Awards and decorations of the United States military are military decorations which recognize a service service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces. Together with military badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career.
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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
- U.S. non-military unit awards
- 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 militay 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 (Army)
- Unit awards are worn on the right side in the U.S. Army.
Active United States medals and ribbons
U.S. Marine Corps Gen. (ret.) Peter Pace wearing decorations.
- Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force
- Awards and decorations of the United States Navy and Marine Corps
- Awards and decorations of the United States Merchant Marine
- Awards and decorations of the United States Army
- Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard
- Inter-service decorations of the United States military
To denote additional achievements or multiple awards of the same decoration, the United States military maintains a number of award devices which are pinned to service ribbons and medals.
National Guard and State Defense Forces decorations
Unofficial and obsolete decorations
- Obsolete military awards of the United States
- United States service medals of the World Wars
- Unofficial decorations of the United States military
Foreign and international decorations
See also
- Civilian decorations of the United States
- Military decorations of the Cold War
- Awards and decorations of the Vietnam War
- Unofficial combat badges of the United States Army
- Awards and decorations of the Soviet Union
- Awards and decorations of the Russian Federation
- List of military decorations
- State decoration
- List of prizes, medals, and awards
External links
- Army Medals and Ribbons
- U.S. Army Symbols and Insignia
- The Institute of Heraldry, U.S. Army
- U.S. Navy Service and Campaign Medals
- Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia (in PDF format)
- Military Awards (U.S. Army) (in PDF format)
- DoD 1348.33-M, "Manual of Military Decorations and Awards," 09/1996
- U.S. Navy order of precedence
- American Legion
- Order of Precedence Engine for Ribbons & Devices of the U.S. Armed Services
