We went to see Top Gun Maverick last night. What branches require the wear of ribbons on the short-sleeved service uniform, what we called Class B at A&M? All the aviators in the movie were wearing their ribbons on their khakis. Is this Hollywood, or is this required in the Navy?

In the Air Force, badges (wings) were required but optional on the short sleeve blue shirt. Almost every aviator I knew, only wore wings and did not wear ribbons.

Is it required in the Navy? I assume whatever the rules are in the Navy would apply to the Marines. How about the Army? I've been retired a long time and know rules change in the military.

I was Army but my dad was carrier Navy so I grew up on board ships, so this might be outdated.

The Navy has two levels of the khaki uniform a working and a dress. The working uniform was worn with only the warfare specialty pin ( surface, subs, pilots, etc). The dress was used much more rarely and did have the ribbons. Basically a working uniform for shore tour office type assignments in the summer months.

A few years ago I worked in a joint billet. The Navy types wore their top row of ribbons on their class B shirt (so only 1 row of 3 ribbons were worn). I don't know if it is universal though, or maybe set by the local command.

It can be altered by local policy - Airborne units almost always wear jump wings with Class Bs, for example. I think the only time I wore ribbons with Bs was in ROTC.

I honestly don't think I ever wore the long sleeve class B uniform, except during Pay Day activities, and that was after removing the jacket to do office work.

For Service C, aka "Chucks," this is the relevant bit re: ribbons for Marines:

Quote:

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When the … service "B/C" uniforms are worn the wearing of ribbons on khaki shirts is at the individual's option unless the commander prescribes that ribbons be worn. If ribbons are worn on these uniforms, either all ribbons, or personal U.S. decorations with U.S. unit awards and the Good Conduct Medal, may be worn at the individual's option.

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Too lazy to look up the comparable Navy regs, but probably similar.

The Navy authorized wearing of ribbons on the working khaki uniform in the early eighties, and Navy Regs allow wearing of top-3 so you don't have to wear all the randoribbons unless you want to..

Ever since our military went Soviet-Field-Marshal with the way we award medals & participation ribbons the reg that ribbons be displayed three-across has always made me eye-roll.

We end up with guys who look like Milley: ribbon stacks rising up to the epaulette & barely enough room on the top for warfare badges.

The Marines are the exception, allowing the wear of ribbons four-across. Much less gaudy, imo.

9 year Army Vet 1988-1997 (Armor and Cavalry).

I don't remember ever wearing the Class B Uniform.