USN 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 as given by BUPERS on its web page. 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. If an entry is without a checkbox, I have not yet obtained the ribbon graphic.

  • (5/31/2024) - I am not sure why it was broken and I am nt sure why it now works! Full list of updates at a different page.
    Ribbons specifically disallowed on the Navy uniform may be found here.
    Please note - the author of this web page is not a resource for determining if you rate a particular ribbon or for the details of awards. Please check with your administrative staff or the Decorations and Medals (Awards) web page for more information.
    Ribbons and Medals:
    Medal of Honor
    Navy Cross
    Army Distinguished Service Cross
    Air Force Cross
    Defense Distinguished Service Medal
    Navy Distinguished Service Medal
    Army Distinguished Service Medal
    Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
    Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
    Silver Star Medal
    Defense Superior Service Medal
    Legion of Merit
    Distinguished Flying Cross
    Navy and Marine Corps Medal
    Soldier's Medal
    Airman's Medal
    Coast Guard Medal
    Bronze Star Medal
    Purple Heart
    Defense Meritorious Service Medal
    Meritorious Service Medal
    Air Medal
    Air Force Aerial Achievement Medal
    Joint Service Commendation Medal
    Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
    Army Commendation Medal
    Air Force Commendation Medal
    Coast Guard Commendation Medal
    Joint Service Achievement Medal
    Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
    Army Achievement Medal
    Air Force Achievement Medal
    Coast Guard Achievement Medal
    Combat Action Ribbon
    Presidential Unit Citation (Navy)
  • Presidential Unit Citation (Army)
  • Presidential Unit Citation (Air Force)
    Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  • Army Valorous Unit Award
    Navy Unit Commendation
  • Army Superior Unit Commendation
    Coast Guard Unit Commendation
    Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
  • Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
    Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation
    Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation
    Navy "E"
  • USPHS Outstanding Unit Citation (OUC)
  • USPHS Unit Commendation (UC)
  • Air Force Org. Excellence Award
  • Coast Guard "E"
    Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Presidential Citizens Medal
  • National Security Medal
  • National Sciences Medal (listed twice in memo)
    Gold Life Saving Medal
    Silver Life Saving Medal
  • Medal for Merit
  • National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal
  • National Intelligence Medal of Achievement
  • Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award
  • Navy Award for Distinguished Achievement Science
  • President's Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Medal
  • Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award
  • Secretary of Defense Civilian Meritorious Service Award
  • Navy Superior Civilian Service Award
  • Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award
  • Navy Distinguished Public Service Award
  • Coast Guard Dist. Public Service Award
  • NASA Distinguished Service Medal
  • NASA Flight Medal
  • NASA Medal for Exceptional Bravery
  • NASA Medal for Exceptional Service
  • National Sciences Medal
    Merchant Marine Dist. Svc. Medal
    Merchant Marine Merit. Svc. Medal
    Merchant Marine Mariner's Medal
  • Selective Service Distinguished Service Medal
  • Selective Service Exceptional Service Award
  • Selective Service Meritorious Service Award
  • Congressional Space Medal of Honor
  • Department of Commerce Gold Medal
  • Department of Commerce Silver Medal
  • Department of Commerce Bronze Medal
  • NOAA Administrator's Award
  • NOAA Corps Commendation Medal
  • NOAA Special Achievement Award
  • NOAA Unit Citation
  • USPHS Distinguished Service Award
  • USPHS Meritorious Service Medal
  • USPHS Outstanding Service Medal
  • USPHS Commendation Medal
  • USPHS Achievement Medal
  • DOE Secretary's Gold Award Medal
    		•  POW Medal
    Navy Good Conduct Medal
    Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • Air Force Good Conduct Medal
    Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal
    Navy Reserve Meritorious Service
    Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal
  • Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
  • Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
    Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal
    Fleet Marine Force Service*
    *The Fleet Marine Force Service Ribbon and qualifications
    have been replaced by the FMF devices and insignia. See
    OPNAVINST 1414.4B dfor details.
     Navy Expeditionary Medal
    Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
    National Defense Service Medal
    Korean Service Medal
    Antarctica Service Medal
    Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
    Vietnam Service Medal
    SW 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
    Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
    Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
    Coast Guard Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
    Naval Arctic Service Ribbon
  • Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
    Navy Reserve Sea Service Ribbon
    Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service
  • Army Overseas Service Ribbon
  • Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon
    Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon
    USMC Recruiting Service Ribbon
    Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon
    Navy Recruit Training Service Ribbon
  • Navy Ceremonial Guard Service Ribbon
    Coast Guard Spec. Operations Service Ribbon
    Armed Forces Reserve Medal
    Naval Reserve Medal (disc. 1958; see AFRM above)
    Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Unit Citation
    Merchant Marine Combat Bar
    Merchant Marine Korean Service Bar
    Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Bar
    Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal
    Vietnam service (if earned in own name):
    • National Order of Vietnam
    • Military Merit Medal
    • Army Distinguished Service Order
    • Air Force Distinguished Service Order
    • Navy Distinguished Service Order
    • Army Meritorious Service Medal
    • Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
    • Navy Meritorious Service Medal
    • Special Service Medal
    • Gallantry Cross
    • Air Gallantry Cross
    • Navy Gallantry Cross
    • Hazardous Service Medal
    • Life Saving Medal
    • Armed Forces Honor Medal
    • Staff Service Medal
    • Technical Service Medal
    • Training Service Medal
    • Civil Actions Medal
    Other authorized personal foreign decorations are worn here,
    placement is the same as the order earned.

    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
    United Nations Service Medal
    United Nations Medal
    NATO Meritorious Service Medal
    ** NATO Medal - Yugoslavia
    ** NATO Medal - Kosovo
    ** NATO Medal - Balkans
    ** NATO Medal - ISAF
    Multi-National Forces and Observer Medal
    Inter-American Defense Board Medal
    Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
    Kuwait Liberation (Saudi Arabia)
    Kuwait Liberation (Kuwait)
    Navy Rifleman
    Navy Pistol Shot

    ** Note - other than the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, only the first
    NATO Medal awarded may be worn. Subsequent awards of NATO medals are
    represented by a bronze star on the first medal even if from
    other areas of operations.

    • Last updated 31 MAY 2024 by M. R. Gustafson II (mrg@duke.edu)