Triple Stack

jb512 · December 07, 2008, 07:08:46 PM

I'm about to dive into 39-1 for the answer, but wanted to start another discussion just for the crap of it.

If you have three badges, can you triple stack as the AF does? For instance, I know that you can wear HALO, jump wings, and a scuba badge on the BDUs (still in use) in the AF with the wings above and the scuba badge on the pocket. Can we do it in CAP?

Let's say you have CAP observer wings, AF aircrew wings, and a GT badge...

MIKE · December 07, 2008, 07:21:09 PM

U.S. military badges are worn IAW AFI-36-2903 so...

But mixing CAP and other badges will complicate matters. In your example you would have to pick between the AF aircrew wings and the GT badge because they are worn in the same location.

Pylon · December 07, 2008, 07:35:40 PM

The AF does not allow the triple-stack. Army might, but AF does not. Read AFI-36-2903, Table 5.2 notes. Two badges are allowed over the ribbons (or pocket if one isn't wearing ribbons); two more badges total are authorized in other locations but those are specific types of badges (missilier, Joint Chiefs, Command badge or SF/FD duty badges for example). The badges worn in other locations does not include a third occupational/rating-type badge.

MIKE · December 07, 2008, 08:00:26 PM

I was gonna check AFI 36-2903, but ePubs link is not working.

Eclipse · December 07, 2008, 08:05:54 PM

I just snagged it...

http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/afi36-2903.pdf

jb512 · December 09, 2008, 01:22:34 AM

Quote from: Pylon on December 07, 2008, 07:35:40 PM
The AF does not allow the triple-stack. Army might, but AF does not. Read AFI-36-2903, Table 5.2 notes. Two badges are allowed over the ribbons (or pocket if one isn't wearing ribbons); two more badges total are authorized in other locations but those are specific types of badges (missilier, Joint Chiefs, Command badge or SF/FD duty badges for example). The badges worn in other locations does not include a third occupational/rating-type badge.

The AF does allow the triple stack, you just have to keep reading the notes in that AFI. Depending on what you have it addresses aeronautical, occupational, and miscellaneous badges. My question was directed toward CAP and it looks like it specifies that the GT badge has to go above the tape, so it wouldn't work.

Flying Pig · December 09, 2008, 01:41:24 AM

Ive known several USAF members who wear Jump Wings and HALO on top and SCUBA on the pocket.

For example......

jb512 · December 09, 2008, 01:45:40 AM

Quote from: Flying Pig on December 09, 2008, 01:41:24 AM
Ive known several USAF members who wear Jump Wings and HALO on top and SCUBA on the pocket.

For example......

Yessir... One of the examples I was thinking of.

Stonewall · December 09, 2008, 03:06:03 AM

I have debated this several times in CAP; on CadetStuff and I think here too.

In the AF, regardless of the regulations/instructions, people will wear as many as 5 badges. There are different categories of badges though.

When I was in a PJ squadron, everyone wears at least 3 badges, even on BDU/ABUs. 2 above the tape and 1 centered on the pocket. The army wears the extra badges on the pocket flap, unlike what you see in the picture Flying Pig provided.

In fact, this past weekend for the Air Guard, one guy wore his [army] EIB above his Security Forces "skill" badge. Right below his ribbons he wore his [army] air assault badge. Below that, centered about 1 1/2" below the bottom of his ribbons, he wore is Security Forces "shield". <<-----This is not authorized, but no one cares in the ANG.

I think CAP should follow suit with the third badge. I would wear Observer, Master GTM above my name tape, and the EMT badge centered on the pocket.

I'd like to add that I have found the AF, especially the Air National Guard, no one really cares too much about what you wear. Meaning, if you wear it, most likely no one will notice and if they do, they probably still won't care. When I first joined the ANG, I wore airborne and air assault badges on my BDUs to tech school and SERE school (active duty schools)...NO ONE EVER SAID A THING!!!

MIKE · December 09, 2008, 03:21:02 AM

They were afraid you would hurt them UK.

jb512 · December 09, 2008, 03:24:02 AM

It's all in how you present yourself. As NASCAR as a CAP uniform can look, having two badges above the tape and one centered on the pocket wouldn't look bad at all. I'm a fan of skill/aero badges but not the multicolored craziness.

Stonewall · December 09, 2008, 03:24:47 AM

For those of you who aren't familiar with what I'm talking about, notice the SCUBA "bubble" centered on the PJ's left pocket, plus two badges above his nametape.

Stonewall · December 09, 2008, 03:32:49 AM

Then there's always the embroidered nametags.

All the PJs and SERE Specialists I've seen have nametags that look like this...

ol'fido · December 09, 2008, 08:08:17 PM

You see people in CAP all the time wearing triple stacks. You also see them mixing blue/white, white/OD, black/OD, navy blue/OD. I care less about how or what you wear as long as you've earned it.

JayT · December 10, 2008, 02:23:30 AM

Quote from: olefido on December 09, 2008, 08:08:17 PM
You see people in CAP all the time wearing triple stacks. You also see them mixing blue/white, white/OD, black/OD, navy blue/OD. I care less about how or what you wear as long as you've earned it.

Because that's a great attitude and all.............

I don't care how you fly a plane as long as I get out of the hospital in a week or less.

PHall · December 10, 2008, 04:20:50 AM

One thing that I have noticed is that all of the pictures used as an example show either PJ's or CRO's.
And that they both are assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command.

The one essential truth about AFSOC is that they play by their own rules.

The rest of the Air Force usually chalks stuff like this to being an AFSOC thing and gets on with their life.

BuckeyeDEJ · December 10, 2008, 04:30:25 AM

Quote from: PHall on December 10, 2008, 04:20:50 AM
The one essential truth about AFSOC is that they play by their own rules.

The rest of the Air Force usually chalks stuff like this to being an AFSOC thing and gets on with their life.

Now replace "AFSOC" with "CAP":

The one essential truth about CAP is that they play by their own rules.

The rest of the Air Force usually chalks stuff like this to being an CAP thing and gets on with their life.

(shielding self from thrown eggs and tomatoes)

LtCol057 · December 10, 2008, 04:39:58 AM

But it seems we have members that will put any kind of badges on their uniform, whether they've earned them or not, just because they like how it looks. Some people like their bling. I just wore my ribbons last week for the first time in about 10 years. Had to do a major upgrade.

As long as it has been legitimately earned, and documented properly, I don't have a problem with someone wearing a badge. I've got so many I can wear, I would need a sash like the scouts wear.

hatentx · December 10, 2008, 04:53:53 AM

I was under the impression that you could not wear both CAP and RM aeronautical badges. I looked through 39-1 and wasnt able to find it but I remember from somewhere thinking that once I got some CAP wings my Army ones would by regulation have to come off. Am I just making it up or am I just to dumb to find it?

Eclipse · December 10, 2008, 05:17:23 AM

Quote from: hatentx on December 10, 2008, 04:53:53 AM
I was under the impression that you could not wear both CAP and RM aeronautical badges. I looked through 39-1 and wasnt able to find it but I remember from somewhere thinking that once I got some CAP wings my Army ones would by regulation have to come off. Am I just making it up or am I just to dumb to find it?

You can wear two badges over the ribbons, if its CAP-only, you can wear one aeronautical and one specialty (GTM/IC).

Same goes for mixing USAF-Approved badges from other services, with the exception that you can wear two sets of wings if one is military and one CAP.