I was a reservist who went operation Iraqi Freedom, I have felt a simmering hate between some civilian services and the military. Some services will not hire or give credit for time served as a medic or combat lifesaver. Others want to deny we are even at war.
I started wearing pins on my uniform more out of protest to that type of thinking, I wear small pins and a Iraqi Freedom vet. badge on my jacket. the service I work in has no "class A's" since it is a small young service. I would wear my awards and ribbons on my class A's as we are cross over service personnel.(I practiced pre-hospital medicine in the military)
I believe that military service is the highest form of civil service. Awards won and honours earned should be recognized by all civilian services. I received several good conduct medals and proficiency medals, how can one reason that my behavior over the last decade has no reflection on the type of medic I am now? I believe it shows that the Prior service medics, and combat lifesavers now serving on the civilian side have a special dedication to the art of healing and not just a scoop and transport mentality. A dedication worth recognizing...we've done our time in hell and we're still here to help joe public with their boo boo's. I am one of the first veterans that the public has seen in my area. I get many questions and have the opportunity to account for our work "over there", I feel a special respect from some members of the public and have been thanked for my service. I had one person question my abilities as a medic as he was frightened and wanted the best care and as I proficiently went about my job he noticed my pin and asked about it. He said it put him at ease as he figured I had handled worse in that hell hole. Thats been the majority of my experiences wearing the pins and badges. It has not been sanctioned by my ambulance company but it has not been discouraged either. I think that tasteful use of these pins and badges are a good idea ...even a needed act as we need to be aware of veterans and thankful for the freedom they have bought with their time, energies, bodies and for some even their lives.