We dont need no stinkin badges!

[SailNaked]

OK so you have been doing the instruction game awhile and now you have a pile of nice badges that came with your certifications. If you do a search here on SB you will discover that there is a stigma against displaying them proudly on a dive trip. OK so what do you do with them? There is not any rank in diving but we do say things like a "higher level of diving" so how come I cant display my badges? I earned them, they gave them to me? and they might save me from listening to a nublits silly story about the time he dove to 60 ft and almost died when he discovered he had 300# of air.

I do not want to be the "look at me, I'm the Dude" kind of thing but I would like it known That I can teach 10 specialties if that were the case.

My latest idea is to sew them to my dive bag, that way it is not in your face on my chest or anything, but subtle. any thoughts Ideas on placement of the badges or should I just toss them and . unfortunately I was in the USMC and I like the Badges, What am I to do?

 

[redacted]

You could sew them on the inside of your dive bag.

 

[paddler3d]

The military is different than the rest of the world. We wore everything on our uniforms.

Civilian world, not so much. They see it as pretentious or a liability.

I think if I ran a Dive Op of some sort, I'd make the staff wear them as a function of their uniforms, but that is about it.

Make a plaque of them and keep them with with your military medals. That is where mine go.

Impress others with your diving skills and knowledge, not the badges you wear.

 

[TMHeimer]

I'm not even a DM yet, but I did sew my MSD patch on a ball cap and wear it at times when I'm nowhere near divers. You're right-you can never wear them around divers. No answer...When I finally complete DM guess I'll just have to buy another cap.

 

[paddler3d]

I'm not even a DM yet, but I did sew my MSD patch on a ball cap and wear it at times when I'm nowhere near divers. You're right-you can never wear them around divers. No answer...

Because they would call you a .

 

[TMHeimer]

Because they would call you a .

Can't argue with that.

 

[paddler3d]

Can't argue with that.

Sorry that was just too easy. A case of typing turrets.

 

[Walter]

What am I to do?

Do what you want. It's unlikely anyone will give you any grief over it.

 

[DCBC]

That's a good question. When I first started SB I listed my agencies and instructor numbers in my signature. I thought that it would help me relate where I was coming from and the time frame of my certifications would help people understand my perspective. That didn't go over very well, so I removed them. Now I have to go through conversations like the one you suggested SnailNaked, usually more than once with different people.

It's not about bragging rights; I'm too old for such nonsense. You make an interesting observation. To answer your question, I haven't wore badges since leaving the Navy.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

Badges are okay, but sponsors are better!

The only part of your plan that might backfire is that the badges earned in diving today don't really mean much to anyone, so you could sew your badges to your wetsuit, your gear bag, or wear a jacket and you still won't impress the 16 year-old open water diver who thinks he knows everything because he is "comfortable" in the water or the resort DM who isn't familiar with the training standards or philosophies of any organization other than PADI. So, if you possessed a GUE Tech 3 C-card it wouldn't mean a thing to most people. You'll still be listening to the nublits silly stories.

As you age and gain experience, the "nublits" become instructors, trimix divers, and agency directors.