Awards and decorations of the United States military

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Awards and decorations of the United States military

Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decoration

Military decoration

A military decoration is a state decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform....
s which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces. Together with military badges

Military badges of the United States

Military badges of the United States are awards authorized by the United States armed forces that signify rating, qualification, or accomplishment in several career fields, and also serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments....
, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career.

e each service has its own order of precedence, the following general rules apply to all services:

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Order of precedence

While each service has its own order of precedence, the following general rules apply to all services:

U.S. military personal decorations
U.S. military unit awards
U.S. non-military personal decorations
Awards and decorations of the United States government

Awards and decorations of the United States government are Civilian decorations of the United States of the Federal government of the United States which are typically issued for sustained meritorious service, in a civilian capacity, while serving in the U.S....
(After unit awards in order of receipt; if from the same agency, the applicable agency precedence listing should be consulted)
U.S. non-military unit awards
Awards and decorations of the United States government

Awards and decorations of the United States government are Civilian decorations of the United States of the Federal government of the United States which are typically issued for sustained meritorious service, in a civilian capacity, while serving in the U.S....
U.S. military campaign awards
U.S. military service and training awards
U.S. Merchant Marine awards and non-military service awards
Foreign military personal decorations
Foreign military unit awards
Non-U.S. service awards (e.g., United Nations, NATO)
Foreign military service awards
Marksmanship awards (Navy and Coast Guard)
State awards of the National Guard
Awards and decorations of the National Guard

Awards and decorations of the National Guard are presented to members of the United States National Guard and sometimes to members of the State Defense Forces in addition to regular Awards and decorations of the United States militarys....
(Army & Air Force)

Unit awards are worn on the right side in the U.S. Army.

Active United States medals and ribbons

By order of precedence

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Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest Awards and decorations of the United States military awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action...
Awarded for "Gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty". |- |

Service Cross medals. Awarded for "Extraordinary heroism"

Army Distinguished Service Cross

Navy Cross

Navy Cross

The Navy Cross is the highest medal that can be awarded by the Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for wiktionary:valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard but could be awarded to all branches of United States military as well as mem...

Air Force Cross

Air Force Cross (United States)

The Air Force Cross is the second highest Awards and decorations of the United States military that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force....
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Distinguished Service medals

Defense Distinguished Service Medal

The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States....

Distinguished Service Medal (Army)

Distinguished Service Medal (Army)

The Distinguished Service Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility....

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919....

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

Air Force Distinguished Service Medal

The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal was created by an act of the United States Congress on July 6, 1960. The medal was intended as a new decoration of the United States Air Force to replace the policy of awarding the Distinguished Service Medal to Air Force personnel....

Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal

Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Coast Guard which was created in August 1949 by order of the United States Congress....
|- | Silver Star

Silver Star

The Silver Star is the third highest Awards and decorations of the United States military that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces....
Awarded for "Gallantry in action" |- | Defense Superior Service Medal

Defense Superior Service Medal

The Defense Superior Service Medal of the United States is a senior decoration of the United States Department of Defense. It is awarded to members of the United States military who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
|- | Legion of Merit

Legion of Merit

The Legion of Merit is a Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements....
|- | Distinguished Flying Cross

Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

File:Odierno presents DFCs army mil-2007-11-14-093424.jpgThe Distinguished Flying Cross is a Inter-service decorations of the United States military awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while particip...
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Medals for heroism

Soldier's Medal

The Soldier's Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States Army of the United States Army. It was introduced by a law passed by Congress of the United States on July 2, 1926....

Navy and Marine Corps Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Medal

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the second highest non-combatant medal awarded by the United States Department of the Navy to members of the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps....

Airman's Medal

Airman's Medal

The Airman?s Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States Air Force and is awarded to those service members who distinguish themselves by heroic actions, usually at the voluntary risk of life, but not involving actual combat....

Coast Guard Medal

Coast Guard Medal

The Coast Guard Medal is a decoration of the United States military which is awarded to any service member who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Coast Guard, distinguishes themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy....
|- | Gold Lifesaving Medal

Lifesaving Medal

The Lifesaving Medal is a civil and Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States Coast Guard which was first established by Act of Congress, 20 June 1874; later authorized by Title 14 of the United States Code Section 500-501 ....
|- | Bronze Star

Bronze Star Medal

The Bronze Star Medal is a Military of the United States individual Awards and decorations of the United States military which may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service....
|- | Purple Heart

Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is a United States Awards and decorations of the United States military awarded in the name of the President of the United States to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the Military of the United States....
|- | Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense....
|- | Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal (United States)

The Meritorious Service Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969....
|- | Air Medal

Air Medal

The Air Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States which was established by Executive Order 9158, signed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on May 11, 1942....
|- | Silver Lifesaving Medal

Lifesaving Medal

Aerial Achievement Medal

The Aerial Achievement Medal is a decoration of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1988. The decoration is intended to recognize the contributions of aircrew members who would, otherwise, not be qualified for the award of the Air Medal....
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Commendation medals

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Commendation Medal

The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States military which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service....

Army Commendation Medal

Commendation Medal

The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States military which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service....

Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal

Commendation Medal

The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States military which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service....

Air Force Commendation Medal

Commendation Medal

The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States military which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service....

Coast Guard Commendation Medal

Commendation Medal

The Commendation Medal is a mid-level Awards and decorations of the United States military which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service....
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Achievement medals

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Achievement Medal

The Achievement Medal is a military Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service Medal ....

Army Achievement Medal

Achievement Medal

Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon

The Commandant?s Letter of Commendation Ribbon is the highest personal ribbon award of the United States Coast Guard. The decoration was established in March 1979 by Admiral John B....
|- | Combat Action Ribbon

Combat Action Ribbon

The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal Awards and decorations of the United States military of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which is awarded to those who, in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy , have actively participated in ground or surface combat....

Air Force Combat Action Medal

Air Force Combat Action Medal

The Air Force Combat Action Medal is a relatively new Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force issued by the United States Air Force....
|- bgcolor = "#ccccff" align=center |Unit Awards |- |

Presidential Unit Citation

Army & Air Force Presidential Unit Citation

Navy & Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation

Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation |- | Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a Inter-service decorations of the United States military that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by United States Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982....

Army Valorous Unit Award

Valorous Unit Award

The Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army unit and is considered the unit equivalent of the Silver Star....

Navy Unit Commendation

Navy Unit Commendation

The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944....

Air Force Gallant Unit Citation

Gallant Unit Citation

Award DescriptionThe Gallant Unit Citation was approved in March 2004 and is awarded to any Air Force unit which distinguishes itself by extraordinary heroism while engaged in armed combat with an enemy force on or after 11 September 2001....

Coast Guard Unit Commendation

Coast Guard Unit Commendation

The Coast Guard Unit Commendation is the highest peacetime unit award which may be awarded to military commands of the United States Coast Guard....
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Meritorious Unit Commendation

Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

Meritorious Unit Commendation

The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Superior Unit Award

The Superior Unit Award is a decoration of the United States Army which is awarded in peacetime to any unit of the Army which displays outstanding meritorious performance of a difficult and challenging mission carried out under extraordinary circumstances....

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Outstanding Unit Award

The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is a Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954....

Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation

Meritorious Team Commendation

The Meritorious Team Commendation is the second lowest unit award of the United States Coast Guard. Created in December 1993, the Meritorious Team Commendation is awarded to lower echelon Coast Guard commands who perform exceptional actions which would normally warrant a Commandant's Letter of Commendation....
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Efficiency Award