"V" device

Last updated

"V" device
"V" device, brass.svg
Bronze "V" device
TypeRibbon device
Awarded forHeroism in combat [N 1]
Presented byUnited States
StatusIn use
Established22 December 1945 (22 December 1945)
Precedence
Next (lower) "C" device [1] [2] [3]

A "V" device is a metal 1⁄4-inch (6.4 mm) capital letter "V" with serifs which, when worn on certain decorations awarded by the United States Armed Forces, distinguishes a decoration awarded for combat valor or heroism from the same decoration being awarded for a member's actions under circumstances other than combat. [4]

Contents

The decorations with which a "V" may be authorized differ among the military services, as well as the manner in which the "V" is worn and the name by which it is referred to. Until 2017, each service also used different criteria in determining whether a "V" could be authorized. [N 1] [5]

Etymology

The Department of Defense, Army, and Air Force refer to the "V" as the "V" device. [6] [7] The Coast Guard refers to it as the Valor Device, [8] while the Navy and Marine Corps refer to it as the Combat Distinguishing Device or Combat "V". [9] When referring to a medal that has been awarded with the "V" device, it is often referred to as having been awarded "with valor".

History

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps ribbon of the Achievement Medal with "V" device denoting combat bravery; the "V" device ceased being awarded with Achievement Medals in late 2016. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon with "V" device.svg
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps ribbon of the Achievement Medal with "V" device denoting combat bravery; the "V" device ceased being awarded with Achievement Medals in late 2016.

On 22 December 1945, in War Department Circular 383, the United States Army decided to introduce the "V" device to distinguish the award of a Bronze Star Medal for acts of valor and heroism, rather than meritorious service. [10] Soldiers, including Army airmen, who were awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism in combat were now authorized to wear a bronze "V" on the suspension and service ribbon of the medal. Only one "V" was allowed to be worn on a ribbon. The Department of the Navy introduced the "V" as the "Combat Distinguishing Device", and on 15 February 1946, authorized the "V" device to be worn on the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal for services or acts performed in actual combat with the enemy; in February 1947, this was changed to acts or services involving direct participation in combat operations. Most World War II veterans who were entitled to the "V" probably did not know about or apply for the device, since large-scale separations from the services were taking place after the war ended. Stocks of the device also were not available for issue for at least a year after the issuance of the Army circular. [10]

To be worn on a decoration, the "V" device must have been specifically authorized in the written award citation issued with the medal. In 1996, the "V" device garnered public attention after the suicide of Admiral Jeremy Boorda, who was the Chief of Naval Operations. The news media reported that his death by suicide may have been caused by a Navy investigation following a story by Newsweek about Boorda wearing two "combat valor pins" on the service ribbons of his uniform, which he received for duty as a weapons officer and executive officer aboard two naval ships off the coast of Indochina during the Vietnam War. [11] Although there were indications these "combat distinguishing devices" were authorized to be worn on his Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal, the Department of the Navy Board For Correction of Naval Records determined after his death that both of the devices were not authorized to be worn on the two decorations. [12]

In 2011, the Department of Defense changed its awards manual regulations concerning the Medal of Honor (MOH), specifying that the "V" device instead of the oak leaf cluster and 5⁄16 inch star would be used to denote additional citations in the rare event of a service member being awarded a second MOH. By May 2015, the Department of Defense changed its awards manual again concerning the MOH, specifying that a separate MOH is presented to an individual for each succeeding act that justifies an award. There has not been a living repeat MOH recipient since the World War I era, so the "V" device has yet to be worn in this fashion by a living recipient.[ citation needed ]

Until 2017, the criteria and conditions under which the "V" device could be awarded differed among the services. For the Army, the "V" was worn solely to denote "participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy". [6] For the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the "V" could be worn to denote combat heroism, or to recognize individuals who were "exposed to personal hazard during direct participation in combat operations". [13] [9] For the Air Force, the "V" could be worn on the Bronze Star Medal to denote heroism in combat, but also on the Commendation Medal and Achievement Medal to denote heroism or for being "placed in harm's way" during contingency deployment operations.

Prior to 1 January 2014, the device was also authorized on Outstanding Unit Awards and Organizational Excellence Awards to indicate the unit participated in direct combat support actions. [7] The "V" device is also authorized for the Air Medal by all the services where heroism in aerial combat was involved on an individual mission. On 15 August 2016, the Coast Guard changed their criteria such that new awards of the "V" would be for valor only, to denote a heroic act or acts while participating in conflict or combat with an armed enemy. [8] On 6 January 2016, the Department of Defense announced that it was revising its military decorations and awards program to include a "V" device change to its original 1940s use of denoting heroism in combat only on specific decorations for the military services. [2] [14] Two new "C" and "R" devices will also be used on relevant awards. [2] [14]

Device changes

On 2 February 2017, new silver-plated and gold-plated "V" devices were introduced, followed by wreathed versions in September [4] which led to speculation that the various versions of the "V" device would now indicate how many times a specific medal was awarded with the "V." [14] The U.S. Air Force uniform regulations update of 15 April 2019, was the first to describe and depict the new "V" devices as follows: [15]

On 21 December 2016, the "V" device ceased being authorized for Achievement Medals. [16] [17] Retroactive to January 2016, the "V" device ceased being authorized for the Legion of Merit, being replaced by the "C" device. [18] [19]

Decorations eligible for the "V" device

Currently, the following decorations of the United States Armed Forces are eligible to be awarded with a "V" device. [16] [18] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26]

DecorationArmy [16] [6] Naval Service [16] [9] Air and Space
Forces [16] [7] 		Coast
Guard [8] 		DoD
Joint Service [3]
Distinguished Flying Cross Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Bronze Star Medal Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Air Medal Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg
Commendation Medals Yes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svgYes check.svg

Army, Air Force and Space Force

For the Army and the Air Force, the "V" is positioned to the right of any bronze or silver oak leaf clusters from the wearer's perspective, or positioned in the center of the service ribbon if worn alone. [27] [15]

Valor device.svg
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg
Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for valor
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Bronze Star Medal, two awards, of which at least one was for valor
Air Medal ribbon.svg Award numeral 3.svg "V" device, brass.svg Air Medal (Army), three awards, of which at least one was for valor (Army uses bronze award numerals)
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Medal ribbon.svg
Air Medal (Air Force), three awards, of which at least one was for valor (Air Force uses oak leaf clusters)
Valor device.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Force Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Air Force Commendation Medal, four awards, of which at least one was for valor

Only 4 devices may be worn per ribbon; an additional ribbon is worn to the wearer's left when necessary to support additional devices: [27] [15]

Valor device.svg
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg 		Army Commendation Medal, nine awards, of which at least one was for valor
Valor device.svg
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg
Army Commendation Medal, ten awards, of which at least one was for valor

For the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, the "V" is always worn in the center of the service ribbon, while any gold or silver 5⁄16 Inch Stars are added in balance to the right and left of the "V" starting with the right side from the wearer's perspective. [28] [29] [30] Marine Corps refer to it as Combat Distinguishing Device. The Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard continue to award and issue the bronze version. The Marine Corps allows anodized medals and anodized Combat "V"s to be worn on the dress blues uniform.

Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for valor
Bronze Star Medal ribbon with "V" device, 1st award.svg 1 golden star.svg Bronze Star Medal, two awards, of which at least one was for valor
Air Medal ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg Award Numeral 3 golden.png Air Medal, three awards, of which at least one was for valor (The gold award numeral 3 on the left denotes three individual awards of the Air Medal (only for Navy and Marine Corps))
Air Medal ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Air Medal, three awards, of which at least one was for valor (Coast Guard uses award stars)
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon with "V" device, 1st award.svg 1 golden star.svg Award-star-silver-3d.png 1 golden star.svg Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, eight awards, of which at least one was for valor
U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medal ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Coast Guard Commendation Medal, five awards, of which at least one was for valor

Combined with Arabic numerals

Golden or brass Arabic numerals may be used to indicate the total number of times the medal was awarded if the total number of devices, of any types, exceed 4 total devices and would thus not fit on a single ribbon. [3]

Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Total of four awards, of which at least one was for valor
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg Award numeral 5 golden.png Total of five awards, of which at least one was for valor
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg Award numeral 9.png Total of nine awards, of which at least one was for valor

Notable recipients

See also

Explanatory notes

  1. 1 2 From 1945 until 2 February 2017, criteria varied among the services for the award of a medal with the "V" device. While the Army awarded the "V" solely to denote "participation in acts of heroism involving conflict with an armed enemy," the Navy and Marine Corps also awarded the "V" to recognize individuals who are "exposed to personal hazard during direct participation in combat operations", and the Air Force included provisions for awarding the "V" to members who were "placed in harm's way" during contingency deployment operations.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronze Star Medal</span> United States Armed Forces decoration award

The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legion of Merit</span> Military award of the US Armed Forces

The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight uniformed services of the United States as well as to military and political figures of foreign governments.

The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth version existing for acts of joint military service performed under the Department of Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navy Unit Commendation</span> US Navy award

The Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) is a United States Navy and United States Coast Guard unit award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944.

The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) is a United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States Marine Corps military decoration awarded to United States sea service members "who have actively participated in ground or surface combat." Coast Guardsmen, Navy sailors, and Marines active in clandestine, stealth or special operations are deemed eligible for consideration of the award. The ribbon is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps with a rank no higher than captain and colonel, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces</span> Military awards and decorations of the US

The awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces include various medals, service ribbons, ribbon devices, and specific badges which recognize military service and personal accomplishments of members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Medal</span> Military decoration of the United States Military

The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.

The Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize outstanding achievement or meritorious service of military personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal.

The Air and Space Training Ribbon (ASTR) is the lowest military award of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, ranking only above foreign military awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marksmanship ribbon</span> United States Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard award

A marksmanship ribbon is a United States Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard award that is issued to its members who pass a weapons qualification course and achieve an above-average score. Additionally, there are select state National Guard organizations that award marksmanship ribbons for high placement in state-level marksmanship competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oak leaf cluster</span> Award

An oak leaf cluster is a ribbon device to denote preceding decorations and awards consisting of a miniature bronze or silver twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem. It is authorized by the United States Armed Forces for a specific set of decorations and awards of the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, and Department of the Air Force.

<sup>5</sup><small>/</small><sub>16</sub> inch star Award

A 5⁄16 inch star (9.7mm) is a miniature gold or silver five-pointed star that is authorized by the United States Armed Forces as a ribbon device to denote subsequent awards for specific decorations of the Department of the Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A gold star indicates a second or subsequent decoration, while a silver star is worn in lieu of five gold stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Service star</span> Military decoration

A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star 3⁄16 inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. The service star may also be referred to as a campaign star or battle star depending on which award the star is authorized for and the manner in which the device is used for the award. "Battle star" is also the term used to refer to decorations issued by the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War to individual ships, recognizing a vessel's participation in a particular battle or operation.

An Arabic numeral device or numeral device sometimes called an "award numeral", is a United States Armed Forces service device that may be authorized for wear on specific service ribbons and suspension ribbons of medals. Arabic numeral devices are bronze or gold in color and are 3⁄16 inch in height.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Conduct Medal (United States)</span> United States military award

The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States Armed Forces. The U.S. Navy's variant of the Good Conduct Medal was established in 1869, the Marine Corps version in 1896, the Coast Guard version in 1923, the Army version in 1941, and the Air Force version in 1963; the Air Force Good Conduct Medal was temporarily discontinued from February 2006 to February 2009, followed by its subsequent reinstatement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marksmanship badges (United States)</span> US military and civilian decoration

In the United States (U.S.), a marksmanship badge is a U.S. military badge or a civilian badge which is awarded to personnel upon successful completion of a weapons qualification course or high achievement in an official marksmanship competition. The U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps are the only military services that award marksmanship qualification badges. However, marksmanship medals and/or marksmanship ribbons are awarded by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Air Force for weapons qualifications. For non-military personnel, different U.S. law enforcement organizations and the National Rifle Association (NRA) award marksmanship qualification badges to those involved in law enforcement. Additionally, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and the NRA award marksmanship qualification badges to U.S. civilians. Most of these organizations and the U.S. National Guard award marksmanship competition badges to the people they support who succeed in official competitions.

The Citation Star was a Department of War personal valor decoration issued as a ribbon device which was first established by the United States Congress on July 9, 1918. When awarded, a 3⁄16-inch (4.8 mm) silver star was placed on the suspension ribbon and service ribbon of the World War I Victory Medal to denote a Citation (certificate) for "Gallantry In Action" was awarded to a soldier, or to a marine or attached to the Army's Second Division, American Expeditionary Forces. The Citation Star was replaced in 1932 with the introduction of the Silver Star Medal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces Reserve Medal</span> United States military service award

The Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM) is a service medal of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1958. The medal recognizes service performed by members of the reserve components and is awarded to both officers and enlisted personnel. The medal is considered a successor award to the Naval Reserve Medal and the Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon, which were discontinued in 1958 and 1965, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Civil Actions Medal</span> Award

The Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal also known as the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal or Civil Actions Medal, is a military decoration of the former South Vietnamese government (1955–75). The medal was created on May 12, 1964 during the Vietnam War. The Civil Actions Medal was awarded to the South Vietnamese military and its allies' military personnel or units that performed outstanding achievements in the field of civil affairs. The medal was awarded in two classes, with the first-class intended for commissioned officers and the second class for enlisted personnel. Individuals who were cited received the medal, ribbon, and a citation.

The United States Armed Forces authorize certain medal and ribbon devices that may be worn if authorized on a defined set of United States military decorations and awards. The devices vary between 3⁄16 inch to 13⁄32 inch in size and are usually attached to suspension and service ribbons of medals and to unit award ribbons. The devices are usually made of brass or metal alloys that appear gold, silver, or bronze in color with either a dull or polished look. The devices may denote additional awards of the same decoration or award, an award for valor or meritorious combat service, participation in a particular campaign, periods of honorable service, specific events, and other special meanings. These are sometimes referred to as award devices, but are most commonly referred to in service regulations and Department of Defense instructions simply as "devices" for awards and decorations.

References

  1. ↑ "DoD Military Decorations and Awards Review Results (1-36)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Ferdinando, Lisa (7 January 2016). "Pentagon Announces Changes to Military Decorations and Awards Program". DoD News. U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 DOD Manual 1348.33, Volume 4, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DOD Joint Decorations and Awards Archived 28 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine , U.S. Department of Defense, dated 20 October 2020, last accessed 25 October 2020
  4. 1 2 "Ribbon Attachment, Letter 'V'". MIL-DTL-41819/3J. Defense Logistics Agency. 2 February 2017.
  5. ↑ Burgess, Lisa (26 October 2006). "Pentagon reviewing 'V' device for consistency". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "Army Regulation 600–8–22 Military Awards" (PDF). United States Army. 24 June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 "AFI 36-2803 Air Force Military Awards and Decorations Program" (PDF). 18 December 2013. p. 218. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "COMDTINST M1650.25E Medals and Awards Manual" (PDF). 15 August 2016. pp. 1–23. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 "SECNAVINST 1650.1H" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  10. 1 2 "The "V" Device" (PDF).
  11. ↑ Newsweek, "Beneath the Waves", 5/26/96
  12. ↑ "Board for Correction of Naval Records" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
  13. ↑ DOD Manual 1348.33, Volume 3, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards: DODWide Personal Performance and Valor Decorations, U.S. Department of Defense, dated 13 October 2020, last accessed 25 October 2020
  14. 1 2 3 Dizzle, Kirk (16 March 2016). "New V, C and R devices". DD214 Blog. Medals of America. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  15. 1 2 3 AFI36-2903: Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel Archived 14 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine , dated 23 April 2019, last accessed 21 May 2019
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Dickstein, Corey (31 March 2017). "Pentagon implements 'C' and 'R' awards devices, removes 'V' from 2 awards". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  17. ↑ Levine, Peter (21 December 2016). "Section 3: Award Requirements and Restrictions" (PDF). DoD Instruction 1348.33: DoD Military Decorations and Awards Program. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017. Includes Army Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Air Force Achievement Medal.
  18. 1 2 deGrandpre, Andrew; Panzino, Charlsy (30 March 2017). "12 military awards now eligible for new 'C' and 'R' devices, and 2 no longer rate a 'V'". Military Times. Virginia. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  19. ↑ Dickstein, Corey (31 March 2017). "Pentagon implements 'C' and 'R' awards devices, removes 'V' from 2 awards". Stars and Stripes. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  20. ↑ Panzino, Charlsy (7 August 2017). "Soldiers may be eligible for the new 'C' or 'R' devices on 12 awards. Here's how to apply" . Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  21. ↑ "C and R devices". HRC. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  22. ↑ "AF releases criteria for new valor "V", combat "C" and remote "R" devi". Air Force. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  23. ↑ "Award Devices - Valor "V," Combat "C" and Remote "R"". Air Reserve Personnel Center. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  24. ↑ "Army announces "C" and "R" medal devices because everybody needs a trophy". U.S Army WTF Moments!. 16 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  25. ↑ Hodge Seck, Hope (31 October 2017). "Sailors, Marines Now Eligible for New Award Devices". Military.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  26. ↑ Panzino, Charlsy (7 August 2017). "Air Force releases awards criteria for new 'C' and 'R' devices". Air Force Times. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  27. 1 2 "Department of the Army Pamphlet 670–1 Uniform and Insignia Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia" (PDF). United States Department of the Army. 25 May 2017. §20–11; p. 253; PDF p. 271. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 2018-09-09.
  28. ↑ "Chapter Five Identification Badges/Awards/Insignia" (PDF). United States Navy Uniform Regulations. United States Navy, Bureau of Personnel. pp. 5–48. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  29. ↑ "Uniform Regulations COMDTINST M1020.6G" (PDF). United States Coast Guard. March 2012. pp. 3–100, 3–104. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  30. ↑ "5. Bronze Letter "V" (Combat Distinguishing Device)". Navy Personnel Command > Support & Services > US Navy Uniforms > Uniform Regulations > Chapter 5 > 5301 - 5319 Awards. January 2015. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2017. The bronze letter "V" may be worn on the following ribbons if the citation specifically authorizes the "V" for valor (heroism): Decorations awarded prior to 1974: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. Decorations awarded after 1974: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal. Wear only one "V". Arrange gold, bronze or silver stars, or the oak leaf cluster indicating subsequent awards of the medal (except Air Medal <(see article 5319.7)>, in a horizontal line beside the "V" symmetrically in the center of the suspension ribbons of large and miniature medals (position as detailed below). Arrange them in a horizontal line on the ribbon bar with the "V" in the center and the first star to the wearer's right, the second to the wearer's left, and so on.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.