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