Sgt Maj of the USMC shoves his foot square in his mouth
Sgt Maj of the Marine Corps points to a very famous soldier as being out of regs
There are few photos of soldiers that are as instantly recognizable as Audie Murphy wearing the coat full of medals he earned for his legendary service during World War II. Murphy’s exploits in earning ours and allied nations’ highest honors were so over the top that they made a movie about it. Of course, the only man who could do such a character justice on the silver screen was Murphy himself. I digress.
The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, as sergeants major are wont to do, is a stickler for the uniform regulations. They’re also sticklers for who walks on the base’s grass instead of the sidewalk and who gets to park in the E9 spot at the exchange, but again, I digress.
In taking issue with the most decorated American infantryman of the war, SMMC Carlos Ruiz drew the ire of many on the Internet when he tried to use Murphy as an object lesson in looking sharp in uniform.
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz learned a lesson the hard way: Never put “Baby” in a corner.
In a now-deleted Instagram post this week, Ruiz can be seen pointing toward a photo of a U.S. soldier with a myriad of medals strewn across his chest and arms.
“Uniform standards have entered the group chat!” Ruiz wrote in the post. “Exhibit A: This is what it looks like when we don’t have a standard. Make sure to check out MCO 1020.34H for all uniform guidance!”
Ruiz blurred out the soldier’s face, but it took users mere seconds to clock that the photo Ruiz was referring to was of Audie Murphy — nicknamed “Baby” — the single-most decorated American combat soldier of WWII and one of the most decorated American service members of all time.
In the photo, Murphy is wearing his awards in the correct order of precedence. The rack holder for medals was not produced until after WWII.
In response to the post, Ruiz faced a sea of roasters on Army and Marine Reddit pages alike.
“Love how he blurred out the face as if it’s not an iconic picture,” one user wrote on r/army.
“Out of all pictures on God’s green earth why would he use that picture[?]” another commented.
Ruiz quickly deleted his post and issued an apology, stating, “Earlier today I posted a picture of a great American hero, Audie Murphy. In poor taste, I linked his uniform to today’s regulations. My sincere apologies, as I meant no disrespect. There is a history linked to that photo and why his decorations are where they are. It shouldn’t have happened and there are no excuses.”
A spokesperson for the Marine Corps told Military Times they backed Ruiz’s apology. The service told Task and Purpose the post was an “unforced error where the message being sent should have used a Marine as an example,” and there was no intent to “disparage a great American soldier.”
Category: "Teh Stoopid", "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves", Dumbass Bullshit, Marines, YGBSM!!
Are those regulation sunglasses SGT MAJ?
They do appear to be mirrored, but maybe a trick of the light.
My interpretation…
They are bluetooth and plug into that socket on his cheek.
They don’t appear to be, but I’m uncertain of USMC standards. I can say that the Army relaxed sunglass standards over the years, but officially still only permitted eyewear on the Army Protective Eyewear List (APEL) to be worn. Even on ranges, though, nearly any conservative ANSI Z87.1 rated eyepro might be worn depending on the unit and NCOs, while in garrison some Soldiers would throw on cheap sunglasses.
But, when you’re talking the talk, walk the walk. If those aren’t regulation glasses, the Sgt Maj is no better than my 1SG on recruiting duty. During our once-a-week company PT at the YMCA, he lectured us on uniform standards, all while wearing Nike shorts with his PT uniform. Meanwhile, the CO was sporting a black watch cap months after it was phased out in favor of foliage green.
I see his toxic leadership is fully in regs.
SMMC Carlos Ruiz’s OOD for the next year or so should be: 1) Keep his head and tail out of the line of fire.
2) Mop the driveway in the rain while chanting “I am a dumbadz”
3) Every night, before lights-out, recite from memory the heroics of Audie Murphy and Chesty Puller – and after each exploit repeat “I am not worthy!”
And make “To Hell and Back” the mandatory training film for the next month.
The Commandant of the Marine Corps should make it mandatory to send all commanders and senior enlisted advisors to get a month of media training before assuming command or taking post.
SgtMaj Ruiz has probably learned he could’ve used it by now.
There you go again, coming up with an intelligent suggestion. You keep that up, and you may get blocked on this page.
Sorry Hack. I don’t have admin rights otherwise I would revise or take it down.
Did you ever serve with 9th Communications Battalion (9th Crime Bn) circa 1987-1989?
Never
He’s driving down the rents…
Earnin’ MoH:
Toxic much there? I wonder how many atta boys that aw s$$t is going to erase.
Someone must’ve pissed in his breakfast bowl of crayons that morning. The freaking uniform standards of just 20 years ago (and even last year) would not be in compliance. What a stupid, unforced error.
Talk about waking up and eating a whole bowl of dumbass for breakfast.
But I’m sure he can do a lot of push ups….
And stupid soup for lunch.
Apology not accepted.
Obviously he didn’t consider the difference in regulations between the services, especially those in place 77 years ago when that picture was taken.
If he wanted to make a point about Marine Corps uniform standards, maybe he should found a picture like the one posted here.
If he had spent as much time, thought, and effort he did not doing research, posting an inflammatory post, removing it and having to issue an apology for the backlash he rightfully deserves as he should with addressing problems like substandard living conditions, problems that actually affect the Corps might get resolved.
TAH/VG’s photo library is brimming with bad examples. All he had to do was ask.
SarMaj Soup Sammich, perhaps?
One of my all time favorites!
He can’t hold a candle to Ronald Mailahn, better known as Gunny Driveway. Hack Stone always supports the hometown team. Just waiting for him to drive Hack’s medical paint around.
“Gunny Driveway”. I remember that moron, and him coming here trying to spar with Jonn.
That was a classic discussion thread.
Damn that’s a decade-old flashback.
Hard to pick a favorite.
Wow! And he is EOD and a Navy SEAL too!
I see some Marine jump wings lurking on top of his massive ribbon rack.
Dude looks like he should be hustling Popeye for a burger.
He does have a striking resemblance to Wimpy.
I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a Bronze Star today.
Super big star on that CAB because reasons.
Too lazy to look up the award periods but I’d bet it’s like the reqs for CIB.
Ah. The Massive Mushball Marine (who is also a SEAL)
Phonies don’t make themselves like this anymore
Forget Fentanyl, Kiwi shoe polish fumes are the real drug of choice.
With a Brasso chaser.
Oh Soupy. Who’d a thunk that you could catch a buzz while polishing your parade boots?
Seems to me he “was” Air Force.
That dude was a train wreck
Good thing Murphy was rejected by the Marines.
I think the SMAJ here should have to make a 10 min video explaining the Marine Corps social media policy and post it to all of his socials.
And to think there’s an actual USMC Public Affairs cadre at the Pentagon that could have helped him avoid stepping on his junk before posting and embarrassing himself.
It’s obvious he must know everything and figured their input wasn’t needed…and suddenly he found himself in a mine field.
Hopefully they won’t get rid of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club of such sloppy medals. I mean who hangs an Army Cross like that? Clearly the Silver Stars and Purple Hearts are too close to the Bronze Star for Valor, and that big medal around his neck just looks dumb.
Seriously though, if he has done nothing other than Colmar Pocket (at 19! For God sakes) he would merely be a legendary warrior worthy of the highest praise but he went so much farther then so many that came before him. The idea that this cad, not even a soldier, can throw shade on one of America’s greatest heros who ever lived should have a lot of blow back.
I noticed during my deployments, to the wars to make people just like us, whenever I got stuck going to a FOB for a meeting, inevitably the Sergeant Major (Brigade, Battalion, whatever) had nothing to do and little to say. In hundreds of combat patrols the number of times I ran across a Sergeant Major in the wild = 0. The only time one even visited us was once after an event where we took several unfortunate casualties, and the Brigade Commander brought him along.
To me, It seemed they spent time putting up signs about how to use the toilet, figuring out replacement SNCOs for those that dick stepped and screwing some PAC clerk. Now that the wars are over, they have a job again of enforcement of regulations and maybe (for the better ones) being the enlisted advocate.
SMAJ’s were pretty surplusage in the Viet of the Nam, as well. I spent a large portion of my fifteen months, in the field, in two different divisions and a separate brigade. I never saw one in the wild either. They were either in the rear with the gear or occasionally on the fire support base with the battalion commander. Some liked to ride in his helo so they could qualify for air medals. One very REMFy one put himself in for a CIB claiming an RPG round went in one door and out the other of the Huey he was riding in during an airmobile op. Most of the ones I experienced were world class ass kissers of the BN or BDE C.O.’s.
Oh how badly do I miss CSM McIntosh. Put a life-sized poster of him in every barracks: “Be This Man”.
My second tour,2-2Inf OIFII, after the first month or so, the only SGM we would see was our BN and S3 SGM. Our Bn CSM once cursed out the Div CSM in our crappy little chow hall on his visit to our FOB because he was telling him that we needed to be doing area beautification. Wish I could have seen it. CSM Faulkenberg was a great guy and it sucked when he was killed during the battle of Fallujah.
If anyone has earned the right to wear their uniform with a little personal swagger, it’s Audie Murphy.
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz is a clown.
Cool story, Bro.
Now do Chesty Puller.
Yup! Hands in pockets and everything.
(Have a it Carlos! What do you say?!)
*POW!*, right in the kisser!
Chesty could piss in the potted palms and I wouldn’t say a damn word.
I dunno, looks like Air Force gloves to me.
Reticent to bash a fellow Jarhead as I usually am, the SMMC should stick to his own branch of service and to current regs. But if he feels so inclined to bust on someone, for God’s sake Devildog, use your brain and common sense and DO NOT pick on the most decorated American Combat veteran in history.
Wonder why he is not busting on WWII Marines (and other servicemen) who wore their covers tilted on their heads at a 45-degree angle?
E-9 Ruiz seems intent on showing he would not be worthy to hold Audie Murphys crank while he took a leak…
YMMV
How does a snarky teenage girl become Smage of tha Corps?
Also, glad fuckface here got all the black mold out the Bs.
[Google chrome(sic, not sic)wants to capitalize ‘black’ and ‘chrome’ in the worst way. Black is very rarely a proper noun still, right? “Proper” adjective? foad]
Idiot.
Well Hell, if the SMMC wanted to bust on somebody for improper wearing of awards, he should have used GYSGT Hartman’s picture as an example, since he’s wearing the NPUC (Navy Presidential Unit Citation) upside down in his ribbon rack. /s
I’m sure he would really draw some flak on a boner like that!!!!
Hartman had a Silver Star and two purple hearts. I’d give him a pass.
My unit (86th SIG) got a Navy PUC for supporting the Marines in the early days of Iraqi Freedom. I’ve seen it worn every way but vertically.
Dammit SgtMaj Ruiz! You just bought a SHIT TON OF GOODWILL with that awesome shit of showing up at Cpl Hundley’s PME graduation…and then you go and fuck it up.
Gotta bust out the old chestnut the shape sarges used to drop on us when we fucked in: “Good initiative, bad judgement.”
I wonder how many times this jackwaggon wouldn’t accept an apology from a subordinate. Some poor E3/4 steps on his own crank slightly, and this dude made his life hell.
Makes ya wanna go over to his house and bang his sister.
😂 maybe!
One day I noticed a bunch of O-1’s discussing pictures of their predecessors. One of the young ones asked me what I thought of the old pictures. I said I found it interesting how the pictures show how things change over time. Somehow I offended her; she harrumphed me and asked how could I, as a MSgt in the USAF, pardon the posting of pictures showing people violating the uniform regulations. I told the O-1 the people in the pictures conformed with the uniform regulations of their day; her friends waited until I had left before (I heard) they gave her a scolding for being an ass.
I’d change the second half to Twain’s quote to read something like:
It’s what you really don’t know but wanna act like a smug prick about, angering a NCO who spent their last fuck-to-give 2 enlistments ago.
{underbreath} water and bread rats in the brig sounds MF good right about now, I swear to grrrr.
SgtMaj, I seem to recall something in the Good Book about a splinter in your neighbor’s eye and a beam in your own.
In his official photograph (available here with a hi resolution available for download https://www.marines.mil/CM/Biographies/Bio-Display/Article/3489219/sergeant-major-carlos-a-ruiz/), I see that the MC Emblem on his right lapel is crooked as is the top button on his coat.
SgtMaj, fix yourself.
He also needs to shoot the pistol better, it being his T/E weapon and whatnot.
(Just my jaded opinion…)
Do you know how hard it is to shoot a pistol sideways out the window of your HMMV while driving by the target?
Perhaps this marine should pay more attention to the condition of marine barracks.
I’m sure that’s on his things to do list, but hasn’t gotten to it because he doesn’t live in those conditions.
His next big project will probably be trying to restore E9 and other parking privileges that are closer to the exchange and commissary.
In the immortal words of Bugs Bunny…
…WHAT A MAROON…
Maybe the current SMMC needs to stick to enforcing “GRROOOOOMING STANDARDS” for a while, another neat fact is that the USMC turned Audie Murphy down for being too small, but it turns out there was a lot of badass in that short frame and body!
SgtMaj Ruiz is NOT a stickler for uniform regs. Just look at Dakota Meyer’s reenlistment photo – wearing the ribbon AND medal for the Medal of Honor, at the same time, in a uniform that does not authorize wearing of medals (only ribbons and badges), per regulation.
The blurred picture of Audies Murphy is retarded, too. This is just dumb all around.
Google search famous. He truly stepped hard. Great job Sgt. Major.
Leaves me wondering if the CMC has (or will) find it necessary to pull him aside and have a discussion. E9 Ruiz has blemished the reputation of the Corps after disparaging a hero of another branch and of the entire country. He should be sent back wherever he came from and resume his life as a civilian and move the f*ck on.
From what I recall, Jonn had a very strong disdain for E-9s. He’d group almost all “Sergeant Majors” into one collective piss pot. I’ll admit, I’ve been Army-fied to the point where I pluralize the “Sergeant” (Sergeants Major, etc.), but Jonn had none of that.
I worked with some good ones, some bad ones, and a lot of one who were just there. By and large, the SGM — and especially CSM — seems to exist to make the lives of subordinate personnel difficult. Some focus on junior enlisted, a lot of them focus on junior NCOs, others focus on SFC-1SGs, and a few even focus on fellow E-9s. I recall CSM Edd Watson being pretty blunt with the CSM of 2nd BDE, 3ID when I first arrived. Later, during EIB validation, he laid into my battalion CSM, within eyesight but definitely within hearing range. I’ve met laid-back SGMs/CSMs (usually at the battalion level or in OPS SGM positions) who figure they’ve made it to the top of the heap, but there’s a huge difference between those wearing a star and wreath and serving alongside a GO and those working with a LTC or even COL or heading S/G/J-3.
“I pluralize the “Sergeant” (Sergeants Major, etc.),
The grammar Nazi in me says ThankYouThankYou! One of my pet peeves is “Attorney GeneralS”
Oops…
Perhaps at some point he touched up his shoe with a crayon. The smell overpowered him and, well….
Isn’t this the same guy who recently showed a considerable sense of humor when showing up for the graduation ceremony of Corporal Andrew Hundley?
I’ll cut him some slack but he’s on his own after that!
In my experience, Marines have a blind spot when it comes to a non-marine hero. They all know Chesty Puller. I was talking to a marine and referenced a decorated Army hero and his response was “Who?’. It might have been Alvin York or Murphy I don’t remember who (whom?). Not a knock on Marines, it’s a part of the training I believe.
I was talking to a friend yesterday who was also in the Old Guard years ago. Apparently members of the Old Guard are required to know the location of many grave sites and Audie Murphy’s is at the top of the list as it is one of the top three most visited in Arlington with only TotUS and Kennedy being more visited.
I showed him the article and he thought it was rather amusing. He said Audie probably wouldn’t make the uniform standards for service in TOG but he could have out fought anyone there on his worst day and their best.
oh, but he did mean disrespect. Shooting his mouth off about shit he doesn’t know.