RibbonChecker ⚓ Q & A

Learning About Coast Guard Ribbons and Medals

Basic Advice for Recent Coast Guard and Auxiliary Members
(And the public)

Where can I get detailed information about how to wear medals and ribbons on the Coast Guard family of uniforms?

Coast Guard members: Consult COMDTINST M1020.6 (series) Uniform Regulations.

Coast Guard Auxiliary members: Consult the Interactive Uniforms Guide.

How do I earn a medal or ribbon?

Medals and ribbons are earned by individuals, teams and units using a variety of criteria, including exemplary service, longevity of service, outstanding manner of service and, of course, valorous acts. Each medal has unique criteria.

How many different medals and ribbons exist, and how many can I earn?

The number of awards you can earn largely depends on your manner and length of service, and your duties.

Medals and ribbons have been issued since the Revolutionary War, so there have been a lot. But the number of federal ribbons available to be earned since 1960 is roughly 300. Some medals, such as those issued by NASA or the National Intelligence Community are rarely seen.

On the other hand, the National Defense Service Medal has been issued to many millions of service members since 1953.

Who decides whether I get a medal or ribbon?

Depending upon the award, the recommender can be a junior non-commissioned officer all the way up to the President. Each medal or ribbon has a specific recommendation procedure, approval authority and award criterion. Some awards are issued automatically, such as those tied to longevity of honorable service or upon reaching a high level of marksmanship.

What’s the difference between a medal and a ribbon? Don’t medals hang from a ribbon?

With a few very rare exceptions, mainly in the antebellum era, all military medals have a corresponding ribbon. However, many ribbons have no corresponding medals; the ribbons by themselves are the award. The original cloth 1782 Badge of Military Merit instituted by Gen. George Washington was such an award.

What are the tangible rewards of earning medals and ribbons?

For military members, the record of earned awards can figure in promotion or assignment decisions. For volunteers in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, awards are one way the United States can thank members for their unpaid service. For everyone in uniform, the ribbon rack is a sign of experience, expertise and pride.

For Coast Guard veterans, Auxiliary retirees and their families, medals and ribbons are permanent reminders of personal accomplishment and dedication to public service.

Do I have to wear every ribbon that I have earned?

For most Coast Guard and Auxiliary uniforms, you usually have the option of wearing three, nine or all of your ribbons.

On ceremonial occasions, you may be told to wear all of your ribbons, and possibly your medals.

What’s the difference between an ‘award’ and a ‘decoration’?

Any ribbon or medal given by the federal government is an award, however a military decoration is an award bestowed on an individual for a specific act or acts of gallantry or meritorious service.

What is the highest decoration?

The Medal of Honor. It is never referred to as Congressional Medal of Honor, and it is awarded by the president in the name of Congress. The honoree will often receive the medal directly from the president.

Signalman First Class Douglas Albert Munro is the only Coast Guard member to be awarded the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II while evacuating a besieged Marine Corps battalion off Guadalcanal on September 27, 1942. The posthumous Medal of Honor nomination was made by a Marine Corps colonel, endorsed by Admiral Willam “Bull” Halsey and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Munro’s medal is displayed at the museum on the campus of the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.

How do I keep track of my awards?

Your military service record or the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s AuxData system has a complete record of your awards. For veterans of all ranks, the DD–214 form given to you at discharge also has a complete list of every award; your list of earned awards are public record.

What do the metal stars and other symbols mean on ribbons?

These are known as “devices,” and they can have a wide variety of meanings, such as Antarctic service, multiple awards of the same ribbon, valor, number of years of service, and so on.

With the sole exception of the Medal of Honor, never wear the same ribbon more than once at the same time. For example, if you are awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation twice, wear the ribbon once (the first instance) with a ⁵⁄₁₆" gold star centered on the ribbon to represent the subsequent award. Additional stars can be added for more subsequent awards.

What happens if my ribbon gets soiled, tattered, or unravels?

You are obligated to wear clean ribbons that are in good condition. Inevitably, over the years some ribbons will become less than pristine. When that happens, replacements can be readily purchased from military supply companies or base Exchange.

Never wear a soiled or damaged ribbon.

Who designs the ribbons and medals, and how much do they cost?

Most federal medals and ribbons are designed by a special heraldry unit of the Army, often with the collaboration of well-known artists and sculptors, and all with input from the federal service that is ordering the work. Medals are often produced by the United States Mint; ribbons are sewn and mounted by contractors.

The original medal and ribbon are provided to you at no cost; for decorations, sometimes a ceremonial miniature medal and civilian lapel pin or rosette are also provided in a presentation box.

Replacements for lost or spoiled medals and ribbons, or the purchase of certain miniature medals, are usually at your expense.

I’ve purchased a rack to mount my ribbons on my uniform. Are the ribbons displayed in a certain way?

Yes! That special order is known as precedence, and is the reason RibbonChecker exists. If you wear any of the Coast Guard family of uniforms, RibbonChecker will help you display your ribbons in the correct order, or will help you make a shopping list to buy a ready-made rack of your ribbons from a military supply store.

Since each federal uniformed service has different rules for displaying ribbons, RibbonChecker will only work for Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary members and veterans. Don’t try to use RibbonChecker for your pal’s Army uniform — it won’t work!

I was in the Army and was awarded the Silver Star Medal. After my discharge I bought a boat and joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary! Can I wear my Silver Star Medal?

Absolutely. Auxiliarists can wear all ribbons and medals earned in federal military service. Certain prior-service ribbons and medals are not authorized for regular Coast Guard members; if in doubt, consult your Coast Guard chain of command.

RibbonChecker will automatically combine your military and Auxiliary ribbons into one rack.

When I was in the Air Force, I was awarded a NASA medal. Can I wear it on my Auxiliary uniform?

Yes, federal civilian awards earned while in the military can be worn by Auxiliarists. RibbonChecker accommodates unusual combinations of federal civilian and military awards, such as Public Health Service and NOAA.

I earned an unusual NOAA medal that is not shown in RibbonChecker. How do I wear it on my Coast Guard uniform?

The regular Coast Guard and the Auxiliary have different criteria for wearing inter-service and prior service ribbons.

If a medal or ribbon you earned in federal service is missing from RibbonChecker, please let us know, citing the full award name and the agency of the award. Meanwhile, inquire up your chain of command or chain of responsibility regarding whether it can be worn, and its proper placement in your rack.

If the award of your prior-service ribbon or medal was an officially classified secret, first consult with the issuing authority for guidance.

I spent 30 years in the California National Guard. Can I wear those award ribbons on my Coast Guard Auxiliary uniform?

You can only wear ribbons and medals issued by the federal government. So a Bronze Star Medal is OK, but not your California National Guard Counter Narcotics Service Ribbon. If in doubt, consult with your flotilla leadership.

Do I have to memorize all these ribbons?

No, but there are a few that Coast Guard members should know on sight that will help you recognize the experience, expertise and public service longevity of your shipmates: