Military Uniform Help

[rosborne]

I found out I was awarded a couple awards since I turned in my gear to the Corps a few years ago. That had me thinking, I still do some stuff with our local veterans color guard and I've done a few Marine weddings for guys from the old Company. (Several ended up single while we were deployed so they're on their second award) So I'm thinking maybe I should get my medals and ribbons updated. I still take my wife to the Marine Corps Ball as well so my question to our active duty service members, Where are you guys getting your medals and ribbons mounted these days? Still through cash sales or the exchange or are you going online. I know you gents know where to go to get the best mount job.

 

[NavyLaw]

The best place that I have gone and the most reasonably priced is: www.ultrathin.com or www.superthinribbons.com. They have great prices and can do ribbons, medals (both large and small) as well as reversed ribbons for full dress. Hope this helps.

Steve

 

[VT_Hokie]

A trick I learned at military school (Valley Forge), is that if you were in a real tight pinch, and your ribbon mounts were busted, was to take a piece of thin clear plastic (the hard kind they use to package stuff at electronic stores and whatnot) or a piece of thin cardboard. You lay than behind the breast of your uniform and then perfectly align and press the ribbons in and attach the buttons and it will hold them perfectly straight.

I'm sure you're not pressed for time and you'll end up buying the mounts, but thats a neat little trick if you're ever in a pinch

 

[The Nid Hog]

I was just in the Marine Shop in Quantico the other day and it looks like they are running a very nice operation. It used to be a private business, but the Marines seem to have bought it. Here's a link to their webpage:

http://www.marineshop.net/page.cfm/How-To-Order.../medalmounting.html

Give them a call if you have any questions.

 

[luvmysuper]

I retired 14 years ago and still use the Uniform Shop on base.

 

[Coleman]

The best place that I have gone and the most reasonably priced is: www.ultrathin.com or www.superthinribbons.com. They have great prices and can do ribbons, medals (both large and small) as well as reversed ribbons for full dress. Hope this helps.

Steve

This is what I do. Great stuff. I've actually got a new NAM I need to update my rack with...

 

[rosborne]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I haven't had "thin ribbons" before and only saw them a few times. Haven't been to Quantico since about 2001 and may give them a try. The last I had mounted was at Camp Lejuene and they used regular medals I believe. The thin ribbons are different arent they? I've only seem them up close a time or two.

 

[charger02]

jaymilproducts.com I have used them ever since I saw their store on Okinawa. Expensive, but by far the best looking set of medals and ribbons I have owned.

 

[Coleman]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I haven't had "thin ribbons" before and only saw them a few times. Haven't been to Quantico since about 2001 and may give them a try. The last I had mounted was at Camp Lejuene and they used regular medals I believe. The thin ribbons are different arent they? I've only seem them up close a time or two.

Yea, they aren't your typical metal bar that the ribbons slide onto. More like a thin piece of cardboard that has the ribbon designs on it. Not sure how they do it (I'm pretty sure they don't paint them on... ) Then they attach any devices to the ribbons, as applicable (i.e. silver stars, bronze stars, etc). I like mine. A lot lighter, don't have to worry about the ribbons falling apart or staying on the bars.

 

[Sullybob]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. I haven't had "thin ribbons" before and only saw them a few times. Haven't been to Quantico since about 2001 and may give them a try. The last I had mounted was at Camp Lejuene and they used regular medals I believe. The thin ribbons are different arent they? I've only seem them up close a time or two.

Thin ribbons are great. You can order them with a magnet fastener so you won't have holes in your shirt.

I have also seen ribbons that are actually metal painted like ribbons. They don't wear out and get frayed like regular ribbons.

 

[NavyLaw]

Yea, they aren't your typical metal bar that the ribbons slide onto. More like a thin piece of cardboard that has the ribbon designs on it. Not sure how they do it (I'm pretty sure they don't paint them on... ) Then they attach any devices to the ribbons, as applicable (i.e. silver stars, bronze stars, etc). I like mine. A lot lighter, don't have to worry about the ribbons falling apart or staying on the bars.

They are basically the cloth of the ribbon that is wrapped around a thin piece of plastic which is then mounted to a piced of sturdier plastic but still very thin. They are incrediby light and look beautiful. The magnet fastenners are quite nice as stated by Sullybob. It is all a metter of preference. Good luck! Steve

 

[DoctorTattoo]

The best place that I have gone and the most reasonably priced is: www.ultrathin.com or www.superthinribbons.com. They have great prices and can do ribbons, medals (both large and small) as well as reversed ribbons for full dress. Hope this helps.

Steve

The only downfall I've run into with the ultrathin ones is if you recieve a new award that you didn't have before you need to get the entire rack remade. If you get an another one you already have then there is always superglue

Shawn

 

[rosborne]

OK, I'm convinced to give the thin ones a try. So lets narrow the conversation down to www.ultrathin.com vs www.superthinrobbons.com.

Which one produces the better quality. I prefer that the ribbons and medals actually have material and are not just painted of some sort of graphic. I'm an old school kinda guy and just going to these thin mounts is a big step for me.