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I'm asking an honest question to vets with better memories than mine. Say you are in one branch of the military, and earn medals distinct to that branch. If you separate from that branch, and enlist in a different branch, are you allowed to wear the medals you were awarded in your prior branch? I thought the answer was "yes, in certain situations", but cannot remember.

I have a friend who was a Marine E4 (I think), activated reservist, during the assault into Kuwait during Desert Storm, earning his Combat Action Ribbon.

When he got home he decided that he wanted to stay in the uniformed services and become an officer, but didn't want to stay in the Marines as such and ended up going into the Coast Guard.

Fresh out of Yorktown as a newly-minted Coastie Ensign, he shows up at his first posting to find a grizzled old CPO licking his chops at an opportunity to break-in a new officer. Said CPO has a "holy-sh*t" moment when seeing my friend's CAR ribbon and asks "Prior service ... Sir?"