What are the tabs called on a uniform?

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Concur. The ribbons you see on my sig line are only about a third of what I actually 'got' from my time in the Air Force and the Army reserve.

As far as the blues go, I DO wear mine, even though I'm USAF retired, since my service time as a Marine makes me eligible to do so. I only wear what I earned as a Marine (ribbon wise) and rank wise (Luckily enough or sorta, I retired as an E-5 LOL).

The Marine Corps has been notoriously stingy about awarding 'chest candy'. Back in the '80's I was considered a 'stud' for having 4 ribbons, jump wings, and rifle/pistol badges LOL.

I retired with 18 total ribbons BTW.

[YLDNDN6]

I got a MUC handed to me as soon as I arrived in Rota, Spain. Three years later, I got a GCM, so....let's see....add the one, carry the 7, divide by four.....yup...I had two ribbons....four if you were cross-eyed...and rifle expert.....

[Zulu 36]

I would have to wear an AF uniform because my highest Marine rank was Sergeant (E5), but my AF rank at retirement was MSgt (E7). It would be most inappropriate for me to wear Marine Dress Blues with Gunnery Sergeant insignia and a bit of a loss of dignity to wear Sergeant insignia.

As I said, anyone who can read ribbons will know I was a Marine, and a Marine for at least six-years.

I did like my Vietnam ribbons while I was in the Corps. I was very young looking, even as a 24-year old Sergeant. As an MP I learned I got much more cooperation from Staff NCOs and Officers when I wore my ribbons. It didn't matter anymore how young I looked. What mattered I was a member of the "Vietnam" club. I wasn't just some punk MP Sergeant throwing his brassard around.

[Bornagain]

Concur. The ribbons you see on my sig line are only about a third of what I actually 'got' from my time in the Air Force and the Army reserve.

As far as the blues go, I DO wear mine, even though I'm USAF retired, since my service time as a Marine makes me eligible to do so. I only wear what I earned as a Marine (ribbon wise) and rank wise (Luckily enough or sorta, I retired as an E-5 LOL).

The Marine Corps has been notoriously stingy about awarding 'chest candy'. Back in the '80's I was considered a 'stud' for having 4 ribbons, jump wings, and rifle/pistol badges LOL.

I retired with 18 total ribbons BTW.

Wow, Sgt., how many Services were you in? Needless to say you did your service to your country! Thank you for that Sir, and all members of the armed forces. Have a happy independence day!

[Zulu 36]

Wow, Sgt., how many Services were you in? Needless to say you did your service to your country! Thank you for that Sir, and all members of the armed forces. Have a happy independence day!

Sgt Lep really wanted to be a sailor too, but couldn't work out the timing.

[Bornagain]

How could one stand having to start over at e-1 over and over? That is how it works correct?

[Zulu 36]

How could one stand having to start over at e-1 over and over? That is how it works correct?

It depends on which way you're going. All other services accept Marine boot camp as acceptable basic training. The Marine Corps, however, does not recognize any other branch's basic training.

If you were an E-5 in the Army and enlisted in the Corps, you would drop to E-2 and be a "contract PFC" while you were in boot camp.

When I went from the Marines to the Air Guard I remained in my pay grade of E-5 as I did not have to attend basic training OR a technical school. I just had to take a correspondence course to bring myself up to speed on the Air Force way.

You may or may not stay in the exact pay grade when swapping services from the Marines to another branch, but quite frequently will.

[Bornagain]

It depends on which way you're going. All other services accept Marine boot camp as acceptable basic training. The Marine Corps, however, does not recognize any other branch's basic training.

If you were an E-5 in the Army and enlisted in the Corps, you would drop to E-2 and be a "contract PFC" while you were in boot camp.

When I went from the Marines to the Air Guard I remained in my pay grade of E-5 as I did not have to attend basic training OR a technical school. I just had to take a correspondence course to bring myself up to speed on the Air Force way.

You may or may not stay in the exact pay grade when swapping services from the Marines to another branch, but quite frequently will.

That just goes to show the Marine Corps is the best and toughest branch of all!

[Zulu 36]

That just goes to show the Marine Corps is the best and toughest branch of all!

It's not just about being tough, but more of a different mind set and culture. Boot camp is needed to instill it.

Believe me, the difference between the Marine Corps and the Air Force in warrior mind set is so great you have to experience it to believe it. I'm sure Sgt Lep will agree with that.

[Bornagain]

If the mindset of a warrior is not instilled then whats the point of Airforce recruit training? It doesnt make much sense to me, other than how to act like a non-civilian. But, hey, respect to all Branches who serve.

[MarinesFTW]

I cant say I've been in the air force, but Ive spend alot of time around them in school and going to their bases for DEPs and all I can say is I'm glad I joined the Corps. So many of them are over weight and nasty. Now I'm not saying all Airmen are, I have seen alot of squared away guys that make the Air Force look good, dont get me wrong though, they are the minority. To me the Air Force basic is basically teaching them how to wear their uniform and how the Air Force works, not really anything else. Ask them what condition do you keep your rifle in and they will almost all reply "clean".

[Zulu 36]

If the mindset of a warrior is not instilled then whats the point of Airforce recruit training? It doesnt make much sense to me, other than how to act like a non-civilian. But, hey, respect to all Branches who serve.

AF basic training used to be only six-weeks long. Shooting the M-16, merely for familiarization, was optional (except for a few trainees who were going to security forces, PJs, combat controllers, etc). The recent war kind of opened their eyes a bit.

So basic training is now a whopping eight-weeks long, M-16 shooting (still only for FAM), is mandatory for all and they do a sorta-kinda one week field exercise doing very basic grunt stuff (they live in shacks). PT is a little more extensive than it was, but 1/2 of the old guys here could probably make it OK.

Essentially AF basic training only teaches them how to wear their uniforms, basic AF operating procedures, some PT, some drill, how to salute, AF ranks (and, it seems, to call everyone from other services "Sarge").

The AF considers their people technicians and specialists, not warriors, (except security forces, PJs, and combat controllers who are considered a bunch of knuckle draggers because they carry guns AND like to shoot them).

Sadly, those few "technicians and specialists" who would like to get more range time, a little more "grunt" stuff, are either laughed at or told there are no slots available at the range. Only people who are deploying have to go qualify on the M16A2 or M-4, and/or the M-9 pistol.

My daughter has been in the AF Reserve for seven years and has only been on the range three times, once after joining her unit, and then just before her two deployments (one Germany and one Afghanistan). They would only let her qualify on the M-16A2. Plus the AF qualification course isn't difficult at all.

Still, you kind of got to like a service that mostly sends officers out to die.

[Tennessee Top]

I had airmen working for me when I was with the USCENTCOM Hq at MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL (as well as soldiers). Talk about a leadership challenge! My boss was a USAF major too. Their uniforms typically looked like soup sandwiches and they liked to call each other by their first names. I got that squared-away finally but it took a long time and constantly staying on them because it's in their culture. Had to remind myself every single day I was not leading Marines and could not expect them to look, act, and perform like Marines (that was my last duty assignment...they drove me to retirement!).

[Bornagain]

AF basic training used to be only six-weeks long. Shooting the M-16, merely for familiarization, was optional (except for a few trainees who were going to security forces, PJs, combat controllers, etc). The recent war kind of opened their eyes a bit.

So basic training is now a whopping eight-weeks long, M-16 shooting (still only for FAM), is mandatory for all and they do a sorta-kinda one week field exercise doing very basic grunt stuff (they live in shacks). PT is a little more extensive than it was, but 1/2 of the old guys here could probably make it OK.

Essentially AF basic training only teaches them how to wear their uniforms, basic AF operating procedures, some PT, some drill, how to salute, AF ranks (and, it seems, to call everyone from other services "Sarge").

The AF considers their people technicians and specialists, not warriors, (except security forces, PJs, and combat controllers who are considered a bunch of knuckle draggers because they carry guns AND like to shoot them).

Sadly, those few "technicians and specialists" who would like to get more range time, a little more "grunt" stuff, are either laughed at or told there are no slots available at the range. Only people who are deploying have to go qualify on the M16A2 or M-4, and/or the M-9 pistol.

My daughter has been in the AF Reserve for seven years and has only been on the range three times, once after joining her unit, and then just before her two deployments (one Germany and one Afghanistan). They would only let her qualify on the M-16A2. Plus the AF qualification course isn't difficult at all.

Still, you kind of got to like a service that mostly sends officers out to die.

Well ya, all pilots are officers, right? They probably lose what little men they lose right there. Man, I'm glad I'm not joining the Airforce from the sound of things. I mean any branch would be better than being a civilian, but Marines have the best attitude, uniforms, and whatever a member of the Armed Forces can get.

[Tennessee Top]

Well ya, all pilots are officers, right? They probably lose what little men they lose right there. Man, I'm glad I'm not joining the Airforce from the sound of things. I mean any branch would be better than being a civilian, but Marines have the best attitude, uniforms, and whatever a member of the Armed Forces can get.

I agree with you about the Marines being the best...but I'm a little biased