could waive the above requirements in cases when Navy personnel demonstrate exceptional skill, knowledge, and leadership while providing support to the Marine Corps in a combat environment. In the mid-1990s, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jeremy Boorda, granted the title (FMF) to enlisted personnel who had earned the ribbon, e.g., HM2 (FMF) John Doe, USN. This put the Navy FMF Ribbon on par with Navy enlisted warfare qualification breast insignia such as Surface Warfare, Air Warfare, Submarine, etc. The designation also provided the recipient two additional points toward advancement in rate. Although naval sailors who earned the FMF Ribbon can use the "(FMF)" designator after their rate, but they are not allowed to wear the FMF badge until re-qualifying by completing the battery of tests required to wear the FMF badge. Discontinuation Effective October 1, 2006, the Fleet Marine Force Ribbon became obsolete as a result of the creation and promulgation of the Fleet Marine Force Qualified Officer Insignia and Fleet Marine Force Enlisted Warfare Specialist Insignia programs a few years prior. However, those who were awarded the FMF Ribbon can continue to wear it. See also Obsolete military awards of the United States Military awards of the United States Department of the Navy Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia References External links Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual - https://web.archive.org/web/20100918020113/https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webdoc01.nsf/(vwDocsByID)/DL060927142728/$file/1650.1H.pdf Awards established in 1984 Awards disestablished in 2006 Awards and decorations of the United States Navy Military ribbons of the United States