CAP Talk

General Discussion => Uniforms & Awards => Topic started by: 4fhoward on July 18, 2013, 06:31:42 PM

Title: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: 4fhoward on July 18, 2013, 06:31:42 PM
This is just a question to see what people think.

Of the CAP ribbons, this included old ribbons not being awarded, what is your favorite ribbon and why?
For me my favorite is the Find ribbon, I like the color combination and the layout, I think it's well balanced.


You can take a look at what the previous ribbons looked like at this link.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~ericbush/US/cap_old.html (http://www.frontiernet.net/~ericbush/US/cap_old.html)
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: UH60guy on July 18, 2013, 06:46:38 PM
First, I'd be suspicious of any ribbon images not found in the back of CAPR 39-3 (http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/R039_003_83459660D4F44.pdf), like how the "Gill Robb Wilson -with star-" in the link you sent is upside down :) That and the whole CAP preoccupation with assymetrical ribbons I will never understand- when we already have a hard enough time getting people to wear them in the correct order of precedence, we throw ribbons that can be upside down at them!

Though I'd have to disagree on the find ribbon. To me it looks too much like the Distinguished Flying Cross (just with an extra stripe). I like the encampment ribbon- not too busy, simple color scheme, easy to tell apart from other ribbons, and for crying out loud, it can't be mounted upside down.

Did I mention I don't like ribbons that can be upside down? Because I don't  ;D
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Alaric on July 18, 2013, 07:00:48 PM
Unit Commendation, simple, and cant really be worn upside down
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: lordmonar on July 18, 2013, 07:27:10 PM
Find Ribbon.....it just looks nice.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Rick-DEL on July 18, 2013, 07:53:01 PM
Encampment Ribbon
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Майор Хаткевич on July 18, 2013, 07:53:07 PM
Curry, because it is the bond of all cadets, past and present.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: ol'fido on July 18, 2013, 08:08:26 PM
I like all of the old style ribbons. Much more character than the ones we have now. I like the old style Find Ribbon especially.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Brad on July 18, 2013, 08:16:22 PM
Forest patrol....we used to do that often here in SCWG I've been told...then one of our aircrews overflew a SC Forestry truck not where it was supposed to be posted at and let the forestry supervisor know. The firefighter/forester got in trouble then raised a big stink and we ended up losing our forestry missions. At least that's the story I heard.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: ZigZag911 on July 18, 2013, 08:25:04 PM
Always liked the old Earhart, something reminiscent of Captain America's shield about it!
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: MacGruff on July 19, 2013, 12:55:04 AM
My favorite will probably be the first one that I earn.

8)

Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Cap'n on July 19, 2013, 01:13:01 AM
Commander's Commendation: I really like how it looks, and it's also my favorite one I've received.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: addo1 on July 19, 2013, 02:10:15 AM
Quote from: robaroth on July 18, 2013, 07:00:48 PM
Unit Commendation, simple, and cant really be worn upside down

Once I wore my CAC and IACE ribbons upside down.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: ExCadetwithCOP on July 19, 2013, 03:09:09 AM
My Certificate of Proficiency (COP) Award.  Only one left, that is still authorized, with a propeller!
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: MSG Mac on July 19, 2013, 03:20:10 AM
My Gill Robb Wilson shows that the recipient has gone well past what 95% of all members accomplish.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: SarDragon on July 19, 2013, 06:46:16 AM
Quote from: UH60guy on July 18, 2013, 06:46:38 PM
First, I'd be suspicious of any ribbon images not found in the back of CAPR 39-3 (http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/R039_003_83459660D4F44.pdf), like how the "Gill Robb Wilson -with star-" in the link you sent is upside down :) That and the whole CAP preoccupation with assymetrical ribbons I will never understand- when we already have a hard enough time getting people to wear them in the correct order of precedence, we throw ribbons that can be upside down at them!
Well, he changed the link, so the GRW comment is OBE.

QuoteThough I'd have to disagree on the find ribbon. To me it looks too much like the Distinguished Flying Cross (just with an extra stripe). I like the encampment ribbon- not too busy, simple color scheme, easy to tell apart from other ribbons, and for crying out loud, it can't be mounted upside down.

Did I mention I don't like ribbons that can be upside down? Because I don't  ;D

The olde encampment ribbon, as picture at the revised link, could be mounted upside down, and frequently was. The left end is blue, and the right end is green.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: SarDragon on July 19, 2013, 06:47:30 AM
Quote from: usafaux2004 on July 18, 2013, 07:53:07 PM
Curry, because it is the bond of all cadets, past and present.

How so? I don't have one. I spent five years as a cadet.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: flyboy53 on July 19, 2013, 11:31:38 AM
I don't really have one special ribbon. Guess I would pick my top three Gill Robb Wilson, Commander's Commendation, and Scott Crossfield.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: James Shaw on July 19, 2013, 11:55:15 AM
The Achievement Award.

Myself and Col Blascovich (Former National Historian) designed it. I designed the ribbon and he designed the medal portion.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Майор Хаткевич on July 19, 2013, 01:16:49 PM
Quote from: UH60guy on July 19, 2013, 11:25:27 AM
Deleted. Actidentally clicked quote, not "modify"

All y'all pre-64 dinosaurs don't count under this CP.  >:D
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Al Sayre on July 19, 2013, 02:18:30 PM
My Lifesaving Ribbon with star.  It means I actually made a difference...
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: TeamBronx on July 19, 2013, 03:23:37 PM
The original International Air Cadet Exchange Ribbon.  Red with silver embroidered, tri-propellers.  It always looked cool.  My opinion is that we should bring back all the ribbons that had embroidered propellers in the center.   A little bit of money to produce, but a fifty year nod to tradition.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Grumpy on July 19, 2013, 06:26:47 PM
My cadet Certificate of Proficiency Ribbon.  Because it's old (like me).  I refer to it as the "Old Fart Ribbon".
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Garibaldi on July 19, 2013, 10:44:03 PM
My 2 ComComs.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Private Investigator on July 20, 2013, 08:30:28 PM
Find ribbon it really stands out and looks good. It looks great on the bumber of my monster "GT" rig too   8)
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: TexasCadet on July 21, 2013, 07:17:26 PM
I like the Unit Citation Ribbon. Simple yet elegant.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Private Investigator on July 21, 2013, 07:37:50 PM

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Army_Service_Ribbon.svg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Army_Service_Ribbon.svg)

We should get a rainbow ribbon too  ;)
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: GroundHawg on July 21, 2013, 08:22:15 PM
Quote from: TeamBronx on July 19, 2013, 03:23:37 PM
The original International Air Cadet Exchange Ribbon.  Red with silver embroidered, tri-propellers.  It always looked cool.  My opinion is that we should bring back all the ribbons that had embroidered propellers in the center.   A little bit of money to produce, but a fifty year nod to tradition.

I will second that.

Does anyone know why the encampment ribbon colors were changed? cost?
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Devil Doc on July 21, 2013, 09:57:04 PM
I don't have one, Only have 2 :(. Currently I am working on the Community Service Ribbon, so I guess that will be my favorite for the moment.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: VNY on July 21, 2013, 11:22:54 PM
Quote from: 4fhoward on July 18, 2013, 06:31:42 PMThis is just a question to see what people think.  Of the CAP ribbons, this included old ribbons not being awarded, what is your favorite ribbon and why?

My CAC ribbon - which I can once again wear after 35 years.  Simplest ribbon possible and not one you see very often on a 55 year old
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: MSG Mac on July 22, 2013, 03:03:49 AM
The things you can get away with when you're born on Feb 29th.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: BHartman007 on July 22, 2013, 03:40:10 AM
How many seniors actually wear ribbons? I've worn mine the last two weeks and felt like a sore thumb. :-[
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Майор Хаткевич on July 22, 2013, 03:44:16 AM
I've rarely not worn mine. But lately its a PITA, so it depends on my mood.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: MSG Mac on July 22, 2013, 10:13:26 AM
I wear them for special occasions. Military on blues,CAP on G/W.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: BillB on July 22, 2013, 11:22:07 AM
On the change of the encampment ribbon, what I heard and this is strictly rumor while at NHQ one day. So many cadets and seniors for that matter put the ribbon on backwards (green at wrong end) that the ribbon was changed so it was blue at both ends.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: HGjunkie on July 22, 2013, 08:52:56 PM
I always thought the Curry looked kinda similar to the Purple Heart in a weird way.

Besides, my favorite would have to be the Bumblebee- NCUC.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: lordmonar on July 22, 2013, 11:05:30 PM
BITD.....the USAF Promotion Fitness Exam Guide Book....had the Expeditionary Medal upside down.
The had this error on at least two printings of the PFE guide.

And for the record......all ribbons can be put on upside down.

If you look real close...you can see that the ribbon has a sort of grain in the weave.  If you tilt it in the light you should see these sort of arrows pointing down.

Yes I know......this is really nitpicking.....and I never seriously tell anyone their ribbon is upside down...as in giging them.  But all ribbons have a top and a bottom.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: abdsp51 on July 23, 2013, 03:42:12 AM
My personal favorite would have to be the Red service, especially when you see members who have traded the prop clasp in for the service numbers.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Private Investigator on July 24, 2013, 07:56:14 AM
Quote from: BHartman007 on July 22, 2013, 03:40:10 AM
How many seniors actually wear ribbons? I've worn mine the last two weeks and felt like a sore thumb. :-[

Different Units I have been in have different personalities. The Wing Staff do not, Group Staff mostly do, and the local SQ meetings I do go to the Seniors do not because they only have one, two or three and you know the Cadets wear their bling bling. So the old men do not want the hard charging Cadets make them look bad.  YMMV.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Walkman on July 24, 2013, 01:54:32 PM
My favorite on my personal rack in my Achievement ribbon. I worked really hard and the recognition from my leaders meant a lot.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Flying Pig on July 24, 2013, 08:39:52 PM
My CD ribbon with my 3 clasps....   Definitley worked for it!  Say No to Drugs kiddies >:D
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: SarDragon on July 24, 2013, 09:13:16 PM
Commander's Commendation, and Red Service with a 40 clasp.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Jaison009 on July 24, 2013, 11:34:02 PM
Quote from: SarDragon on July 24, 2013, 09:13:16 PM
Commander's Commendation, and Red Service with a 40 clasp.

:clap: :clap: :clap:
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: 4fhoward on July 25, 2013, 03:02:41 AM
QuoteMy favorite on my personal rack in my Achievement ribbon. I worked really hard and the recognition from my leaders meant a lot.

QuoteMy CD ribbon with my 3 clasps....   Definitley worked for it!  Say No to Drugs kiddies

That's what the ribbons are all about, to recognize people for their great work.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: PHall on July 25, 2013, 04:51:06 AM
I'm kinda partial to my Lifesaving Award with Silver Star attachment.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: Mitchell 1969 on July 30, 2013, 10:18:16 AM
There were lots of interesting looking ribbons prior to the "Great Ribbon Purge of 1971."  As I heard the story, USAF told CAP that we were awarding too many ribbons for trivial reasons, or for things that were included in other ribbons. For example, there was a Communications Ribbon as well as the Communicators Badge. And a ribbon for completing an ECI (correspondence) course.  (It had a quill pen on it).  Plus, every cadet special activity had its own ribbon. (FAA Orientation Course and Jet Orientation Course were particularly nice looking and stood out - there were few JOC slots and seeing a cadet wear one told everybody "this cadet hasn't just studied jets, he's flown in one." <T-33, TF-102>. So...the great purge ensued. Even the encampment ribbon was eliminated for a few years. I lost two particular favorites - Region/Wing Flying Encamoment and Cadet Flying Encampment License.  The head-on wing silhouettes were distinctive and the combination of various stars told a story.

Over the years, though, even USAF has crept up in this regard, awarding ribbons for what used to be some basic components of career progression.

And...CAP is creeping back. We have at least 3 more achievement/phase ribbons. And we award the Crossfield to people who already have the AE Master badge. Throw in color guard comp (we used to have a drill comp ribbon pre-71), VFW, AFA, etc. and we end up with a bunch.

But to answer the question - my favorite was one that I never wore, was ineligible to earn and which is no longer awarded, but which I saw a few being worn - the Anti-Sub patrol ribbon.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: flyboy53 on July 30, 2013, 12:08:11 PM
Quote from: Mitchell 1969 on July 30, 2013, 10:18:16 AM
There were lots of interesting looking ribbons prior to the "Great Ribbon Purge of 1971."  As I heard the story, USAF told CAP that we were awarding too many ribbons for trivial reasons, or for things that were included in other ribbons. For example, there was a Communications Ribbon as well as the Communicators Badge. And a ribbon for completing an ECI (correspondence) course.  (It had a quill pen on it).  Plus, every cadet special activity had its own ribbon. (FAA Orientation Course and Jet Orientation Course were particularly nice looking and stood out - there were few JOC slots and seeing a cadet wear one told everybody "this cadet hasn't just studied jets, he's flown in one." <T-33>. So...the great purge ensued. Even the encampment ribbon was eliminated for a few years. I lost two particular favorites - Region/Wing Flying Encamoment and Cadet Flying Encampment License.  The head-on wing silhouettes were distinctive and the combination of various stars told a story.

Over the years, though, even USAF has crept up in this regard, awarding ribbons for what used to be some basic components of career progression.

And...CAP is creeping back. We have at least 3 more achievement/phase ribbons. And we award the Crissfield to people who already have the AE Master badge. Throw in color guard comp (we used to have a drill comp ribbon pre-71), VFW, AFA, etc. and we end up with a bunch.

But to answer the question - my favorite was one that I never wore, was ineligible to earn and which is no longer awarded, but which I saw a few being worn - the Anti-Sub patrol ribbon.

Couldn't agree more, but you're forgetting that there was an all yellow or gold ECI ribbon before the one with the quill, and I'm pretty sure some were wearing it at the same time as the ECI-13 ribbon.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: BuckeyeDEJ on August 07, 2013, 04:16:12 AM
I always liked the Commander's Commendation Award because it didn't echo the same colors or the same thin-stripe motif as many CAP ribbons. Heck, I can't even tell the Command Service and Community Service ribbons apart, and if I was colorblind, I might throw the Red Service Ribbon in that mix, too.

That said, my Commander's Commendation Award ribbon (with a silver and three bronzes) and my Red Service Ribbon with what will be a "30" come May. Probably, my Garber with a clasp would come in a close second, but only because I did the PME to get it.
Title: Re: What is your favorite CAP ribbon?
Post by: LTC Don on August 07, 2013, 01:09:51 PM
In terms of 'meaning', or 'value', the SAR ribbon has always been my favorite.  For ground pounders, it takes a total of forty hours to earn one ribbon.  When those hours are accounted for properly, it means a lot of hard work went into earning it.  Same thing for the aircrews. It's a simple ribbon, but the work that goes into it is no easy task.

The Encampment ribbon, and the Red Service ribbon also have a 'time value' aspect to them that to me, make them some of my other favorites.

In terms of 'looks', I really don't have a favorite.  I think for the most part, we have some very attractive ribbons.