USMMA Insignia and Devices

Dadx4

5-Year Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
740
Can USMMA/Merchant Marine Insignia and Devices be worn on the uniforms of other services after graduarion?
 
Basically No. There are DOT/Merchant Marine medals and devices included in SECNAVINST 1650.something but they are pretty much all WWII related. Anything KP specific as in Honor Plebe ribbon, Color Guard ribbon, academic stars is a definite no.

The Merchant Marine Insignia used to be the same for KP and the Navy, but when the Navy came out with the new SSO Device that is no longer true.
 
Basically No. There are DOT/Merchant Marine medals and devices included in SECNAVINST 1650.something but they are pretty much all WWII related. Anything KP specific as in Honor Plebe ribbon, Color Guard ribbon, academic stars is a definite no.

The Merchant Marine Insignia used to be the same for KP and the Navy, but when the Navy came out with the new SSO Device that is no longer true.

Man, I don't even have a clue if I HAVE any of that stuff any longer.
 
I don't speak with 100% authority but I believe there are Navy devices that can be earned (e.g Navy Rifle or Pistol) and that can be carried when commissioned. This from my DS's roommate whose dad is active navy and the mid earned the Navy Pistol ribbon while dad stationed in Norfolk.

Other than that, Eagle Scout, Drill, Color Guard, Academic and Regimental devices disappear post grad.

BH
 
I don't speak with 100% authority but I believe there are Navy devices that can be earned (e.g Navy Rifle or Pistol) and that can be carried when commissioned. This from my DS's roommate whose dad is active navy and the mid earned the Navy Pistol ribbon while dad stationed in Norfolk.

Theoretically yes, but actually very difficult in practice. Unless you can tag along with a Navy unit that is doing their rifle/pistol quals, anything else would not meet the requirement for the Navy ribbon/medal. OPNAVINST 3591.1 is very explicit in the requirements and anything done at KP would not meet it.
 
Ah yes. Color Guard, ROA, Honor Guard. I was always amused by "highly decorated" midshipmen.
 
You mean all your WWII stuff? ;)

Yeah, no kidding. . . but to put it into perspective, I started Plebe Year a mere 32 years after the end of WWII. . . and it has been 35 years since I graduated. . . . don't even think I have any of the little silver stars that I got for those couple of quarters with a GPA over 3.0. . . . those little suckers were hard to get, for me anyway. . . .but I don't think I saved any shoulder boards, collar devices, hats. . . I KNOW I didn't save any of those silly boiler suits (that patch came off very quickly during sea year). . . I DO still have my rugby jersey. . . like I will ever fit into it again. . .
 
Back
Top