USMC Awards In Order of Precedence

Medal of Honor, awarded by the President in the name of Congress to members of the naval service who conspicuously distinguish themselves by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty.

Navy Cross Medal, awarded to any person who, while serving with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself in action by extraordinary heroism not justifying an award of the Medal of Honor.

Defense Distinguished Service Medal, awarded to high ranking military officers (Generals or Admirals), who perform exceptionally meritorious service in a degree of great responsibility with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Special or outstanding command in a Defense Agency or for any other Joint Activities designated by the Secretary of Defense.

Navy Distinguished Service Medal, awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps, distinguishes himself/herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the United States in a duty of great responsibility.

Silver Star Medal, awarded by all branches of the Armed Forces to any person who, while serving in any capacity, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the US while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces against an opposing Armed Force in which the U.S. is not a belligerent party.

Defense Superior Service Medal, awarded by the Secretary of Defense to military officers who perform exceptionally with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, The Joint Chiefs of Staff, special or outstanding command in a defense agency or any other joint activity designated by the Secretary.

Legion of Merit Medal, degrees of Chief Commander, Commander, Officer, and Legionnaire are awarded only to members of armed forces of foreign nations under the criteria outlined in Army Regulation 672-7.

Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the US, distinguishes himself or herself by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. The performance of the act of heroism must be evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty.

Distinguished Warfare Medal, awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who distinguish themselves, on or after September 11, 2001, by extraordinary achievement, not involving acts of valor, directly impacting, through any domain, combat operations or other military operations.

Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps, distinguishes himself/herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy.

Bronze Star Medal, awarded a person in any branch of the military service who, while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces of the US on or after December 7, 1941, shall have distinguished himself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.

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Defense Meritorious Service Medal, awarded to military personnel serving with or assigned to a number of joint activities including The Secretary of Defense, Organizations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Headquarters of Joint Commands.

Meritorious Service Medal, awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the US who distinguished themselves by outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service to the US subsequent to 16 Jan 1969.

Air Medal, awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the Armed Forces of the United States, shall have distinguished himself/herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism, or for meritorious service.

Joint Service Commendation Medal, member of the Armed Forces who distinguishes himself by meritorious achievement or service while serving in any specified activity after January 1, 1965, is eligible for this award.

 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the Navy or Marine Corps (including foreign military personnel), distinguishes himself/herself after 6 December 1941 by heroic or meritorious achievement or service.

Joint Service Achievement Medal, awarded only to members of the Armed Forces of the United States below the grade of O-6 who, after August 3, 1983, distinguished themselves by outstanding performance of duty and meritorious achievement.

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, awarded to members of the Armed Forces, including members of Reserve components on active or inactive duty, of the grade of lieutenant commander/major and junior thereto, for service performed on or after 1 May 1961.

Combat Action Ribbon, awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when the Coast Guard or units thereof operate under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain/colonel and junior thereto, who have actively participated in ground or surface combat.

Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, awarded in the name of the President of the United States to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and co-belligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy.

Joint Meritorious Unit Award, awarded to Joint Activities of the Armed Forces of the US which have subsequent to January 23, 1979 distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious achievement or service in pursuit of joint military missions of great significance.

Navy Unit Commendation, awarded by SECNAV to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps which has distinguished itself by outstanding heroism in action against the enemy, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation; or to any such unit which has distinguished itself by extremely meritorious service not involving combat but in support of military operations, rendering the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service.

Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, awarded by SECNAV, CNO or CMC to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps which has distinguished itself, under combat or non-combat conditions, by either valorous or meritorious achievement which renders the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Navy Unit Commendation.

Navy E Ribbon, This ribbon denotes permanent duty on ships or in squadrons that won the Battle Efficiency competitions after 1 July 1974; embarked units are not eligible.

Prisoner of War Medal, medal is issued only to those U.S. military personnel who were taken prisoner and held captive after 5 April 1917.

Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal,  established by Special Order No. 49 of 20 July 1896, to recognize good behavior and faithful service in the Marine Corps. The CMC has review authority over the MCGCM and designates specific Marine Corps criteria for the award.

Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, awarded to members of the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) who, effective 1 January 1996, fulfilled designated service requirements within any three-year period of service in the Organized Marine Corps Reserve.

Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, awarded to U.S. Navy service members who have actually landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition, or operated under circumstances deemed to merit special recognition and for which no service or campaign medal was awarded.

China Service Medal, awarded to members who served ashore in China or who were attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of the operations in China between July 7, 1937 , and Sept 7, 1939 , or served ashore in China or were attached to any of the vessels that operated in support of operations in China between Sept 2, 1945 and April 1, 1957

The American Defense Service Medal,  awarded to personnel for active duty service from 8 September 1939 to 7 December 1941 for a period of twelve months or longer.

American Campaign Medal, awarded to personnel for service within the American Theater 7 Dec 1941 - 2 March 1946 under particular conditions.

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, awarded to personnel service in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater 7 Dec 1941 - 8 Nov 1945, under the same conditions described under those for the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Same applies, Bronze Service Star and Arrowhead device.

The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal was awarded to personnel for service within the Asiatic-Pacific Theater 7 December 1941 - 2 March 1946 under particular conditions.

World War II Victory Medal, awarded for any service period 7 Dec 41 - 31 Dec 46.

Army of Occupation Medal, awarded for thirty consecutive days at a normal post of duty on assignment to the armies of occupation.

Medal for Humane Action, medal commemorates military service in direct support of the Berlin Airlift. It was awarded to members of the Armed Forces for 120 consecutive days of service in, or in direct support of, the Berlin airlift, 26 June 1948 - 30 Sep 1949.

National Defense Service Medal, (Korean War), 27 June 1950 - 27 July 1954, (Vietnam War) 1 January 1961 - 14 August 1974, (Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM) 2 August 1990 - 30 November 1995, and currently (Global War on Terrorism )11 September 2001 to (DTBD).

Korean Service Medal, United States Armed Forces for service in Korea, 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days between June 27, 1950, and July 27, 1954.

Antarctica Service Medal, Military, U.S. citizen, or resident alien of the United States, who after Jan. 1, 1946 to (DTBD), served on the Antarctic continent or in support of U.S. operations there.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, U.S. military operations, after July 1, 1958, have participated in a United States military operations and encountered foreign armed opposition, or were in danger of hostile action by foreign Armed Forces.

Vietnam Service Medal, service members of the Armed Forces who between July 4, 1965 and March 28, 1973.

Southwest Asia Service Medal, served in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD or DESERT STORM between 2 August 1990 and 30 November 1995.

Kosovo Campaign Medal, Service members must be bonafide members of a unit participating in or be engaged in direct support of the Operation for 30 consecutive days in the AOE or for 60 nonconsecutive days provided this support involves the entering the Operations AOE.

Afghanistan Campaign Medal, awarded to any member of the U.S. military who has performed duty within the borders of Afghanistan (or its airspace) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days.

Iraq Campaign Medal, awarded to any member of the U.S. military who performed duty within the borders of Iraq (or its territorial waters) for a period of thirty consecutive days or sixty non-consecutive days.

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11, 2001 to a date to be determined.

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, recognizes those military service members who have performed service in the War on Terror from September 11, 2001 to a date to be determined.

Korea Defense Service Medal, authorized for those members of the United States Armed Forces who have served duty in South Korea after the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea.

Armed Forces Service Medal, awarded to personnel assigned to operations in an area designated by the (DOD).

Humanitarian Service Medal, distinguished themselves by meritorious direct participation (hands on) in a significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature, or have rendered a service to mankind.

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, who subsequent to 31 December 1992, perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature.

Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, For Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska) homeported ships/deploying units or Fleet Marine Force (FMF) commands, 12-months accumulated sea duty or duty with FMF which includes at least one 90- consecutive day deployment.

Navy Arctic Service Ribbon, awarded to officers and enlisted personnel of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps or civilian citizens, national or resident aliens of the U.S. for 28-days, consecutive or non-consecutive, above the Arctic Circle after 1 January 1982.

Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, awarded to officers and enlisted personnel of the United States Navy, United States Naval Reserve, United States Marine Corps and United States Marine Corps Reserve for 12 months consecutive or accumulated duty at overseas shore base duty station.

Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon, awarded to\  Marines assigned to recruiting duty (MOS 8411)

Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon, awarded to Marines assigned to drill instructor duty (MOS 8511)

Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon, awarded to Marines assigned to Marine Security Guard duty (MOS 8151) will be eligible to receive the ribbon upon completion of 24 months service at a foreign service establishment.

Armed Forces Reserve Medal, is iIssued to any officer or enlisted member or former member of the Reserve Components of the Armed Forces of the United States who completes or has completed a total of 10 years of honorable satisfactory service

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation , U.S. Armed Forces for valorous combat achievement during the Vietnam War, 1 Mar 61 to 28 Mar 73.

RVN Civil Actions Ribbon, Awarded to any U.S. service member performing outstanding civic service to the South Vietnamese state or who participated in civil service actions of significant benefit.

Philippine Liberation Ribbon, served from 17 Oct 44 to 3 Sep 45.

Philippine Independence Ribbon, It is awarded to personnel who are recipients of both the Philippine Defense and Philippine Liberation ribbons.

United Nations Service Medal, awarded to officers and enlisted men of the armed forces of the United States who participated in the action in Korea between June 27, 1950, and July 27, 1954

United Nations Medal, is awarded to service members who are or have been in UN service.

NATO Medal-Former Republic of Yugoslavia , from 1 July 1992 - 12 October 1998.

NATO Medal for Kosovo, In accordance with Executive Order 11446, 16 January 1969, the Secretary of Defense has approved acceptance and wear by U.S. Serive members who meet criteria specified by the Secretary General of NATO effective 13 October 1998 -(DTBD).

Multinational Force Observer Medal, awarded to personnel who have served with the MFO at least ninety (90) cumulative days after 3 August 1981. Effective 15 March 1985, personnel must serve 6 months (170 days minimum) with the MFO to qualify for the award.

 Inter-American Defense Board Medal, awarded to any military officer, serving in a member nation of the Organization of American States, who completes a tour of service with the Inter-American Defense Board.

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Served for 6 months in South Vietnam 1 Mar 61 and 28 Mar 73; and who served a minimum of 60 calendar days in Vietnam during 29 Jan 73 to 28 Mar 73.

Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, served in support of Operation DESERT STORM between 17 January 1991 and 28 February 1991

Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait, served in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM between 2 August 1990 and 31 August 1993

Republic of Korea Korean War Service Medal, military veterans must have served in the country of Korea, its territorial waters, or airspace within the inclusive period of 25 June 1950 - 27 July 1953.

Vietnam Wound Medal, For service members of the United States military, the Vietnam Wound Medal is not authorized for wear on a military uniform since it is the foreign equivalent to (or competes with) the Purple Heart medal.