Gold frame

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A gold frame is an attachment to a military decoration which is issued by the militaries of some countries. The gold frame is designed to enclose an award ribbon and is usually a means of distinguishing the ribbon's special quality or denoting some additional achievement to the award's basic criteria.

Contents

The gold frame is normally an automatic attachment to a ribbon decoration. In certain cases, however, awards may be issued both with and without the gold frame depending upon the level of achievement. Such is the case in the United States Air Force which denotes the gold frame as a "gold border."

The gold frame and gold border is a device for ribbon awards only, and there are no provisions for issuing the attachment for medals.

Australia

The Australian Ministry of Defence created both unit awards in 1991 via Letters Patent. Unlike the U.S. awards, the Australian frames are flames, not laurel leaves. [1] [2]

AUS Unit Citation for Gallantry.png Unit Citation for Gallantry
AUS Meritorious Unit Citation.png Meritorious Unit Citation

Luxembourg

The Croix de Guerre unit award was given by Luxembourg to several units during World War II and the U.S. Army allowed soldiers attached to those units to wear the decoration as a temporary unit award. It is not worn with the frame by Luxembourg's military. The decoration was permitted by Department of the Army General Order No. 43. [3]

Luxembourg Croix de guerre unit.jpg Croix de Guerre unit award (Luxembourg)

Philippines

The award was first created in 1946 to honor U.S. military units and naval vessels that served in the defense and liberation of the Philippines. It has been awarded several times since including as recently as 2005. [4]

Philippines Presidential Unit Citation.png Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation

Republic of Vietnam

These awards were created by the Republic of Vietnam and were awarded to U.S. military members throughout the Vietnam War. [5]

Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam (Army sized).png Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Huy chương Tổng thốngState of Vietnam Friendship Ribbon
Gallantry Cross Unit Citation.png Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (Vietnam)Anh-Dũng Bội-Tinh
Civil Action Unit Citation.png Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation (Vietnam)Dân-Vụ Bội-Tinh

South Korea

This award has been given to U.S. military units since 1950. The award was also given to a number of United Nations member state's military units during the Korean War. [6] [7] [8]

Korean Presidential Unit Citation.png Presidential Unit Citation (Korea) 대통령부대표창

United States

Gold Frame / Border
Gold Award Frame Army.png


Gold Award Frame USAF USCG USPHS.png


US Army Gold Frame (above)
US Air Force / DHS / USPHS / Transportation (below)
TypeRibbon Device
Sponsored byFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army

Flag of the United States Department of Homeland Security.svg Department of Homeland Security
Flag of the United States Secretary of Defense.svg Department of Defense
Flag of the United States Public Health Service.svg United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

Flag of the United States Department of Transportation.svg Department of Transportation
StatusCurrently Awarded
Established1941

Air Force

The U.S. Air Force called the attachment a Gold Border and uses the wider version of the attachment. [9] The emblems are a consistent 1 7/16 inches wide and 7/16 inches tall with a gold frame that is 1/16 inch of laurel leaves. [10] Use of the border shows the ribbon was awarded to individuals who were engaged in conducting or supporting combat operations in a designated combat zone; without indicates a non-combat area only in the case of the AFESR. [11]

Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border.png Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon (May be issued without gold border)
AF Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.png Presidential Unit Citation (Version may be issued without gold border)

Army

The U.S. Army only uses the Gold frame attachment for unit awards in active service, reserve, national guard and state forces. The emblems are a consistent 1 7/16 inches wide and 9/16 inches tall with a gold frame that is 1/16 inch of laurel leaves. [12]

U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Presidential Unit Citation
Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg Valorous Unit Award (Army)
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)
Army Superior Unit Award ribbon.svg Superior Unit Award (Army)

Homeland Security

DHS Outstanding Unit Award.png DHS Outstanding Unit Award

Joint Service Awards

Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Public Health Service

USPHS PUC 2nd Award.svg Presidential Unit Citation (Public Health Service; A gold frame indicates a second award) [13]

Transportation Department

Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award ribbon.png Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award (USCG; now obsolete)

National Guard and State Guard Forces

SGAUS Superior Unit Citation.PNG State Guard Association of the United States Superior Unit Citation
MEMS Academy Unit Citation.PNG Military Emergency Management Specialist Academy Unit Citation
ASDF Outstanding Unit Ribbon.PNG Alabama State Defense Force Outstanding Unit Commendation
Alaska National Guard - Governor's Distinguished Unit Citation ribbon bar.svg Alaska Governors Distinguished Unit Citation
CA Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation.JPG California Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation
CA Commanding General's Meritorious Unit Citation.JPG California Commanding General's Meritorious Unit Citation
CASMR Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation.PNG California State Military Reserve Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation
DE National Guard Governors Meritorious Unit Award.png Delaware National Guard Governor's Meritorious Unit Award
DE National Guard Unit Strength Award.png Delaware National Guard Unit Strength Award
Florida Governor's Meritorious Unit Citation.gif Florida Governor's Meritorious Unit Citation
GA National Guard Distinguished Unit.png Georgia Distinguished Unit Ribbon
Georgia State Defense Force Outstanding Unit Citation Ribbon.jpg Georgia State Defense Force Outstanding Unit Citation
ID Governors Outstanding Unit.PNG Idaho Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation
ID Adjutant Generals Excellence Award.PNG Idaho Adjutant General's Excellence Award
Georgia State Defense Force Outstanding Unit Citation Ribbon.jpg Indiana Guard Reserve Superior Unit Citation
IANG Outstanding Unit Ribbon.png Iowa Outstanding Unit Award
FE Herbert Mer Unit Com.jpg Louisiana F.E. Herbert Meritorious Unit Commendation
MDNGAGDUR.JPG Maryland Adjutant General's Special Recognition Ribbon
MA Meritorious Unit Citation.png Massachusetts Meritorious Unit Citation
Mississippi State Guard Outstanding Unit Citation.jpg Mississippi State Guard Outstanding Unit Citation
NVNG Governor's Outstanding Unit Award.png Nevada Governor's Outstanding Unit Award
Njgua.jpg New Jersey Governor's Unit Award
Njusa.jpg New Jersey Unit Strength Award
New Mexico Outstanding Unit Citation.png New Mexico Outstanding Unit Citation
New York Guard Commander's Citation.jpg New York Guard Commander's Citation
Ncguc.jpg North Carolina Governor's Unit Citation
Ncmuc.jpg North Carolina Meritorious Unit Citation
Ncoua.jpg North Carolina Outstanding Unit Award
NDARNG Outstanding Unit Citation.png North Dakota State Outstanding Unit Citation
NDNG Governors Outstanding Unit Citation.png North Dakota Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation
OHMR Commanding General's Meritorious Unit Service Award.jpg Ohio Military Reserve Commanding General's Meritorious Unit Service Award
OK Governor's Distinguished Unit Award.png Oklahoma Governor's Distinguished Unit Award
Oklahoma National Guard Commander's Trophy Award Ribbon.png Oklahoma Commander’s Trophy Award Ribbon
OR-SUR.jpg Oregon Superior Unit Ribbon
PA GUC.JPG Pennsylvania Governor's Unit Citation
Gubernatorial Unit Award.JPG Rhode Island Gubernatorial Unit Award
SC Governor's Unit Citation.JPG South Carolina Governor's Unit Citation
SCSG Outstanding Unit Citation.jpg South Carolina State Guard Outstanding Unit Citation
SCSG Unit Achievement Award.jpg South Carolina State Guard Unit Achievement Award
SDNG Desert Storm Unit Citation.png South Dakota Desert Storm Unit Citation
SD NG Unit Citation.png South Dakota Unit Citation
SD NG Distinguished Unit Award.png South Dakota Distinguished Unit Award
TNNG Governor`s Meritorious Unit.png Tennessee Meritorious Unit Citation
TNNG Distinguished Unit.png Tennessee Distinguished Unit Citation
TNNG Outstanding Unit Performance.png Tennessee Outstanding Unit Performance Commendation
TNNG Volunteer Recruiting & Retention Unit.png Tennessee Volunteer Recruiting and Retention Unit Citation
Texas Governor's Unit Citation.svg Texas Governor's Unit Citation
USA - TX Orgainzational Escellence Unit Award Ribbon.png Texas Organizational Excellence Unit Award
USA - TX State Guard Meritorious Unit Award.png Texas State Guard Meritorious Unit Award
VDF Unit Readiness Citation.png Virginia Defense Force Unit Readiness Citation (Dead Eye)
WAUC.jpg Washington Unit Citation
WVNG Distinguished Unit Award.png West Virginia Distinguished Unit Award

See also

Notes

  1. "Meritorious Unit Citation". www.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  2. "Unit Citation for Gallantry". www.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  3. "Department of the Army General Orders No. 43" (PDF). DVIDS. December 19, 1950.
  4. "Philippine Revolution Web Cantral - CPP primers". philippinerevolution.nu. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  5. "Army Regulation 600–8–22 Military Awards" (PDF). Military Times. June 25, 2015.
  6. "Ελληνικό Εκστρατευτικό Σώμα στην Κορέα-ΕΚΣΕ (1950 -1955)". Θεματα Στρατιωτικης Ιστοριας (in Greek). 2010-05-04. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  7. "Netherlands". www.korean-war.com. Archived from the original on 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  8. "2 Squadron". www.af.mil.za. Archived from the original on 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  9. "Wayback Machine" (PDF). static.e-publishing.af.mil. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  10. "Ribbon Attachments: Frame - small". Vanguard. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  11. "Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon". Air Force's Personnel Center. Archived from the original on 2025-06-08. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  12. "U.S. Army Service, Campaign Medals and Foreign Awards Information". NATICK. Archived from the original on 2025-10-17. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  13. "COMMISSIONED CORPS INSTRUCTION 511.01" (PDF). Commissioned Corps Issuance System (CCIS). US Department of Health and Human Services. 19 January 2021. p. 7. Retrieved 6 April 2022.