United States military award devices

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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. [1] The devices vary between 316 inch to 1332 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.

On January 7, 2016, the Secretary of Defense approved two new devices for medals and ribbons: a "C" Device which will be affixed to multi-purpose performance awards in recognition of meritorious service under combat conditions and, an "R" Device which will be affixed to non-combat performance awards to specifically recognize remote but direct impact on combat operations. [2] [3] [4] The "R" device is to be a bronze letter "R", 14 inch in size. [5] Both of the devices will be worn if authorized for wear, on specific decorations. [6] The services have a year to implement these changes. [7] [8]

The following is a list of U.S. military service devices for medals and ribbons:

Examples of service ribbons with devices

The following are examples of various devices affixed to different service ribbons:

Legion of Merit ribbon.svg 'C' Device.png Legion of Merit with "C" device
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg
Distinguished Flying Cross with one silver and two bronze Oak Leaf Clusters indicating a total of eight awards
Bronze Star ribbon.svg "V" device, brass.svg Bronze Star Medal with bronze "V" Device
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg 'R' Device.png Meritorious Service Medal with "R" device
Air Medal ribbon.svg Bronze V with wreath.png Award numeral 5 golden.png Award numeral 3.svg Air Medal, five awards, of which four were for valor, and bronze Strike/Flight numeral 3 (Navy and Marine Corps)
Air Medal ribbon.svg Award numeral 5 golden.png "V" device, brass.svg 'C' Device.png 'R' Device.png Air Medal, five awards, of which one was for valor, one for combat, and one for remote
1 golden star.svg
Award-star-silver-3d.png
1 golden star.svg
U.S. Coast Guard Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Coast Guard Achievement Medal with one silver and two gold 5/16 inch stars indicating a total of eight awards
AGC 10.jpg Army Good Conduct Medal (10 awards)
Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia.svg
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Armed Forces Expedtionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia and one silver 3/16 inch Service Star indicating a total of six awards
Arrowhead device.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Vietnam Service Medal with Arrowhead Device indicating at least one combat jump/amphibious assault and two bronze 3/16 inch Campaign Stars
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal ribbon.svg Nuclear Deterrence Operations 'N' Device.png Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with "N" Device
Overseas Short Tour Ribbon with A Device.jpg Air Force Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon with Arctic Device
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hour and M 3.png Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze Hourglass Device for ten years of service, "M" Device for mobilization, and "3" Numeral Device indicating three mobilizations
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame.png Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold frame
World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg Cross-Pattee-Heraldry.svg World War I Victory Medal with bronze Maltese cross (for Marines fighting in France and not eligible for a battle clasp, also for parts of Navy Medical Corps)
A device.svg
American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
American Defense Service Medal with Atlantic device
AirliftDev.jpg Army of Occupation Medal with Berlin Airlift Device
Armed Forces Reserve Medal ribbon.svg Bronze M Device.svg Hourglass Device Gold.svg Hourglass device bronze.gif Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device for mobilization and gold and bronze hourglass devices for 40 years of Reserve service (30 years and 10 years respectively)
USCG Distinguished Marksman Ribbon.png Coast Guard Distinguished Marksman Award for Rifle
USCG Silver Pistol Shot EIC Ribbon.png Coast Guard Silver Pistol Shot Excellence-In-Competition Award
USCG Bronze Rifle EIC Ribbon.png Coast Guard Bronze Rifle Excellence-In-Competition Award
Coast Guard Expert Pistol Shot Ribbon.svg Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Medal (a Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with silver Expert Device)
United States Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with sharpshooter device.svg Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze Sharpshooter Device
USA - DOD Exceptional Civilian Service Award.png DoD CIV ADD AWARDS GOLD.png DoD CIV ADD AWARDS BRONZE.png Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award with gold and bronze palm devices
Missouri National Guard Governors Twelve Ribbon with Hawthorn Cluster Devices.png Missouri National Guard Governors Twelve Ribbon with three hawthorn clusters
Unit awards
Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 4th award.svg Navy E Ribbon with silver wreathed E device (four or more awards)
USS Nautilus Navy PUC.png Navy Presidential Unit Citation with Nautilus device
Pucribbontriton1.JPG Navy Presidential Unit Citation with Globe device
USA - CG PUC Hurricane Katrina.png Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation with Hurricane Device
Operational Distinguishing Device.png
Coast Guard Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device

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<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">Defense Superior Service Medal</span> United States Defense Department superior service medal

The Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM) is a military decoration of the United States Department of Defense, which is presented to United States Armed Forces service members who perform superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility.

The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States Armed Forces. The U.S. Army awards units the Army MUC for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding achievement or service in combat or non-combat, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps award units the Navy MUC for valorous or meritorious achievement or service in combat or non-combat, and the U.S. Coast Guard awards units the Coast Guard MUC for valorous or meritorious achievement or service not involving combat.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defense Meritorious Service Medal</span> United States military award

The Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM) is an award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense. In the order of precedence of the United States Armed Forces, it is worn between the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal. The medal is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Defense to members of the Armed Forces who, while serving in a joint activity, distinguish themselves by non-combat outstanding achievement or meritorious service, but not of a degree to warrant award of the Defense Superior Service Medal.

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.

<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.

The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces established on 8 July 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The medal is awarded to recognize service during the Vietnam War by all members of the U.S. Armed Forces provided they meet the award requirements.

A "V" device is a metal 14-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.

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

A 516 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 316 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 316 inch in height.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrowhead device</span> US military decoration

The Arrowhead device is a miniature bronze arrowhead that may be worn on campaign, expedition, and service medals and ribbons to denote participation in an amphibious assault landing, combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, or combat glider landing by a service member of the United States Army, United States Air Force, or United States Space Force.

The Indian Campaign Medal is a decoration established by War Department General Orders 12, 1907. The medal was retroactively awarded to any soldier of the U.S. Army who had participated in the American Indian Wars against the Native Americans between 1865 and 1891.

The World War I Victory Medal was a United States service medal designed by James Earle Fraser of New York City under the direction of the Commission of Fine Arts.

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 316-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">"A" Device</span> Award device of the United States military

The "A" Device is a miniature bronze 14 inch letter "A" which comes with and without serifs, that is authorized for wear by the United States Armed Forces as a medal and ribbon device for two military awards. It is added to overseas service ribbons to indicate the theatre of action.

<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 1950. 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 1967, respectively.

References

  1. "Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 3" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. 23 November 2010. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  2. "Decorations and awards" (PDF). www.defense.gov.
  3. DoD Military Decorations and Awards Review Results (1-36) http://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Military-Decorations-and-Awards-Review-Results.pdf Retrieved January 10, 2016)
  4. Ferdinando, Lisa (7 January 2016). "Pentagon Announces Changes to Military Decorations and Awards Program". DoD News. U.S. Department of Defense.
  5. Baldor, Lolita C. (6 January 2016). "Pentagon set to announce awards for combat, drone service". Associated Press U.S. News. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  6. Lamothe, Dan (6 January 2016). "Pentagon to overhaul how it recognizes heroism, review cases for modern veterans". Checkpoint, The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  7. Copp, Tara (6 January 2016). "DOD to review 1,100 Iraq, Afghanistan medals to determine if they were awarded appropriately". Stars and Stripes. Defense Media Activity. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  8. Cowan, Paris (8 January 2016). "Pentagon introduces military decorations for drone pilots, cyber fighters". itnews. nextmedia Pty Ltd. Retrieved 16 January 2016.