The Dictator

[Spaceman3750]

The Google-fu runs strong with you.

[AirDX]

Sacha Baron Cohen traded in his $2.9 million house for a $14 million dollar house in the Hollywood Hills a couple of years ago.

Here's his wife and mother of his two children:



He may be an ass, but he's a pretty successful ass.

We hang out on CAPTalk.

[BuckeyeDEJ]

Ladies and gentlemen, the attractive woman you see above is Isla Fisher. And now, let's look at the ribbon rack at the distant top...

I've seen cadets with fruit salad nearly this ridiculous. Makes me wonder why we don't pare down the achievement ribbons in phases I and II. Also makes me wonder if those kids have a life outside CAP. Or whether they're overdecorated for the things they've done in CAP. Either way, something isn't right.

[Darkside1]

Ladies and gentlemen, the attractive woman you see above is Isla Fisher. And now, let's look at the ribbon rack at the distant top...

I've seen cadets with fruit salad nearly this ridiculous. Makes me wonder why we don't pare down the achievement ribbons in phases I and II. Also makes me wonder if those kids have a life outside CAP. Or whether they're overdecorated for the things they've done in CAP. Either way, something isn't right.

Really? There is no issue here. Cadets usually end up wearing fairly sizable racks in JROTC and CAP. It generally helps them feel good about themselves, feel good about their service within CAP and JROTC, and costs next to nothing to the organization.

They are not OVER decorated. They are decorated to the needs of 12 and 15 and ultimately 21 year olds, notice how the ribbons thin out around the cadet officer grades? I'm not sure what you mean, "do they have lives?". What lives do you expect them to have? Most kids that age go to school and participate in one or two after school groups. If a cadet is spending a majority of his/her spare time with CAP and racking awards, well its better than sitting around and playing video games or something of the sort.

Sure they look a bit silly to seasoned military folk, but its really no big deal. Were dealing with teenagers here who pretty much all have self esteem issues of some kind (No offense Cadets, I was in your shoes not long ago and we are talking about majority here). If ribbons help in that area and provide a tangible award for service then I can live with some massive racks (so to speak).

That said, most cadet officers are usually are wise enough to forgo ribbons on everything but service dress.  And if they don't, who cares?

[Eclipse]

The continued fallacy is in comparing things that look the same, when they are, in fact, very different.

There's a trend in law enforcement and fire service to decorate officers with ribbons, or ribbon-like devices.  Some are for attendance, appearance, or even donating to a memorial fund. In many cases the ribbons awarded are just re-purposed military ribbons of the same design.  Watch COPS long enough and you'll see plenty of officers with 2-3 rows of chest candy.

[Extremepredjudice]

Ladies and gentlemen, the attractive woman you see above is Isla Fisher. And now, let's look at the ribbon rack at the distant top...

I've seen cadets with fruit salad nearly this ridiculous. Makes me wonder why we don't pare down the achievement ribbons in phases I and II. Also makes me wonder if those kids have a life outside CAP. Or whether they're overdecorated for the things they've done in CAP. Either way, something isn't right.

Really? There is no issue here. Cadets usually end up wearing fairly sizable racks in JROTC and CAP. It generally helps them feel good about themselves, feel good about their service within CAP and JROTC, and costs next to nothing to the organization.

They are not OVER decorated. They are decorated to the needs of 12 and 15 and ultimately 21 year olds, notice how the ribbons thin out around the cadet officer grades? I'm not sure what you mean, "do they have lives?". What lives do you expect them to have? Most kids that age go to school and participate in one or two after school groups. If a cadet is spending a majority of his/her spare time with CAP and racking awards, well its better than sitting around and playing video games or something of the sort.

Sure they look a bit silly to seasoned military folk, but its really no big deal. Were dealing with teenagers here who pretty much all have self esteem issues of some kind (No offense Cadets, I was in your shoes not long ago and we are talking about majority here). If ribbons help in that area and provide a tangible award for service then I can live with some massive racks (so to speak).

That said, most cadet officers are usually are wise enough to forgo ribbons on everything but service dress.  And if they don't, who cares?

:clap: :clap: Well said sir!

[Flying Pig]

I thought it was Gadhafi

[Hawk200]

The continued fallacy is in comparing things that look the same, when they are, in fact, very different.

There's an trend in law enforcement and fire service to decorate officers with ribbons, or ribbon-like devices.  Some are for attendance, appearance, or even donating to a memorial fund. In many cases the ribbons awarded are just re-purposed military ribbons of the same design.  Watch COPS long enough and you'll see plenty of officers with 2-3 rows of chest candy.

My father is a Deputy Sherrif, and the Sherrif started an awards program in the last few years. However, he does't go overboard. Dad has two of the available decorations (I don't know how many there are). One is a "service" dec for thirty years (it'll get replaced with one for forty in just a couple years, the other is for a Bachelors in Criminal Justice.

The Sherrif is pro-military, and I was surprised to find out a while ago that he never has been military, even though he has the demeanor. He did refuse to go overboard with the decs, so there is at least one place where the kind of things you mentioned are expected, and not given a reward for doing.

[lordmonar]

Ladies and gentlemen, the attractive woman you see above is Isla Fisher. And now, let's look at the ribbon rack at the distant top...

I've seen cadets with fruit salad nearly this ridiculous. Makes me wonder why we don't pare down the achievement ribbons in phases I and II. Also makes me wonder if those kids have a life outside CAP. Or whether they're overdecorated for the things they've done in CAP. Either way, something isn't right.

My active duty ribbon rack....looks like a lot of cadet's rack........your logic breaks down.
It is not the number of ribbons that count....it is what you need to do to get them.

The Dictator has a lot of ribbons becuase he gave them to himself.....cadets have a lot of ribbons because they earn them.

I will agree....that CAP cadets would survive if we cut down the acheivement ribbons to just the Curry and the Milestone ribbons....they already get their instant gratification from the stripes they earn.

YMMV.

[Flying Pig]

I never understood getting stripes AND a ribbon.  Well...OK, I understand it.  But I was always just for the Curry (sure, a cadet needs a ribbon right out of the gate.  I get it.  I will always remember the CAP cadet that told COl. Lewis Millet that he had more ribbons than the Col   I was standing about 3 ft away.  Col Millet said "Yes you do son, yes you do."

After Curry your next ribbon should be maybe the Wright, and after that, the Mitchell.  So yes, you may spend 6 yrs as a cadet and end up with 6-7 ribbons if you dont do anything else. Curry, Wright, Mitchell, Earhart, Spaatz, Encampment and Red Service.  Nothing wrong there. 
I used to cringe when I saw a cadet with a giant stack that was nothing but rank ribbons with an Encampment and a Red Service.  Tells me you probably didnt do much other than attend meetings and take tests. 
I know I was out of Regs, but as a cadet, I only wore my Mitchell.  My other two+ rows had nothing to do with rank.  I just felt silly wearing rank ribbons and almost never did unless I was at Drill Comp.

[Extremepredjudice]

Don't the first couple ribbons (to say wright bros.) help make the cadet feel good, and give them a reward to stay active?

[Flying Pig]

Depends on the cadet but your right.  But thats why I think Curry, then next is Wright, then on to Mitchell.  Throw them a doggy bone......but not the whole box

[Extremepredjudice]

Depends on the cadet but your right.  But thats why I think Curry, then next is Wright, then on to Mitchell.  Throw them a doggy bone......but not the whole box

3 ribbons (4 with encampment) for 18 months? Seems like a small bone...

I'd give them 5 (6 with encampment) for 18 months.

Right now I have 9 ribbons. (I'm a C/MSgt.)
Community service (4 clusters)
encampment
unit citation
promotion ribbons

[James Shaw]

Senior or Cader, wear them if you earn them. Doesnt matter if its 3 or 30 wear them!! 

[Flying Pig]

Here is an interesting bit of trivia regarding policies that mandate wearing ALL of your medals.  Although I am glad to say that Ive never seen anyone made fun of for wearing their medals in CAP.

In LE, we get very few usually.  Depending on the department.   I have a MoV and a Lifesaving medal.  With the medal comes a small metal pin that is about half the size of a regular CAP ribbon.  It was worn above the name tag on the uniform.  Everyday, not just dress.  Believe it or not, even adults get envious.  There were a few senior officers who didnt have any medals who would literally make fun or give grief to those who did.  "Show-off" "Glory hound" you name it. I stopped wearing mine because one senior officer pulled me aside and told me others were getting upset because they fet I was rubbing it in their faces that I had a couple medals.  Nobody cared, only him, but he tried to convince me otherwise.

The Chief got wind of this and made a policy that if you were awarded a medal you were required to wear it or face discipline for insubordination.  If the city awards you a medal, you WILL wear the medal.  No exceptions.  Interesting tactic.  Took the wind right out of the sails of the jerks.

Now fast forward a few years.  I now work for a different agency.  I cannot wear medals awarded by another agency.  No problem, thats cool.  However, I now have nice gold pilot wings.  Modeled after Navy Pilot wings only with a Sheriffs star in the middle.  I was at an event where we wore Class As.  I had my wings on over my name tag.  A Deputy said "Why do you guys wear wings, we all know who the pilots are?"  The tone of his voice, and the manner in which he asked, I knew exactly where he was headed.  I simply responded "So you want a set huh?  Good luck."  I never heard another word about it.   (Although I dont suggest that approach in a CAP venue)

[Major Lord]

I am still waiting for my "Chairborne" Wings.....A comfy office chair with set of Chicken Wings on each armrest.

Major Lord

[abdsp51]

Makes me wonder what would be said if i wore all my decs

[SPD6696]

While in the military, I wore all of my ribbons and badges.  As an LEO, I wear nothing on my daily uniform other than my badge and sew on name tag and shoulder patches.  In my LEO dress uniform, for official or social events, I will wear my devices that are authorized.  I have seen, in my career, LEOs in other agencies that have worn their military ribbons and badges on their LEO uniform.  It's weird.  It's one more thing to get ripped off a uniform in a scuffle.  Our regulations are restrictive, and we only have a years of service oval pin for every 5 years (in addition to service stripes and service stars), Medal of Valor pin, Medal of Honor pin, and assorted specialty qualification pins.  No ribbons.  Occasionally, I will see an Officer push the envelope, in duty uniform, with a miniature military badge over his nametag, like a CIB.  Not often, though.  I do know a number of Officers with Medal of V or H that don't wear them.

As far as cadets getting buckets of ribbons, so what?  It gives them a sense of accomplishment.  It doesn't hurt anyone, and, for those that don't want a bunch, don't wear them. 

[James Shaw]

Makes me wonder what would be said if i wore all my decs

Probably the same thing they ask me..................Hey whats that one for?

[abdsp51]

Makes me wonder what would be said if i wore all my decs

Probably the same thing they ask me..................Hey whats that one for?

Nice thing though sir is I still have my CAP ribbons so it wont be a problem, but it would cost a pretty penny to do both mil and CAP on CAP uniform.  I have my 4 I can wear and that will suffice for now.  Should I go the mess dress route then I'll have my mil and CAP medals done.