I hear you HD, I have respect for all five branches. I was just referring to the whole ribbon for comlpeting basic thing. We did get rifle badges straight out of boot camp (marksman, sharpshooter, and expert), but that's all. Everyone except for a few graduated as an E-1. For the Marine Corps that's a slick sleeve. You leave basic with a rifle badge and nothing else. I understand that everyone rates a national defense now, but that's because we're at war. I think being awarded a ribbon for boot camp would just cheapen the award for me. What's the point of getting an award if everyone in your branch of the service, no matter how green they are, has the same one. I will say that, with the exception of the national defense, all things awarded to Marine have been earned. It is possible that things have changed in the eight years since I was discharged, though.