Ribbons on AF-Shirt or Av Shirt

[Stonewall]

Y'all are aware that Cadet have to wear them, don't y'all?

Cadets have to wear ribbons?

[Major Carrales]

Y'all are aware that Cadet have to wear them, don't y'all?

Cadets have to wear ribbons?

Whoa...is says wear all or none.  Well, you learn something every day.  I stand corrected.

[Stonewall]

Emphasis mine

CAPM 39-1, Chapter 5:

5-2. When Awards and Decorations are Worn. Ribbons are mandatory with the USAF service dress and the semiformal uniforms. They are optional with all other service uniforms and the aviator shirt.  No military awards or decorations may be worn on the aviator shirt. NOTE: All ribbons and devices worn by senior members must fall below the top notch of the collar on the service coat or the bottom tip of the collar of AF-style shirts/blouses worn as outergarments. Miniature medals are mandatory with the mess dress uniform (men and women). One miniature medal may be worn on the semiformal blazer uniform.

[Major Carrales]

Emphasis mine

CAPM 39-1, Chapter 5:

5-2. When Awards and Decorations are Worn. Ribbons are mandatory with the USAF service dress and the semiformal uniforms. They are optional with all other service uniforms and the aviator shirt.  No military awards or decorations may be worn on the aviator shirt. NOTE: All ribbons and devices worn by senior members must fall below the top notch of the collar on the service coat or the bottom tip of the collar of AF-style shirts/blouses worn as outergarments. Miniature medals are mandatory with the mess dress uniform (men and women). One miniature medal may be worn on the semiformal blazer uniform.

Point of order, that is the wrong place to look for cadet wear.  The Tables Figure 2-6. Men's Short-sleeve Shirt (Cadets)

4. Ribbons: Worn resting on but not over top edge of left pocket and centered between the left and right edges with 3 in a row. Wear all or none.

Listen here, MAC, if I have to be WRONG...I HAVE TO Be TOTALLY WRONG (humor) 

[Stonewall]

Well yeah, everyone knows that.  If you choose to wear ribbons, you must wear all that you have earned.

I could see someone taking that the wrong way and saying but the manual says I have to either wear all the ribbons they make, or none at all.  I thought it looked better with all 40 ribbons...

[Major Carrales]

Well yeah, everyone knows that.  If you choose to wear ribbons, you must wear all that you have earned.

I could see someone taking that the wrong way and saying but the manual says I have to either wear all the ribbons they make, or none at all.  I thought it looked better with all 40 ribbons...

I just don't remember it reading quite that way.  Maybe it was a unit or Wing policy that I am remembering.

[ddelaney103]

Remember while it is AF custom, not every AF officer adheres to the "no ribbons on shirts" suggestion and they are well within their rights to do so.

For me, it depends.  With the AF shirt I just wear my wings and AF specialty badge.  With the white aviator shirt I adopted the Navy concept of wearing 3 ribbons.  Usually they're my top discretionary award, top senior award and top cadet award.

The reason for this is the white shirt is the only place for the Fat and Fuzzy to wear CAP awards.  They should have the chance to showcase their achievement, so I try to make myself an example by wearing mine.

[adamblank]

The whole ribbon concept is definitely personal discretion.  I would suggest getting the ultra thin ribbons for your shirt so it doesn't become a piece of swiss cheese from all of the bling.  I can personally tell you that as an AF officer if you wear your ribbons on your blues, you will be "mentored" likewise with the 'stache.  Thankfully CAP is more friendly :-)

Adam

[RiverAux]

Since the blue shirt is worn so rarely by seniors in my area, they tend to get formal about it when they do and most wear some ribbons. 

[dougsnow]

it's been a long time since I was in and read AFR 35-10, but dont AF ossifers also wear their mini-wings when in short-sleeved shirts?

[Stonewall]

it's been a long time since I was in and read AFR 35-10, but don't AF ossifers also wear their mini-wings when in short-sleeved shirts?

Just did a cursory search and couldn't find anything about that.  I remember seeing most AF Officers wearing minis though, just not sure what the rule is. 

Here's the current AFI for USAF Uniforms: http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/pubfiles/af/36/afi36-2903/afi36-2903.pdf

[dougsnow]

Thankfully I got out before they re-invented the wheel and renamed 35-10 to whatever the flavor of the day is.

I have the current 36-whatever on my 'puter here, somewhere...

[adamblank]

Again, I think it is something not in print just done.  AF wings would be huge on a blues shirt.  When we transitioned to the spings initially some wore the large set but they quickly were mentored into wearing the mini set.  It is kind of a blend of common sense and understanding I guess.   I also checked the AFI and I saw nothing on it.  It is the type of issue where there would be MAJCOM instructions on it.  For most of us, it is all about going with the flow and not sticking out.  In these instances:  "The tallest blade of grass is the first one to be cut."

Adam

[O-Rex]

Wear of ribbons depends on the occasion, who's going to be there and one's own mood.

I think in some circles we've created sub-categories of uniforms: short-sleeve and dress short-sleeve.

[SAR-EMT1]

CAP-
I wear the Nametag, GT, EMT, and Personnel Badge on the Blue Shirt.
I wear the above along with ribbons on the Service Coat.

In the CG Aux, I only have one ribbon so its not a problem 

[MIKE]

I wear the Nametag, GT, EMT, and Personnel Badge on the Blue Shirt.
I wear the above along with ribbons on the Service Coat.

The way 39-1 is worded, you can not wear two specialty insignia... It has to be specialty insignia and aviation badge... Or authorized military badges worn in the prescribed manner.

[JC004]

I wear the Nametag, GT, EMT, and Personnel Badge on the Blue Shirt.
I wear the above along with ribbons on the Service Coat.

The way 39-1 is worded, you can not wear two specialty insignia... It has to be specialty insignia and aviation badge... Or authorized military badges worn in the prescribed manner.

McPeak!

[jb512]

And... any thoughts on why we're only allowed two badges on the white shirt as opposed to four on the blue?

[Ford73Diesel]

As a Cadet Officer, I don't wear ribbons on my short sleeve service uniform for a few reasons:

1. I don't like transferring them from my service coat.
2. I don't like leaving "bullet" holes in my shirt.
3. Even though I don't have too many ribbons for a cadet, it still looks kind of gaudy to wear all of them on the shirt.

[Duke Dillio]

I will usually wear my ribbons on my white aviator shirt but not on the AF blue shirt.  I think the biggest reason is that my AF shirt isn't quite a durable as the aviator shirt.  The AF shirt feels really thin and flimsy when compared to my aviator shirt.  The other reason is that I have one set of ribbons so if I am wearing the AF blue shirt, I have the ribbons on my service jacket.  You obviously don't wear ribbons on the blazer so I wear them on the aviator shirt.  That all having been said, I tend to avoid wearing either of these uniforms and fall into the "lazy senior" category with the polo shirt.  The reason for that is also simple:  I usually go straight from work to CAP and don't have the ability to store my freshly pressed/dry cleaned shirts/pants.