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USMC prototype collar insignia info


ComputerChris
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ComputerChris

Howdy everyone! So, My boss bought out a big military collection back around April of 2015. One of the items in the group was a set of USMC Collar Tabs that are apparently some sort of prototypes that had all been destroyed except two pairs.

 

Here's the info on the little cards that were in the riker case.:

USMC. Enlisted Collar Insignia Type 2 Prototype No # 047823 HQ USMC Evaluation Unit TM - & MA 1971

 

Only 600 pair manufactured by NS Meyer NY NY 598 pairs destroyed 1971

 

Now I've researched these things and haven't been able to find much of anything. Anyone know anything about this particular prototype?

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SgtMaddoxUSMC

Don't know anything about them but those are pretty cool! Would love to have a pair of those in my collection! How did you learn that only two sets survived?

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Evidently, Vanguard made them too, or I have the other Myers set just stuck on a Vanguard card. My son picked these up for me at a gun show years ago. I always thought these were for Marine JROTC, but I never really knew for sure what they actually were.

 

As Sgt Maddox said, whatever they are, "they are pretty cool".

 

Thanks for posting your set let's see if someone can positively ID them.

 

 

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I suspect they were indeed intended for JROTC, or the Devil Pups or similar agency. They don't look high enough quality for service uniforms, and I can't imagine the Corps contemplating going away from the traditional collar devices. Very neat discussion piece, though, and I wouldn't turn them away from my collection, but I feel they are not for the actual force

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SgtMaddoxUSMC

You would also think if they were in fact meant to be used with our service uniform that they would have screw-posts not clutch backs. But yeah I could see JROTC utilizing something like this. I know they have their own unique rank insignia so it would make sense.

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teufelhunde.ret

I suspect they were indeed intended for JROTC, or the Devil Pups or similar agency. They don't look high enough quality for service uniforms, and I can't imagine the Corps contemplating going away from the traditional collar devices. Very neat discussion piece, though, and I wouldn't turn them away from my collection, but I feel they are not for the actual force

Ditto, strictly un-official, JROTC use or the like.

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ComputerChris

Don't know anything about them but those are pretty cool! Would love to have a pair of those in my collection! How did you learn that only two sets survived?

 

These were in the little case with the insignia.

 

 

Thank you everyone for your help!

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shrapneldude

I don't think "598" of 600 were destroyed on these.

Here's a set I got Identified the same way. If memory serves, these were for adult volunteers for the Marine Corps League program called Young Marines. I could be wrong on that, but I don't think they were actually USMC issued, and in such low numbers as were identified as you and I got them. Then again, I'd love to be proven wrong because that would make them super cool, I just have never seen any evidence to the contrary and every person I've shown these to has said "Young Marines" or JROTC, same as yours. I suppose the real question is -- who started this "experimental collar insignia" rumor, and why did so many sets get sold with this mis-identification attached to them like this?

 

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ComputerChris

I don't think "598" of 600 were destroyed on these.

Here's a set I got Identified the same way. If memory serves, these were for adult volunteers for the Marine Corps League program called Young Marines. I could be wrong on that, but I don't think they were actually USMC issued, and in such low numbers as were identified as you and I got them. Then again, I'd love to be proven wrong because that would make them super cool, I just have never seen any evidence to the contrary and every person I've shown these to has said "Young Marines" or JROTC, same as yours. I suppose the real question is -- who started this "experimental collar insignia" rumor, and why did so many sets get sold with this mis-identification attached to them like this?

 

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All we can figure is someone wanting to rip someone off. When we got it, it was part of a huge collection. the little case that has the buttons had a price of like 200$ (I doubt he paid it.) Some one was trying to turn a 10$ item into a major profit.

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I'm sure the term got applied as it often does. When something obscure but vaguely familiar appears, people seem to love to label it as "experimental" or "prototype"

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Not JROTC or Devil Pups - it is for adult members of Young Marines. The Marines don't even let Marine recruits wear an EGA so, while a patch with a small EGA in its design may be used for kids in JROTC or YM, the wearing of an EGA, even one on a disc, is reserved for former or active Marines serving as Registered Adults members of YM. The YM's regs call these:

 

"Young Marines Disc Insignia collar devices"

 

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Well...we didn't let recruits wear them, until the MARPAT, which has them embroidered. P.O.'d a lot of Marines at the time, and honestly I agree with them, despite having come in during the transition and being issued MARPAT's as a recruit

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