Not really a bitch to pitch, but to me this is just silly, or pandering. It seems like everyone nowadays is doing it.

The latest I've seen is Doug Mastriano, candidate for PA governor wearing an Air Assault badge. Really? Air Assault? Cool! You know how to rappel and do a sling load! Exactly everyone could pass that, and it's not really an accomplishment to be overly proud of. A SEAL trident or SF tab? OK, maybe I can see that, but an Air Assault badge? How about jump wings? Or, perhaps, I should start wearing my EFMB on my lapel.

Sheesh. I like Mastriano, but Haysoos Kristo, lose the badge. Nobody is impressed that you walked your way through a two week course and that that was the pinnacle of your military accomplishments.

quote:

...but to me this is just silly, or pandering.

When it comes to politicians, you already know what the answer is.

Never heard of the guy, but google image search confirms. Yeesh.

Maybe he has a personal reason he does it. Why don't you send a question about it to his campaign?

Gosh, maybe I should start wearing my Master Training Specialist nametag!

At least he served…

And maybe that’s the reason, to let others know he served?

The candidate pool here in PA is the largest it’s been since the 70’s so any box checked may get you votes.

From his site…

I’d say he can where whatever the fuck he wants. He did more than most.

Doug was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1986 and served on the Iron Curtain with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in West Germany. While serving along the East German and Czechoslovakian borders, he witnessed the end of the Cold War and thereafter deployed to Iraq for Operation Desert Storm (1991) to liberate Kuwait. His regiment led the attack against Saddam’s elite Republican Guard forces. Doug went on to serve in Washington, DC, the 3rd Infantry Division and US Army Europe. After 9/11, Mastriano was the lead planner for the operation to invade Iraq via Turkey. He served four years with NATO and deployed three times to Afghanistan. Mastriano was the director of NATO’s Joint Intelligence Center in Afghanistan, leading 80 people from 18 nations. On his own initiative, Doug led seven relief operations to help Afghan orphans. He completed his career as a Professor of the U.S. Army War College (PAWC), Carlisle, PA, and taught Strategic Studies at the Master Degree level to the next generation of senior leaders.

Don't know his political leanings... but I have no problem with him wearing a pin on his lapel if he earned it and I respect him for that.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Nobody is impressed that you walked your way through a two week course and that that was the pinnacle of your military accomplishments.

Really?

I'd say that's far from "the pinnacle of [his] military accomplishments"...

To be clear, I'm not ragging on the man's military service. In fact, I respect him for it.

But wearing an Air Assault lapel pin? I saw a fella on FNC this morning with jump wings on his lapel.

I don't know. It's just not something that I'd ever do.

He's running for Governor of PA and wants to emphasize that he's an Army vet, what's wrong with that? I voted for him this morning in the primary and God willing, he will be the next Governor of Pennsylvania.

If you haven't figured it out yet, lapel pins have become a big thing for politicians.

My opinion, he earned it, let him wear it anyway he wants. What is the difference of what he is doing and when someone else is wearing a shirt or hat that has airborne or the screaming eagles, SEAL trident, etc ??? God Bless !!!

Yea you are fucked up. I'm a Navy guy so I have no idea what that badge represents. I do see a 30 year full bird colonel who served in a warfare specialty. Not for nothing that guy deserves to wear any badge he's earned. I suspect your DD214 is not nearly as long or distinguished as his. Or maybe it is. Point is why the fuck would you attack this guy for demonstrating his service as he is running for office in a state that currently has a douchebag as governor?

You are wrong.

When did being triggered by the most inconsequential things become a thing?

It seems to me that I’m seeing that more and more these days. Okay, we get to signal our own wonderfulness by putting other people’s accomplishments in the shade: “Huh! Anyone could do that!” Perhaps they could, but they haven’t, and I find it more meaningful than sporting a US flag pin on one’s lapel. Most of the politicians who do that don’t give a crap about the nation over their own personal welfare and do it only because they’ve been browbeaten by a small minority to say, “See, I have one too, so quitcherbitchin.”

We claim to respect our military veterans, but we don’t want anyone going too far in demonstrating his accomplishments or service. “I wouldn’t do that.” Well, don’t do it then. When you become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, you don’t have to wear any badges or ribbons at all, and maybe that will start the trend.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:


I'm a Navy guy so I have no idea what that badge represents.

It means he rappelled out of perfectly good helicopters instead of getting off them when they landed



Air Assault Badge

Oh. Learn something new every day. lol

I got license plate frames and a front plate for my Navy Expeditionary Medal which qualified me to join the VFW.

I'm upfront when people ask. Vietnam? No, Iran. You mean Iraq? No, Iran as in during Jimmy Carter and the US embassy people were kidnapped.

I was even issued a shirt that said, "I got my tan off the coast of Iran."

I've never really thought about what people displayed. Even when they start bragging about what they're done, I give them the benefit of a doubt.

One time, a blind friend of mine and I were shooting the breeze at a starbucks as our practice. One guy joined us, started about he came into town to pick up an exotic car. He went on spinning some tale which was good entertainment for my friend and I. Then he started on how he used to fight nuclear reactor plant fires. That got me interested and I told him, "Do tell. Because I worked on nuclear reactors and we trained on fighting fires. And my blind friend was a park ranger who fought a lot of fires. For some reason, he had to leave all of a sudden.

Common practice in the UK.
I have no problem with it.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
You are wrong.

Certainly not for the first time.

My Edward Jones guy wears a tie clasp with a miniature Ranger Tab on it . He's legit , I asked . Two tours in the sandbox . I guess I should have jumped his ass instead of thanking him for his service ?