Coast Guard Ribbon Checker

Click the boxes next to the ribbons you are currently authorized to wear, then press the button below to get a graphical representation of them. This program does not currently take into account ribbon devices, including combat V's and stars for multiple awards.

The ribbons on this page are listed in order of precedence. To find a particular ribbon, use the 'find' command available on the most commonly used browsers. An alphabetical listing of ribbons and medals is in the works, as is a "medals" page.

Note that if there is not a checkbox next to the award name, I have not been able to locate a suitable graphic.


NOTE: Ribbons and medals with Roman Numerals are considered to be equivalent awards. They should be worn in the order earned. For group VI, if both Air Force awards are earned, they are worn together with the Unit award first.
Ribbons and Medals:
Medal of Honor
Navy Cross
  • I: Distinguished Service Cross
  • I: Air Force Cross
    Defense Distinguished Service Medal
    Transportation Dist. Svc. Medal
  • II: Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
  • II: Navy Distinguished Service Medal
  • II: Army Distinguished Service Medal
  • II: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
    Silver Star Medal
    Secretary's Award for Outstanding Achievement
    Defense Superior Service Medal
    Guardian Medal
    Legion of Merit
    Distinguished Flying Cross
    Coast Guard Medal
  • III: Navy & Marine Corps Medal
  • III: Soldier's Medal
  • III: Airman's Medal
    Gold Lifesaving Medal
    Bronze Star Medal
    Purple Heart Medal
    Defense Meritorious Service Medal
    Meritorious Service Medal
    Air Medal
    Silver Lifesaving Medal
    Secretary's Award for Meritorious Achievement
    Joint Service Commendation Medal
    Coast Guard Commendation Medal
  • IV: Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
  • IV: Army Commendation Medal
  • IV: Air Force Commendation Medal
    Secretary's Award for Superior Achievement
    Joint Service Achievement Medal
    Transportation 9/11 Medal
    Coast Guard Achievement Medal
  • V: Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
  • V: Army Achievement Medal
  • V: Air Force Achievement Medal
    Commandant's Ltr. of Comm. Ribbon
    Combat Action Ribbon
    Presidential Unit Citation (Coast Guard)
    Presidential Unit Citation (Navy)
    Presidential Unit Citation (Army/Air Force)
    Joint Meritorious Unit Award
    Secretary's Outstanding Unit Award
    Coast Guard Unit Commendation
  • VI: Navy Unit Commendation
  • VI: Army Valorous Unit Award
  • VIa: Air Force Out. Unit Award
  • VIb: Air Force Org. Excellence Award
    Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation
  • VII: Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
  • VII: Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
    Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation
    Coast Guard "E" Ribbon
    Navy "E" Ribbon
    Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation
    Presidential Medal of Freedom
    National Security Medal
    NASA Distinguished Service Medal
    National Science Medal
    Merchant Marine Dist. Svc. Medal
    Public Health Svc. Dist. Svc. Medal
    Merchant Marine Merit. Svc. Medal
    Public Health Svc. Merit. Svc. Medal
    Merchant Marine Mariners Medal
    Public Health Svc. Out. Svc. Medal
    Public Health Svc. Commendation Medal
    Public Health Svc. Achievement Medal
    Public Health Svc. Citation Ribbon
    NOAA Corps Director's Medal
    POW Medal
    Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal
  • VIII: Navy Good Conduct Medal
  • VIII: Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
  • VIII: Army Good Conduct Medal
  • VIII: Air Force Good Conduct Medal
  • Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal
  • IX: Naval Reserve Meritorious Svc. Medal
  • IX: Org. Marine Corps Reserve Medal
    World War I Victory Medal
    Haitian Campaign Medal (1919-1920)
    2nd Nicaraguan Campaign Medal
    Yangtze Service Medal
    Byrd Antarctic Exp. Medal (1928-1930)
  • X: Navy Expeditionary Medal
  • X: Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
    2nd Byrd Antarctica Exp. Medal (1933-1935)
    China Service Medal
    American Defense Service Medal
    American Campaign Medal
    European-African-Mid. Eastern Camp. Medal
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
    World War II Victory Medal
    U.S. Antarctic Expedition Medal
    Navy Occupation Service Medal
    Army of Occupation Medal
    Medal for Humane Action
    National Defense Service Medal
    Korean Service Medal
    Antarctica Service Medal
    Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
    Vietnam Service Medal
    Southwest Asia Service Medal
    Kosovo Campaign Medal
    Afghanistan Campaign Medal
    Iraq Campaign Medal
    Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
    Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
    Korean Defense Service Medal
    Armed Forces Service Medal
    Humanitarian Service Medal
    * Transportation 9/11 ribbon may go here
      see note at bottom of column
    Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
    * Transportation 9/11 Ribbon (may go above MOVSM)
    Coast Guard Spec. Operations Service Ribbon
    Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon
    Coast Restricted Duty Ribbon
    Coast Guard Recruiting Duty Ribbon
    Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon w/Bronze "4"
    USAF NCO Professional Military Education Graduate ribbon
  • XI: Navy & Marine Corps Sea Svc. Deployment Ribbon
  • XI: Army Overseas Ribbon
  • XI: Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Svc. Ribbon
  • XI: Air Force Overseas Ribbon
    Naval Arctic Service Ribbon
    Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon
    CG Basic Training Honor Grad.
    Air Force Basic Mil. Training Honor Graduate
    Armed Forces Reserve Medal
  • XII: Naval Reserve Medal
  • XII: Marine Corps Reserve Medal
  • XII: Army Res. Comp. Achievement Medal
  • XII: Air Res. Forces Meritorious Svc. Medal
    Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Unit Citation
    Merchant Marine Defense Medal
    Merchant Marine Atlantic War Zone Medal
    Merchant Marine Mediterranean War Zone Medal
    Merchant Marine Pacific War Zone Medal
    Merchant Marine WW II Victory Medal
    Merchant Marine Combat Bar
    Merchant Marine Korean Service Medal
    Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Medal
    Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal
    Public Health Svc. Out. Unit Citation
    Public Health Svc. Unit Commendation
    Public Health Svc. Haz. Duty Ribbon
    Public Health Svc. Foreign Duty Ribbon
    Public Health Svc. Spec. Assignment Ribbon
    Public Health Svc. Isolated Hardship Ribbon
    Philippines Republic Presidential Unit Citation
    Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
    Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
    Republic of Viet. Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
    Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation
    Philippine Defense Ribbon
    Philippine Liberation Ribbon
    Philippine Independence Ribbon
    United Nations Service Medal
    United Nations Medal
    Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
    Kuwait Liberation (Saudi Arabia)
    Kuwait Liberation (Kuwait)
    Coast Guard Rifleman
    Coast Guard Pistol Shot

    * 9/11 ribbon placement is not clear with respect to MOVSM given text in the 9/11 Awards Document. (1/6/2005)

  • Updates can now be found on a different page.
    Last updated 30 SEP 2014 by M. R. Gustafson II (mrg@duke.edu)