Mexican Generals; Why so many ribbons?

[Fog]

inserting illegals into the USA several hundred miles north of the border in small boats along the California coast. They interviewed a USCG Lt(jg) who, no mierda, had 4 rows of ribbons. Now, how in the hell can any o-2 (Navy, CG, Army, et al) ever get 4 rows (approx 16) of ribbons in 3-4 years of service? Maybe he's prior enlisted, but otherwise how could this be? Expiring minds want to know.

 

[zab1001]

so the topic is award inflation, not smuggling?

 

[MasterBates]

I think I have 3 rows from 12 years, including a couple oddball awards JOs don't normally get.

Sent from my PH44100 using Tapatalk

 

[zab1001]

Without a screencap, we can only speculate. Odds are he/she was prior enlisted or prior service (which most of us think of as an aviation only thing, but I've met quite a few non-aviators who've crossed into the light blue).

 

[Fog]

I should clarify. He was a CG blackshoe type who, frankly, didn't look old enough to be a prior-enlisted - although that is possible. Yes, the post was about ribbon inflation - not people smuggling.

 

[zab1001]

I looked him up. Did a Gulf tour, some other stuff. Appears non-prior E or O. Yes, compared to 20-30 years ago, more awards than you would think. Normal these days, for better or worse. Not important, he's doing the job, and from what I've read doing it well.

 

[Brett327]

I looked him up. Did a Gulf tour, some other stuff. Appears non-prior E or O. Yes, compared to 20-30 years ago, more awards than you would think. Normal these days, for better or worse. Not important, he's doing the job, and from what I've read doing it well.

Yeah, he seemed pretty well spoken for a JG - Kudos. Nothing to see here, move along now, move along.

Brett

 

[Jim123]

True, there are lots of possibilities for unit awards, campaign ribbons, and service medals these days.

Not sure exactly what Coasties are or are not eligible for, but junior Navy sailors (O or E) can find themselves eligible for National Defense, Sea Service, a couple variations of "War on Terror," Meritorious Unit Com, Navy Unit Com, Battle E, NATO... and accrue 2+ rows of chest candy from being in the right place at the right time and just doing your job, not even counting the odd one or two individual awards (NAM, pistol/rifle).

(I appreciate my individual awards because each of them means old boss saying "thank you," but I'm more proud of all my "team" awards because they represent places where I've been and people I worked with.)

Edit: And yes, unfortunately, everyone ends up looking like they singlehandedly saved civilization from the barbarians...

 

[Catmando]

Hey, what's wrong with having 4 rows of ribbons? I have four rows too.
(Although they added up to 12 total, and not 16)
Of course I didn't have them as a JG... earned them a bit later as an LT.

Although I had 22 years of service – active and reserve – mine were most all earned as a LT during my 197 combat missions in Southeast Asia, including Hanoi and Haiphong "downtown" missions. My ribbons may have lots of stars and "V"s, but they are still only 4 rows and 12 total.

Of course I may not have been as "well spoken" a JG as he. But send that whippersnapper over to me. Maybe we can share sea stories on how we each got our respective chest candy. Hey, one of mine was even an Expert Pistol shot. YeeeHah!

[I miss the old days, and don't understand these days. Oh well.]

 

[Brett327]

But send that whippersnapper over to me. Maybe we can share sea stories on how we each got our respective chest candy.

Did it just get a little gay in here? (not that there's anything wrong with that)

Brett

 

[kmac]

I'll bite (pun intended). I got an additional 5 ribbons/medals from a single IA to the 'stan. Two were of the "thanks for showing up" variety. And I still don't have an NC.

 

[Catmando]

I'll bite (pun intended). I got an additional 5 ribbons/medals from a single IA to the 'stan. Two were of the "thanks for showing up" variety. And I still don't have an NC.

Heck, me neither. Got a few 'extra' ribbons, but I am not sure I remember why.

Don't have an NC, a Silver Star, Purple Heart, or even a DFC. (But then I was not in the Air Force then, and we also had a stingy CAG with whom I agreed about restricting awards.)

I served with a few who earned them in spades - some posthumously, some as POWs - and I am never jealous of their accomplishments. (Ok, I chased MiGs but couldn't get them to engage, and was jealous of those that did.)

I will always be proud of their deserved recognition, and to have flown on their wing in flak filled skies, together. Besides, I was "just a wingman."

Whatever awards are given today are irrelevant to me. I remember the few meaningful ones of long ago, some I desired but that others deserved more than I.

 

[helolumpy]

I'll bite (pun intended). I got an additional 5 ribbons/medals from a single IA to the 'stan. Two were of the "thanks for showing up" variety. And I still don't have an NC.

Back in the 90's when we were doing Bosnia, you would come back from your first deployment with the "NATO starter set".
You could count on have an Armed Forces Service Medal, S.W. Asia Expeditionary Medal (for the 6 weeks you cover 5th Fleet AOR), a NUC/MUC, SSDR, and the National Defense at the end of 6 months.

The SW Asia SM later became an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

 

[squorch2]

I'll do you one better - this is an AF E-3 fresh from "airman leadership school." Five rows!

 

[RobLyman]

Speaking of "Starter Kits", when you change services, you get almost a totally new "kit" after your first deployment. After my first deployment with the guard to Iraq, I added 5 ribbons just for joining the guard and "being there" (Iraq Campaign, Global War on Terror, Armed Forces Reserve, Army Service Ribbon, and Army Overseas Service Ribbon). I also added a bronze star to the NDSM. There were also 2 more unit awards (Army Presidential Unit and Army Meritorious Unit Medals).

In contrast, I left the Navy after almost 10 years with 8 total, including individual (NAM and NCM) and unit awards. Now, in less than 4 years in the guard I have an additional 9, including an Air Medal, an Army Commendation Medal and the ones for "being there" listed above.

In truth, the Air Medal is a "flying there" medal. Of the Army awards, I am more proud of the Army Commendation and the Combat Action Badge because they were awarded for individual achievement or experience.

Of all awards, Army and Navy, my NAM and NCM are the two I am most proud of.