award and before your first CAP one.

[kwe1009]

It goes behind your last military award and before your first CAP one.

Yep.  The AFOEA is basically the highest ranking CAP ribbon.  If you also earned this as an Air Force member then you wear 2 ribbons: the one for CAP goes above your highest CAP ribbon and below all military ribbons; the AFOEA earned as an Air Force member goes as mandated by the USAF.

[J2H]

Not sure if I earned this on AD with the AF, but I do know I have it in CAP, so it just goes before my first CAP ribbon... good, I can edit my Ultrathin list

[kwe1009]

Not sure if I earned this on AD with the AF, but I do know I have it in CAP, so it just goes before my first CAP ribbon... good, I can edit my Ultrathin list

Check your DD-214 if you aren't sure if you earned it.

[Eclipse]

Imagine a world where CAP members wore CAP ribbons on their CAP uniform.

[THRAWN]

Been saying this for a loooong time...

Imagine a world where CAP members wore CAP ribbons on their CAP uniform.

[HandsomeWalt_USMC]

When I wear ribbons I wear all my mil and CAP ribbons. Why should I not wear something that I rate? I do think if you're wearing only your mil awards and not your CAP awards regularly then you're being a jerk and in a way disrespecting CAP. The only time I wear mil awards and not CAP is in mess dress, and that's because I can't be bothered to spend the extra 60 bucks or so for a uniform I wear twice a year at best. I just wish they'd make a bullion CP badge. I'm proud of my rating but I don't like the look of the enamel crest and have awesome bullion wings for my Naval Aircrew rating.

[MHC5096]

It's even more fun in the Coast Guard Auxiliary where military and auxiliary awards are worn intermingled as well as auxiliary awards taking precedence over any equivalent military award. For example, a Auxiliary Commendation Medal is higher in precedence than a USA/USMC/USN/USAF/USCG Commendation Medal as the Coast Guard Auxiliary is considered the senior service. 

[bradkenny]

Imagine a world where CAP members wore CAP ribbons on their CAP uniform.

Is this an imangined world wear CAP members wear only  CAP awards?  Right now, I'm not seeing that members have a choice if they wear the AF style service dress unless their rack is too high.  39-1 11.1.1.1 states that "all authorized ribbons will be worn...". So someone wearing only mil ribbons with USAF style uniforms is most likely not correct.

As for mess, it does look to be member choice.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[J2H]

My DD-214 is far from correct, but it is what it is, I know what ribbons I have.

[PHall]

When I wear ribbons I wear all my mil and CAP ribbons. Why should I not wear something that I rate? I do think if you're wearing only your mil awards and not your CAP awards regularly then you're being a jerk and in a way disrespecting CAP. The only time I wear mil awards and not CAP is in mess dress, and that's because I can't be bothered to spend the extra 60 bucks or so for a uniform I wear twice a year at best. I just wish they'd make a bullion CP badge. I'm proud of my rating but I don't like the look of the enamel crest and have awesome bullion wings for my Naval Aircrew rating.

I don't wear all of my military (19) and CAP ribbons (17) only because 35 ribbons is a bit much.
I have no desire to look like a Latin American Dictator.

[HandsomeWalt_USMC]

My point was more in response to the notion of wearing CAP awards on CAP uniforms, the implication that one should only wear their CAP awards and not military. I can see no good reason why one should not be allowed to wear what they rate.

I hear ya on the amount at times being a bit much. I have 11 Mil and only CAP and I still feel like a Panamanian Field Marshal when in Service Dress. When you're Warrior Sized like me, it can look even more odd. The regs allow you to short stack the CAP ribbons to the highest PD award, correct?

[AlphaSigOU]

It's even more fun in the Coast Guard Auxiliary where military and auxiliary awards are worn intermingled as well as auxiliary awards taking precedence over any equivalent military award. For example, a Auxiliary Commendation Medal is higher in precedence than a USA/USMC/USN/USAF/USCG Commendation Medal as the Coast Guard Auxiliary is considered the senior service. 

Works the same way in the parent services. For example, a Soldier who earned a service-specific commendation or achievement medal from another service wears it after the commendation/achievement medal from their current service.


Thus, a Soldier who earned an AF Commendation Medal while an Airman and later earns an ARCOM while a Soldier wears the 'Green Hornet' before the AFCM.

[J2H]

True, my ARCOM is my highest award (odd that I never received an AFCOM or AFAM).