Paul Rieckhoff and needless embellishment
I’m sure you all know Paul Rieckhoff, the Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Paul and I have been sparring since they published their first “non-partisan” scorecard before the last Presidential election that was scored so that then-Senator Obama was a better friend of veterans than Senator McCain, you know, the veteran in the race. So there may be some personal bias in this particular bit of reportage, and I’ll readily admit to it.
But, anyway, I found this article taken from Rieckhoff’s alma mater newspaper at Amherst College, but here’s a screen shot of the part where he’s telling the reporter that he was going to Special Forces in the last paragraph of this shot;
Yeah, that’s no problem, really, and here’s the picture that accompanied the article;
In this picture, Paul is wearing a Bronze Star Medal;
But, see this is all questions, and I don’t like unanswered questions. And since I don’t like doing anything behind anyone’s back, I sent all of my questions along with the accumulated documentation to Paul and asked him about the discrepancies I found and asked him to fill in the blanks.
He promptly replied, but his letter only made me have more unanswered questions;
He said in the letter that he intended to go to 19th SFG, but after talking with the commander they both decided that he shouldn’t. So who sews a unit patch on their uniform before they’re even assigned to the unit? I don’t think I ever changed patches until I signed in to a unit. Maybe that’s just me, though.
The DD214 does clearly say he has a Bronze Star Medal, but how did he get it? I asked him for orders, but he sent me the DD214 that I already had and then he claimed he never received the citation, but he doesn’t mention the orders. So did someone call him and tell him he had one, and he just pinned it on? And how did it get on his DD214 without orders or a citation? And he physically signed his DD214, so they didn’t have him digitally sign it from a distance. He was right there in the room with the clerk.
In his letter, he writes; “Since the photo in question, I have not worn or claimed the BSM—as you have noted.” Yeah, that’s the only photo I could find of him with the BSM, so if he’s so sure that he earned a BSM, why did he stop wearing it after that picture? See what I mean by more questions?
And, oh, yeah, if you want to get on my good side, Paul, you probably shouldn’t threaten me with lawyers in the first paragraph. Or the last paragraph. Or any of the paragraphs in between. Here at TAH we operate within the limits of the law and everything that we accumulated was done within those limits. I got the records from the usual source – Mary at POW Network. She’ll verify that. And there is no grand conspiracy against you, Paul, just little old me and my ten nimble fingers. And, oh, my lawyer.
Now, I don’t understand why Rieckhoff felt a need to dress up for his school newspaper. He has a CIB, a combat patch and a perfectly honorable combat tour in Iraq. I admire him for his service, but the rest of this stuff that he’s done since he’s come back kind of overshadows that stuff he did in Iraq.
Category: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Birds of a feather… I’m sorry but WTF. I am confused as hell now about the BSM (the other stuff is obvious he was padding his photo shoot) Either you have orders for it, or the citation, or both, and they would presumably be on your 2-1. Now I am the first to say my 214’s are a total mess and I have not bothered to file for a 215, but I have the orders for every award or the certificate. I damned sure would hold onto the ones for a BSM if I had earned it…. I mean come on, that is a huge award even for merit.
“Since the photo in question, I have not worn or claimed the BSM—as you have noted.” WHY?? If you were awarded it, why haven’t you claimed it or worn it? That is a huge question mark.
I have more awards than Rieckhoff and can produce the orders for each, including successive awards. It is not allowed to wear or claim any award or badge without the orders. Nobody has their gaining unit’s patch sewn on before signing into the unit. As I recall, soldiers are to wear the patch of their former unit until they sign in at the gaining unit. Rieckhoff is sometimes a little too eager.
Not surprised he has a BSM, it seems to be a blanket award for higher enlisted and officers these days. One can pretty much assume in most cases a BSM from GWOT is a “blanket award” if it doesn’t have a V device on it.
As far as Dickoff’s SF patch, it seems like he just had his high speed, low drag SF boner and had the patch put on ahead a type so he could feel like an (un)certified bad ass.
Good catch, Jonn. Dickoff needs to be called out on his bullshit anytime, anywhere.
*ahead of time, as in before actually reporting
Hey, there were some SEALs that rode my boat a few times, does that mean I can put on a Trident in “anticipation” of going over to Coronado and watching the BUD/S students (studi?) carrying RIB’s around?
Based on the information, I think this really needs to go to the “wait and see” pile. Passing judgement at this time is not a great idea.
1) We know there is some bias/animosity in this case, so lets slow down.
2) He has a DD214 with the BSM.
3) National Guard records (reserve component in general), particularly those from the mid 2000’s are generally really pretty bad. From personal experience, I can assure you stuff falls off or never gets entered (I can elaborate from personal experience if anyone really wants). It is MUCH better now but I have some stories.
4) He IS playing ball. He rapidly sent the DD214 and while the matter is in question will not wear the decoration. Lets take him at his word for now.
5) Yeah, the “anticipation” of being assigned to a unit is poor form and wrong, but is really a venial rather than a mortal sin unless carried to an extreme. The problem was also transitory. Why not accept a Mea Culpa on that one
With all of this, I think some more research and or time is kind of needed. The photos will last, what is the harm is letting it sit a while? Lets not make this Salem. There are plenty of real SV criminals out there without going off half cocked on this one. (Caveat, if he wore his SF unit patch after he learned he would not be joining the unit and/or really did not get the BSM -and knew it- then, yeah, burn him at the steak then. I’ve got some matches)
Put on his SF flash in anticipation……yah, of a photoshoot. At best that’s just cheesy…
I too have never seen anyone sew a unit patch on their Class As prior to reporting. That said, it does seem to be somewhat popular for new Soldiers to wear their gaining unit patch after training. I never saw it with the BCU, but the ACU’s Velcro makes it too easy to slap on and take back off if called out…
Maybe this was just an overzealous NG LT looI usually wait until it’s time for a DA Photo to swap out Class A patches–sometimes over a year after reporting (moot point now, as I will be buying the ASU soon).
We had guys from my ARNG unit going to companies in the 19th and 20th group all the time in the 1990s. As I recall, they SUTA’d drills with the SF while assigned to our unit until they completed, at least up to and including, SFAS. Otherwise, it was a huge paperwork drill to ensure that the records of the 90% of the guys who came back to our unit in a year were properly changed. With that, none of those guys showed up to their first drill, with an SF unit patch.
There is also an implication in the article that personally makes me cringe, having lived with it before and during my college career, and is just as much a pint of embellishment – the notion that Amherst is an “Ivy League” school. Having attended a university down the road from Amherst, we all put up with the same BS claim from the Amherst and Smith students that they were attending Ivy League intuitions while those of us at the Massachusetts Agricultural College were just a bunch of dumb hicks. In reality, no matter how much they repeat it and emulate it, students at Smith and Amherst are no more attending an Ivy than those of us at the other side of the Common. Typically, the students there wish like hell that they had the grades or mommy and daddy had the political pull to send them into Cambridge or New Haven, but they had to settle by attending schools in Amherst or Northampton. It is the same pattern as throwing on the SF unit patch in anticipation of showing up to 19th Group or adding the BSM to the rack without actually seeing orders.
Oh this is like an early birthday gift. I hate this guy…TSO knows I hate this idiot. The only thing Paul Rieckhoff cares about is Paul Rieckhoff. Who puts any patch on before they show up to the unit…unless of course its a SOF patch….and they don’t have a long tab and questioning their manhood or something. The easy cure was to do an interview in your A’s with the patch on. I’m sure the school newspaper knew exactly what it takes to be in SOF and about uniform standards. For a guy who acts like he took Baghdad…sure didn’t get rewarded like one.
“My dd214 totally proves that I am authorized to wear a BSM that I don’t wear anymore.”
Ok, hoss, whatever you say.
Oh how I love you, Jonn
Got to give the guy credit. He created a vehicle for self-promotion in order to be a perpetual talking head/political shill for Democrats. Of course, the more that comes out about his elaborations and embellishment will only complicate his efforts.
Along those lines, do people still buy his whole benevolent military veteran speaking solely on behalf of veterans schtik? I mean, sending emails offering to send a few guys to a ball game and then promoting the need to do things for veterans in fancy commercials only goes so far when the “organization” does not actually do anything tangible to actually help veterans. It’s like a dog chasing its own tail type of “organization.” The only benefit I see is this guy getting his name diseminated to veterans through his emails, and then “serving” as a talking head where he espouses partisan rhetoric vice legitimate advocacy. And he achieves all this by alluding to the idea that he is backed by thousands of vets whom he counts as members based on online signups.
The Bronze Star, even if it for merit and not valor, is one of those military phrases that most civilians understand. So it stands to reason that a guy who is the executive director of a vets organization would have a vested interest in listing the BSM on his bio and resume.
But it doesn’t seem reasonable that a guy who has been the head of a large vets group for several years now couldn’t track down the citation if he wanted to. The guy probably has congressmen on speed dial, and there aren’t many more cherished photo ops for a congressman than to present a missing award or medal to a soldier that his staff tracked down.
But I have to agree with #6 in that we don’t have enough info to say yet one way or another.
According to his reply, he was NEVER in 19th SFG(A). He was “in the process” of getting a transfer, when the unit commander convinced him he wasn’t wanted.
Yeah, it says a lot when a unit commander tells you not to bother joining their unit.
I’ll give him a pass on not wearing an award that he doesn’t have proof of, anymore, but NOT for playing dress-up for the college “press” with awards he didn’t have proof of, wearing a patch of a unit he was never assigned to. There are many people walking around with tattoos of Ranger and Special Forces tabs, because they intended to go to the schools, and I won’t give them a pass either.
He clearly wished to sound and look better than he was, and it is not unlikely that that picture is the very reason why that commander told him he was unwelcome in Rhode Island. He was self-promoting, a skill he has learned well and succeeded at.
Frankly, there was no need for him to be in uniform for his interview, but if he wished to sport the SF patch, he should have waited the week to get transferred into 19th SFG(A), and it is not like he was going to have a need to wear his Class A’s anytime soon after he was transferred. He might have gone years with no need to wear it, officially.
He sure as hell should not have been wearing a BSM he had not earned. A BSM has to be signed by a General. It’s not a blanket campaign medal that merely fails to have your name added to it. He certainly needs to tell the story of how he thought he had one, but never received the orders awarding it. Hell, I still have the recommendation for the one that was denied for me.
His book sucked.
I’m curious, Jonn. Here’s what I see Rieckhoff wearing in the photo:
CIB
Ribbons (listed viewer’s L-R)
Top Row: BSM, ARCOM, ARCAM
2nd Row: NDSM, GOWTEM, GWOTSM
3rd Row: AFSM, AFRM w/M Device, ASR
Bottom Row: OSR, ARCOTR, ???? (state award, maybe)
How many of those are on his DD214? I’m certainly not finding some of them on his NGB document. In particular, I don’t see the BSM, GWOTEM, GWOTSM, and AFSM listed on his NGB document.
“His book sucked.”
Eat, Pray, Sew the SF patch on: The Paul Rieckhoff Story.
My life looking like an uncircumcised Penis.
Fifty shades of Douchie
The Paulbook
Zen and the Art of Patch Sewing….
That SF patch makes him a cheesedick, but the rest of it is fine, as far I’m concerned. The BSM is not out of the ordinary for someone of his rank, and given how fucked up my own paperwork is, I can definitely see this guy having stuff on his 214 that’s not on his 2-1, because my 2-1 barely has anything on it. When my unit came back from Iraq it was a shitshow. Guys were ETSing, PCSing, left and right. In such circumstances paperwork does tend to lag like cheesedick claims. I know I was put in for another Arcom for my ETS award and I’m about 99.9% sure it would have gotten approved, even if it didn’t it would have at least been downgraded to an AAM. But I was never awarded one before I got out and my unit never sent it to me after. I can’t imagine that I’m alone in that either. Anyway, outside of conversations like this I’ve never claimed that additional Arcom, even though I’m certain I have it, maybe dickcheese feels the same way about his BSM, although it is weird that he would considering it’s on his 214.
As additional issues:
1. Hey, LT, where are your DUI and your Regimental affiliation crest? Maybe that’s a dumb 2LT mistake, but as a 1LT you should have been in long enough to know about AR 670-1. And get with the program and start wearing your ASU (then you won’t have to worry about the pesky nitpicking patch police… or DUI, for that matter). Oh, and PLEASE learn how to tie your necktie so it doesn’t show a gap at the top like you’re some 14 year-old kid wearing his brother’s suit at a wedding…
2. Army Presidential and Meritorious Unit Citations? I’m not familiar with the 19th SFG(A) lineage, but I’m pretty sure neither the 105th or 108th Infantry have those… and he didn’t get them in the GWOT as a unit member when so awarded. So either he’s wearing them based on his claim to be in the 19th Group, or he’s just wrong again.
3. BTW, I noted above references in the main story to the “105th Infantry Battalion” and the “108th Infantry Battalion.” Should read “X Bn-105th Infantry,” etc… Just in the interest of accuracy. Battalions may have different lineages (and unit citations), and there are no separately numbered Infantry Battalions in US force structure.
A couple of things I question – not claming to be an expert on Special Forces. According to my son, who graduated Special Forces in May of this year, all enlisted are at the rank of Sgt and all Officers are Captains -only – there were 2 or 3 of higher rank in his graduating class but, they had special permission to go thru the SF course as they are medical officers treating SF soldiers.
And whats up with the Infantry Blue braid – it should be Green like his beret.
Why is it always SF? I don’t even wear my SF “combat” patch because I was only OPCONed to help train IA and would feel like a tool. That is one of my pet peeves, to see people wear that “combat” patch because they pulled security or whatever. It makes them look like d-bags. Sorry I went off on a tangent.
What a homo.
Does not surprise me about fucked up records. I was a Long time member of C-1/105th IN NYARNG till I transferred prior to 9-11. the PAC was a bunch of chimps who regularly lost award documents school documents, added other persons documents to your 201 file, etc.
For some reason no one from any Company of the Bn down in NYC got promoted for 4 years above the rank of Sgt. While all the Leeds and Schnectady men got the NCOES and promotions. Had the CSM tell the NCO’s of B.co (Manhattan, NY) and C.co (Queens NY) to our faces we were criminals while at dix in 2000 and thats when I left.
Add to that the enormous shuffling of men to fill the 2/108 for OIF II, the 258FA for OIFII and the 69th INF for OIF III. We had dismounted Tankers from 210 Armor and 101Cav, Engineers from 152 CE filling 11B slots.
Doesnt surprise me someone like Reickhof became a PL during that time frame as another PL from the deployment is now claiming for a Purple Heart and No one remembers him hurt/injured. Corruption in NYARNG is horrific MG Taluto’s son was the saleman for the SIPC Emergency tents the state purchased
I love the site, guys, but I don’t think you have this story yet.
I had contacted IAVA after seeing a commercial requesting their assistance in typical veterans services matters, but one issue was pertaining to women and how they plan on aiding women veterans, what they’re doing now, etc. NO ONE got back to me at all until the documentary “Lioness” came out a year later, in which I received some pithy e-mail from Dickoff stating that he “supports” my efforts – although he didn’t state what they were – and to donate money to IAVA. Also, the producers of Lioness had requested assistance in spreading the word on the film in which IAVA replied that they wanted CREDIT for the film, otherwise, they wouldn’t speak on it. Yep, Dickoff is actually thanked in the credits for a film he had no hand in creating whatsoever. It’s like pissing your initials on a Monet and calling it yours. I met him in person and asked the same questions and he had a list of autopilot responses à la MSNBC when Rachel Maddow was swinging from his nutsack. Bottom line: Rieckhoff is a self-promoting dickhead aspiring spineless/soulless politician who runs an organization with all the substance of an empty warehouse+flashy signs+a philanthropist financing his megalomania.
(I have NOT yet, read any comments here, just Jonn’s post.)
Thank you, Mr. Lilyea, for a great summary — hard work well done (I hope you don’t mind sincere compliments) .
I did not switch my patches on duty uniform until my new unit gave me one. Did not change patch or anything for that matter on class-A until that once or twice a year when unit told me I was wearing that itchy green suit.
Jason Van Steenwyk: possibly. But the fact that Rieckhoff (1) can’t produce orders or the certificate for his BSM, and (2) no longer wears it is rather damaging to his credibility regarding the award. We’ve seen folks claim a BSM for a while, then abruptly quit doing so. Ain’t that right, Wittgenfeld?
I also wonder about that apparent AFSM he’s wearing (innermost ribbon, next to bottom row). Per his bio, Rieckhoff served as a USAR MP for somewhat less than 2 years, starting in Sep 1998, then went to OCS and got a NY ARNG commission. That means Joint Forge, Haiti (1995-2000), Haiti (2010 earthquake relief), Jump Start, Unified Response, and Katrina/Rita relief are the only operations for which he could have been awarded the AFSM. I don’t see any of those in his NGB separation document, nor do I see the AFSM. He could well have served in one of those operations, but I have to say it would be a stretch – Haiti as a member of his USAR MP unit or Katrina/Rita relief seem to be the only realistic possibilities. The timing for the rest don’t seem to work out, especially considering his relative lack of RC participation since returning from Iraq (he only had 5 years qualifying for Reserve Retirement, which would include his 1 year tour in Iraq and all his active duty for training – e.g., basic/AIT/OCS/predeployment training).
Its simple.
In my case I have the NDSM and KDSM. BUT because I have to get my records fixed I cannot add them to jack shit. I can say I have them all day long but until I have orders it doesn’t mean anything. In the case of the KDSM there doesn’t appear to be any record of my orders sending me there for 5 months for Foal Eagle ’99. So I may be out of luck there. Still…do I get to claim it?
Rieckhoff knows this. As an officer we are TOLD this in OBC. It’s basic care of the uniform. He also knows that you aren’t assigned to that unit until you have orders. THAT is when you change you patches. So that when you show up you are in the right uniform.
Fucking liar.
I read some of the other comments. Since he says he was trying to get into a Reserve SF unit they can place bodies against positions without being SF qualified. It doesn’t mean they are SF, get the tab, or even can deploy. They don’t even get the 18 series MOS nor training. It’s temporary until he passes SFAS and the Q Course.
On that note I think there is something fishy with his deployments. Jonn can you check this?
In the interview you linked to he claims to have been with the 4ID (which pisses me off….TF Iron Horse was my outfit….the shame is deep) YET his Wikipedia entry says he deployed with the 3ID in 2003.
Soooo…was he really with the 4th then once on the ground reassigned with the 3ID? Or is that an attempt to make it sound like he was in the lead element the whole time when he really got to theater a couple years later? The shit was still hot but….I don’t think he was with the 4th.
I don’t know…mouse turds? Maybe…but the facts don’t line up to me with the minimum data I have.
#31 Steadfast & Loyal; His ARCOM says he was assigned to B Co. 3/124th which was apparently part of the 124th Infantry Regiment. The only thing I can find about them comes from Wiki;
On 26 Dec 2002, the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry, was ordered into active federal service in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Ordered into active Federal service 2–16 January 2003 at home stations; On the night of 19 March 2003, Soldiers of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry, positioned in Jordan and A Company, 3rd Battalion, 124th Infantry, positioned in Kuwait, were among the first U.S. soldiers to cross into Iraq. Released 11 April – 21 May 2004 from active Federal service and reverted to state control. The regiment was reorganized on 1 September 2007 to consist of the 1st and 2d Battalions, elements of the 53d Infantry Brigade Combat Team (3d Battalion hereafter separate lineage).
It says C Co. attacked from Jordan and A Co. from Kuwait (I’m guessing with the 3ID) but it doesn’t mention where B Co. (Rieckhoff’s company) was during the initial attack. So your guess is as good as mine. But an educated guess, since his DD214 and ARCOM say Rieckhoff was in Iraq from April 5, 2003 until January 28th, 2004, I’m guessing he was with the 4th ID since they didn’t deploy into Iraq from Kuwait until April 2003 a month after 3ID.
Further research indicates that 3/124th was attached to 1st Armored Division in May 2003.
@ 20 Mike3727, if I may ask, how does the Army identify battalions? My paternal side has been Marine since Korea. My maternal side was mostly zoomies with a couple of squids and more than a few who didn’t serve. Our companies are ‘lettered’ with battalions and regiments ‘numbered’. My older brother was with Fox Co., 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment or Fox 2/5. Now my out fit was a bit different. I was combat arms. I was with Charlie Co.,3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion or Charlie, 3rd Tracs. Any information would be helpful, I’m really trying to learn. Thanks!
Steadfast&Loyal: for campaign, expeditionary, and service medals, per AR 600-8-22, para 1-26.b. no orders are issued; these are awarded administratively. The individual’s qualification for those awards can therefore be determined from other official documentation in the individual’s OMPF. Often units issue memos for placement in official personnel records to document campaign/expeditionary/service medals. But that doesn’t always happen. It didn’t for me for the KDSM, GWOTSM, and NDSM. It did for the ACM and ICM.
For the NDSM, all you need to do is demonstrate the requisite active duty and/or SELRES service during specified periods. Evals and/or unit assignment orders should suffice for that.
Same is true for the KDSM, albeit different documentation is required. If you have TDY voucher and/or an eval that documents your service of 30 days consecutive/60 days nonconsecutive in Korea, you should be able to get that added to your OPMF. TDY and/or AD orders alone might or might not work, since those only document you were scheduled to perform the duty – not that you actually did (orders can be revoked). Ditto for pay vouchers unless they explicitly show your location in Korea.
If you’re retired reserve (think you said once before you were a RC soldier), HRC should still have access to your files. They might be willing to assist in getting you a DD215 adding those. They did for me with a couple of awards I rated after I retired from the USAR.
If you’re still in the USAR or ARNG, your unit PAC or S1 should be able to assist.
Yat Yas 1833: I’ll take a stab at this. Mike3727, please chime in if I’m inaccurate; I don’t claim to be an expert here.
Army combat arms units are typically denoted in the form Letter/Number/Number Branch. The Letter is the company designation (A, B, C, etc . . . ). The first number is the battalion (typically 1st, 2nd, 3rd). The third number and branch denote historical regimental affiliation (325th Infantry, 68th Armor, etc . . . ).
It gets a bit more complicated in non-combat arms units. I some branches (SC, MI) have a branch “regiment” (I don’t know that this is universally true). For units of those branches, the regimental affiliation is typically denoted by the branch abbreviation (e.g., A/304th Sig).
Brigade HQs are typically administrative, and if I recall correctly in the combat arms may share units from multiple regiments. I could be wrong about that, however.
There are also some company-size units that don’t have a parent battalion. These are typically non-combat-arms units and have branch regimental affiliation. They’re typically numbered (e.g., 314th Ord Co).
Divisions are transient HQs vice permanent, and may be task-organized or augmented from available forces as required. For divisions with long lineage (82nd, 1st Inf, 101st Airborne, 3rd Infantry), these task-organizations tend to change rather slowly over time. But they may be augmented as the tactical situation requires with other active/reserve units.
Why? Dunno. Tradition and history would be my guess.
You guys are really putting to much thought into this…
This guy is a NG dude that went to a very good liberal arts school. And he is using it for personal and professional gratification.
He is dancing and looking for anything he can get.
While I believe that he could have a BSM as it is a blanket award for company grade officers and senior NCO’s, my question is…Where is the Tab?
No IN officer that I know would take a pic (minus DA photo) without it.
Turd.
He’s the first leg Infantry officer I’ve ever seen.
@37. My point exactly.
There appears to be no regimental affiliation on those cross rifles.
NG all the way.
Check roger. I was all jacked up on time lines.
Dirty, filthy leg…
Oh this is to much…….he’s such a douche. Please don’t let this one go. He’s done nothing for anybody but him. This made my week. Why did this take so long……..
35 Hondo,
I was combat arms. Cco, 1-8 Cav. Charlie co. 1st battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division was the full designation.
@22 Twist…It’s always SF… or Ranger or SEAL. That is how “they” is play it out 98% of the time. Maddening.
In this clown’s Q@A he staes that he transferred to 19th Group… “Special Forces is the next challenge.” Really?
HONDO, the ribbon is the reserve medal. Blue and white. M device for title 10 mobilization. It is not an AF svc ribon.
Man, what is with these A-holes? How the Fu€k don’t they think they’re not going to get busted? As others have mentioned, why would he stop wearing something he’s earned? Can everyone say “fishy”? To me the kicker is he’s an officer! A broked1ck Pvt or a Terminal Lance, yeah I could see them lying their ^sses off but an officer?
@ 35 Hondo thanks! You guys aren’t so different from us. Man, I’ve learned more about the Army than I ever thought I would!? 🙂 Shoot, I’ve learned so much about Army uniforms I think I could make a pretty good poser!? 😮 Before long I’ll know enough about units to be able to BS with the best of ’em. Hell, I’m even getting pretty good at acronyms! Just kidding, I have way more pride than that and I would never be that disrespectful to my Army brethren.
@36 Green Thumb, SF Groups have support units that are not 18 series. So it is legitimatly possible to have the patch without the tab. Please do not take this as me defending this ass hat.
Anonymous: I’m not talking about his AFRM, or any Air Force decoration. His AFRM is the middle ribbon on the next to bottom row – the blue and white thing with what looks like a brown (bronze) blob in the middle (that would be the M device). Rieckhoff rates that. I’m talking about the ribbon immediately inboard of that. That one appears to be the ribbon for the Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM), and comes before the AFRM in order of precedence. The AFSM is a DoD service medal created in 1996 and has been awarded for multiple operations since then – mostly for various operations in the Balkans, but also for 2 Haiti operations and 2 CONUS operations.
The ribbon looks like this:
I could be wrong on the ID, but that’s the only one I can find at the Army Institute of Heraldry page that’s even close. (The blue stripe in the center of the ribbon in question Rieckhoff’s wearing rules out the MOVSM.)
Rieckhoff seems to have managed to get his ribbons in the correct order. And he’s wearing the ribbon in question in the order of precedence where a US decoration would belong, so it pretty much has to be a DoD/Army/sister service ribbon. It’s not a state ribbon, since all of those go after the last US decoration or ribbon.
Long time listener, first time caller. As an Amherst College graduate (and a graduate of the UMASS ROTC program) who has also been a Regular Army combat arms officer for the last 18 years, I may be the only person on this discussion who read the article when he got it in the mail a few years back. @#9 Bobo- If you were in the UMASS ROTC program in the early 1990s, then you know exactly who I am as there was only one guy from Amherst (“silent ‘h’, don’t you know old boy?” in my best Judge Smails voice). And while Amherst is not in the Ivy League , it is in the top 2-3 liberal arts colleges in America and the admissions standards are the same as the top half of the Ivy League. Don’t be a hater (and don’t lump us in with Smith College, either) When I read the article back then, I thought the SF Patch was a bit weird, but assumed that he had been assigned to one of the SF Group support units in preparation for SFAS and the Q Course. I know a few of loggies (the BEST loggies I know, in fact) who are not SF but wear the patch and subsequently the combat patch as they deployed to support them. A good Logistics guy, as we all know, is worth his weight in gold, and my datapoints suggest the SF community recognizes this. Mr. Lilyea’s digging and R-hoff’s response casts a much harsher light on this. If there is something about R-hoff that I find annoying, it is that he seems to be a shameless self-promoter who will leverage 8 months of his life (an experience that many on this list have done 2,3, or 4 times) into a political career while at the same time representing himself to the American people as an expert. In 20 years, if he does not go into political office, he will be still be trotted out by CNN and etc. as the “expert” on military matters and veterans affairs. Because of where he… Read more »
@48. I understand but how many have IN officers (no 11V status) in support roles?
Not many I would think.
OtherAmherstArmyOfficer: I’m a bit unclear. Are you saying you read the article when you got it in the mail – or that Rieckhoff somewhere claimed “he got it in the mail” about his BSM?