The United States Armed Forces awards and decorations are primarily the medals, service ribbons, and specific badges which recognize military service and personal accomplishments while
a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. Such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career.
U.S. military awards currently issued to service
members[edit]
Order of
precedence[edit]
The precedence of particular awards will vary slightly among the different branches of service. All awards and decorations may be awarded to any service member unless otherwise designated by name or
notation.[1]
Ribbon/award name[2] Personal decorations
| Awarded for "Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty" Medal of Honor
| Service cross medals – Awarded for "extraordinary heroism in combat" Army Distinguished Service Cross Navy Cross Air Force Cross Coast Guard Cross
| Distinguished service medals – Awarded for "exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility" Defense Distinguished Service Medal Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
| Awarded for "gallantry in action" Silver Star Medal
| Awarded for "superior or exceptionally meritorious service" Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit
| Awarded for "heroism or extraordinary achievement in aerial flight" Distinguished Flying Cross
| Medals for non-combat heroism Soldier's Medal Navy and Marine Corps Medal Airman's Medal Coast Guard Medal
| Awarded for heroism in combat zone or meritorious service in a war zone Bronze Star Medal
| Awarded for wounds suffered in combatPH Purple Heart
| Meritorious service and aviation medals Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal
| Air Medal
| Aerial Achievement Medal
| Commendation medals Joint Service Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Air Force Commendation Medal
Coast Guard Commendation Medal
| Achievement medals Joint Service Achievement Medal Army Achievement Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Air Force
Achievement Medal Coast Guard Achievement Medal
| Commandant's Letter of Commendation
| Combat action awards Navy Combat Action Ribbon Air Force Combat Action Medal Coast Guard Combat Action RibbonAlso see: Army combat badges
| Unit awards
| Presidential Unit Citations Army Presidential Unit Citation Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Presidential Unit Citation Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation
| Joint Meritorious Unit Award Army Valorous Unit Award Navy Unit Commendation Air
Force Gallant Unit Citation Coast Guard Unit Commendation
| Meritorious Unit Commendations Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation
| Army Superior Unit Award Air Force Outstanding
Unit Award DHS Outstanding Unit Award
| Efficiency Awards Navy "E" Ribbon Air Force Organizational Excellence Award Coast Guard "E" Ribbon
| Service awards
| Prisoner of War Medal
| Good conduct medals Army Good Conduct Medal Navy Good Conduct Medal Air Force Good Conduct Medal Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal
| Air Force Combat Readiness Medal
| Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year Ribbon
| Air Force Recognition Ribbon
| Continued on right column
|
|
Ribbon/award name[2] Campaign and service medals (cont.)
| Reserve service medals
Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal
| Expeditionary medals Navy Expeditionary Medal Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
| General service medals
| National Defense Service Medal
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
| Korea Defense Service Medal
| Armed Forces Service Medal
| Humanitarian Service Medal
| Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
| Special service medals
| Antarctica Service Medal
| Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
| Air and Space Campaign Medal
| Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
| Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
| Campaign and Expeditionary / Conflict Service Medals
| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
| Southwest Asia Service Medal
| Kosovo Campaign Medal
| Afghanistan Campaign Medal
| Iraq Campaign Medal
| Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
| Service and training awards
| Army Sea Duty Ribbon Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon Navy Arctic Service Ribbon
| Overseas service ribbons Army Overseas Service Ribbon Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon Coast Guard Overseas Service Ribbon Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon Air Force Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon
| Coast Guard Restricted Duty Ribbon Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
| Longevity ribbon Air Force Longevity Service Award
| Recruiting service and training service ribbons Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon Coast Guard Recruiting Service Ribbon Navy Accession Training Service Ribbon Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon Marine Corps Combat Instructor Ribbon Air Force Special Duty Ribbon
| Guard ribbons Navy Ceremonial Guard Ribbon Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon
| Professional development Ribbons Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon Air Force NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
| Basic training honor graduate ribbons Navy Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
Air Force Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon Coast Guard Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
| Training ribbons Army Service Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon
| Marksmanship
awards[3][4][5]
| Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
| Rifle Coast Guard Distinguished Marksman Award Coast Guard Silver Rifle Excellence-in-Competition Award Coast Guard Bronze Rifle Excellence-in-Competition Award Navy Expert Rifleman Medal Coast Guard Expert Rifleman Medal Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with
Sharpshooter Device Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with Sharpshooter Device Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon
| Pistol Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award Coast Guard Silver Pistol Excellence-in-Competition Award Coast Guard Bronze Pistol Excellence-in-Competition Award Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal Coast Guard Expert Pistol Shot Medal Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with
Sharpshooter Device Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with Sharpshooter Device Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon
|
|
Note: ^ The precedence of the Purple Heart was immediately before the Good Conduct Medals until changed to its current precedence in 1985.
Military
departments[edit]
- Inter-service
- Army
- Navy and Marine Corps
- Air Force and Space Force
- Coast Guard
To denote additional achievements or multiple awards
of the same decoration, the United States military maintains a number of award devices which are pinned to service ribbons and medals.
Inactive and obsolete
awards[edit]
U.S. military personnel having received these awards have participated within these areas of combat/conflict during the time these awards were given to U.S. service members. Such awards have since been discontinued or are no longer
applicable in terms of receiving these commendations.
Ribbon/award name Personal decorations Certificate of Merit Medal
| Marine Corps Brevet Medal
| Specially Meritorious Service Medal
| Reserve Special Commendation Ribbon
| Army Wound Ribbon
| Department of Transportation military awards Transportation Distinguished Service Medal
| Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award
| Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation
| 19th and early 20th century Commemorative Medals West Indies Naval Campaign Medal (Sampson Medal)
| Battle of Manila Bay Medal (Dewey Medal)
| United States Antarctic Expedition Medal
| 19th and early 20th century Campaign Medals Civil War Campaign Medal
| Indian Campaign Medal
| China Campaign Medal (Army) China Relief
Expedition Medal (Navy)
| Spanish–American War campaign and occupation medals Spanish Campaign Medal
| West Indies Campaign Medal
| Spanish War Service Medal
| Army of Cuban Occupation Medal
| Cuban Pacification Medal (Army) Cuban Pacification Medal (Navy)
| Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal
| Philippine–American War campaign medals Philippine Campaign Medal
| Philippine Congressional Medal
| Navy & Marine Corps expedition medals Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1912)
| Haitian Campaign Medal (1915 & 1920–1921)
| Dominican Campaign Medal (1916)
| Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1926-1930)
| Yangtze Service Medal
|
|
|
| Ribbon/award name World War I and Pre-World War I service medals Mexican Service Medal
| Mexican Border Service Medal
| World War I Victory Medal
| Army of Occupation of Germany Medal
| World War II and Pre-World War II service medals China Service Medal
| American Defense Service Medal
| Women's Army Corps Service Medal
| American Campaign Medal
| Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
| European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
| World War II Victory Medal
| Post World War II, Cold War Service, Occupation Medals Medal for Humane Action
| Army of Occupation Medal Navy Occupation Service
Medal
| Korean Service Medal
| Vietnam Service Medal
|
| Service and training awards Naval Reserve Medal
| Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon
| Fleet Marine Force Ribbon
| Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal
| Air Force Military Training Instructor Ribbon
| Air Force Recruiter Ribbon
| Marksmanship Navy Distinguished Marksman and Pistol Shot Ribbon
| Navy Distinguished Marksman Ribbon
| Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot Ribbon
|
|
Discontinued or proposed[edit]
The following decorations were designed for issuance with an approved medal, but were either never officially approved for presentation or were
discontinued before a first award could be made.
Ribbon/award name Personal decorations
| Distinguished Warfare Medal
| Combat service decorations
| Combat Recognition Ribbon
|
|
Ribbon/award name General service award
| Cold War Victory Medal
|
|
Single service awards[edit]
Single service awards were official military decorations created as one time awards to recognize a single event. The first such single service award was issued
during the Spanish–American War by the Revenue Cutter Service to honor the actions of the vessel USRC Hudson during the Battle of Cárdenas. The last single
service award was issued in 1960 when Congress authorized the awarding of the Four Chaplains' Medal recognizing the Four Chaplains who died together during World War
II.[6] There have been no single service awards issued since by the U.S. military, mainly due to the decline and complications of awarding commemorative service medals.
Ribbon/award name Personal valor decorations
| Four Chaplains' Medal
| Personal commemorative decorations
| Cardenas Medal of Honor
| NC-4 Medal
|
|
Ribbon/award name Exploratory commemorative decorations
| Peary Polar Expedition Medal
| Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal
| Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition Medal
|
|
Unofficial decorations[edit]
Unofficial decorations are those military awards created and issued by local commanders. In most cases, unofficial awards were designed to commemorate a
specific battle or engagement of a commander's unit. The most well known unofficial awards were issued during the American Civil War.
Ribbon/award name Civil War decorations
|
| Kearny Cross
| Kearny Medal
|
| Butler Medal
|
| Gillmore Medal
|
|
Ribbon/award name Research decorations
| Walter Reed Medal
|
|
After the Civil War, stricter military regulations prohibited local commanders from issuing awards and the practice had fallen into disuse by the 20th century. Even so, the Department of Defense has stated that large numbers of unofficial medals were privately issued to members of the Armed Forces of the United States for many years after the Civil War, mostly to
commemorate specific battles, events, or as private veteran memorabilia.[7] One of the more well known is the Walter Reed Medal (recognized today as a
Congressional Gold Medal), awarded for exploratory scientific achievement in the field of malaria treatment. While presented as a gold medallion, members of the military were reported to wear a red ribbon on their uniforms to denote the decoration.
Foreign and international awards[edit]
Foreign and international decorations are authorized for wear on United States military uniforms by the Department of Defense in accordance with established
regulations for the receipt of such awards as outlined by the State Department. In the case of foreign decorations, the awards may be divided into senior service decorations (awarded only to high ranking U.S. officers), heroic decorations for valor, and foreign service decorations.
There are hundreds of foreign and international awards which have been
approved for issuance to United States military personnel since World War I, the following being among the more common.
Ribbon/award name World War I
| French Legion of Honor
| British Order of the Bath
| French Military Medal
| French Croix de guerre
| Belgian Croix de guerre
| Czechoslovak
War Cross (1918)
| Caribbean & Central America (1920s & 1930s)
| Order of Abdon Calderón (Ecuador)
| Military Merit Medal (Haiti)
| Medal of Merit (Nicaragua)
| World War II (Europe)
| French Croix de guerre
| Belgian Croix de guerre
| Luxembourg War Cross
| Czechoslovak War Cross (1945)
| Luxembourg War Cross (Unit Citation)
| World War II (Pacific)
| Philippine Defense Medal
| Philippine Liberation Medal
| Philippine Independence Medal
| Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
| World War II (Senior Orders)
| Order of Adolphe of Nassau (Luxembourg)
| Order of the Aztec Eagle (Mexico)
| Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom)
| Order of the Crown (Belgium)
| Order of Leopold (Belgium)
| Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)
| Order of Ouissam Alaouite (Morocco)
| Order of Pao Ting (China)
| Order of Virtuti Militari (Poland)
| Order of the White Eagle (Poland)
| Order of the White Eagle (Yugoslavia)
| Order of William (Netherlands)
| Korean War - South Korea and the United Nations
| United Nations Service Medal
| Republic of Korea War Service Medal
| Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
|
|
Ribbon/award name Vietnam War - Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)
| RVN Army Distinguished Service Order
| RVN Navy Distinguished Service Order
| RVN Air Force Distinguished Service Order
| RVN Military Merit Medal
| RVN Gallantry Cross (with Palm)
| RVN Air Gallantry Cross
| RVN Navy Gallantry Cross
| RVN
Armed Forces Honor Medal
| RVN Civil Actions Medal (1st class)
| RVN Staff Service Medal
| RVN Special Service Medal
| RVN Training Service Medal
| RVN Presidential Unit Citation
| RVN Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm and frame
| RVN Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation with palm and frame (1st class)
| RVN Campaign Medal with 1960- device
| Persian Gulf War
| Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
| Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
| International Awards (20th Century)
| United Nations Medal
| Multinational Force and Observers Medal
| Inter-American Defense Board Medal
| NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)
| NATO Medal (Kosovo)
| NATO Medal (Non-Article 5)
| Senior Military Awards (21st Century)
| Aeronautical
Merit Cross (Peru)
| Cross of Honor (Germany)
| Khalifiyyeh Order of Bahrain
| Military Merit Order (United Arab Emirates)
| Order of the Crown of Thailand
| Order of the Date Palm (Iraq)
| Order of May (Argentina)
| Order of Merit (Germany)
| Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
| Order of National Security Merit (Korea)
| Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)
| Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil)
|
|
During the First and Second World Wars, the Croix de Guerre medals of France and Belgium, as well as the French Military Medal and Luxembourg War Cross, were further issued as unit citation cords, known as Fourragère. Service members could receive both the individual award and the unit cord; in the case of the later, the unit citation could either be worn temporarily
while a member of the unit or permanently if the service member was present during the actual battle which warranted the unit citation. A further unit citation cord of the Order of William of the Netherlands was also issued during World War II, and was far more commonly known as the "Orange Lanyard".
As of 2002, South Korea has again issued the Korean Presidential Unit Citation to certain units of the United States Marine Corps, thus placing this previously obsolete foreign award back on
the active order of precedence for U.S. decorations. Apart from this one decoration, most 21st century foreign military awards are reserved for only the most senior flag and general officers and then only presented as "end of tour" decorations upon transfer from a major command.
See
also[edit]
To display devices on Wikipedia pages, use Template:Ribbon devices.
- Awards and decorations of the United States government
- Merchant Marine
- Awards and decorations of the Public Health Service
- Awards and decorations of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
- Civilian decorations of the United States
- Awards and decorations of the National Guard
- Awards and decorations of the State Defense Forces
- Military decorations of the Cold War
- Awards and decorations of the Vietnam War
- United States military award devices
- Military badges of the United States
- Badges of the United States Air Force
- Badges of the United States Army
- Badges of the United States Coast Guard
- Badges of the United States Marine Corps
- Badges of the United States Navy
- Badges of the United States Space Force
- Obsolete badges of the United States military
- Identification badges of the Uniform Services of the United States
- Unofficial combat badges of the United States Army
- List of military decorations
- State
decoration
- Army-Navy "E" Award
- Medal inflation
References[edit]
- ^
"Nimber 1348.33, Volume 3" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. United States Department of Defense. 31 October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16
January 2015.
- ^
a b
//www.homeofheroes.com/medals/1_precedence.html Archived 16 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 24 February 2008.
- ^ OPNAVINST 3591.1F, Small Arms Training and Qualification Archived 22 May 2013 at the
Wayback Machine, Chief of Naval Operations, dated 12 August 2009, last accessed 5 May 2013
- ^ "COMDTINST
M1650.25D, Medals and Awards Manual, U.S. Coast Guard, dated May 2008, last accessed 5 May 2013" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 19 February
2012.
- ^ "U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulations, dated March 2012, last accessed 5 May 2013" (PDF).
Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 5 May
2013.
- ^ "The Institute of Heraldry – Army Chaplain Medal of Valor". Archived from the
original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
- ^ Price, James S. (2011). The Battle of New Market Heights: freedom Will Be Theirs by the Sword. Charleston, SC: The History Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-1-60949-038-6.
Further reading[edit]
- Foster, Frank C. (2002). A complete guide to all United States military medals, 1939 to present. Fountain Inn, S.C.: MOA Press.
ISBN 1-884-45218-3. OCLC 54755134.
- Kerrigan, Evans E. (1971). American war medals and decorations. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 0-670-12101-0. OCLC 128058.
- Kerrigan, Evans E. (1990). American medals and decorations. Noroton Heights, CT: Medallic. ISBN 0-792-45082-5. OCLC 21467942.
- Robles, Philip K. (1971). United States military medals and ribbons. Rutland, VT: C. E. Tuttle. ISBN 0-804-80048-0. OCLC 199721.
External links[edit]
- Decorations and Medals - Ribbons - Order of Precedence at the Institute of Heraldry website
- U.S. Army Symbols and Insignia
- The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army
- U.S. Navy Service and Campaign Medals
- Wear and Appearance of Army
Uniforms and Insignia (in PDF format)
- Military Awards (U.S. Army)(in PDF format) Archived 7 December 2003 at the
Wayback Machine
- SGM (USA, Ret.) Gregory A. Noller (1995). "ADVA Army Awards". Americal Division Veterans Association. Archived from the
original on 1 January 2012.
Which of the following medals has the highest precedents?
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that may be awarded by the United States government.
What device on a ribbon indicates additional awards received for participation in multiple campaigns?
The Bronze Service Star device is worn to indicate participation in campaigns or operations, multiple qualifications, or an additional award of the same medal or ribbon.
When you wear large medals as part of your full dress uniform you should place?
Manner of Wearing.
Large medals are worn on the service coat or jumper of Full Dress Blues and Full Dress White. When wearing more than one medal, suspend them from a holding bar that supports the medal's weight. Place the holding bar of the lowest row of medals in the same position as the lowest ribbon bar.
What is the authorized maximum fingernail length?
Fingernails shall not exceed 1/4 inch measured from the fingertip. They shall be kept clean. The tips of the nails may be round, almond/oval, or square in shape.
...
.