Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces facts for kids

A U.S. Navy leader showing off their awards on their uniform.

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces receive different medals, ribbons, and badges to recognize their military service and special achievements. These awards are a way to show important moments and accomplishments from a service member's career.

U.S. Military Awards Given Today
- How Awards Are Ranked
- Awards for Different Military Branches
Awards No Longer Given Out
Awards from Other Countries
See also

U.S. Military Awards Given Today

How Awards Are Ranked

The importance of awards can be a little different between the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. But generally, any award can be given to any service member unless it's specifically for one branch.

Here are some of the main awards given to U.S. service members:

Award Name
Awards for Individuals
Given for amazing bravery and risking one's life beyond what's expected Medal of Honor
Service Cross Medals – Given for incredible bravery in battle Distinguished Service Cross (Army) Navy Cross Air Force Cross Coast Guard Cross
Distinguished Service Medals – Given for excellent service in a very important job Defense Distinguished Service Medal Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (Army) Navy Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (Air and Space Forces) Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Given for bravery in action Silver Star Medal
Given for excellent or outstanding service Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Given for bravery or amazing achievements in flying Distinguished Flying Cross
Medals for bravery outside of combat Soldier's Medal Navy and Marine Corps Medal Airman's Medal Coast Guard Medal
Given for bravery in a combat zone or great service in a war zone Bronze Star Medal
Given for injuries received in combat Purple Heart
Awards for good service and flying Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal (Air and Space Forces)
Commendation Medals Joint Service Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Air and Space Commendation Medal Coast Guard Commendation Medal
Achievement Medals Joint Service Achievement Medal Army Achievement Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Air and Space Achievement Medal Coast Guard Achievement Medal
Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon (Coast Guard)
Combat Action Awards Navy Combat Action Ribbon Combat Action Medal (Air and Space Forces) Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon
Awards for Units
Presidential Unit Citations Presidential Unit Citation (Army) Presidential Unit Citation (Navy and Marine Corps) Presidential Unit Citation (Air and Space Forces) Presidential Unit Citation (Coast Guard)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award DHS Outstanding Unit Award Valorous Unit Award (Army) Navy Unit Commendation Gallant Unit Citation (Air and Space Forces) Coast Guard Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendations Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Award (Air and Space Forces) Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation
Army Superior Unit Award Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award
Efficiency Awards Navy "E" Ribbon Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award Coast Guard "E" Ribbon
Continued on right column

Award Name
Service Awards (continued)
Prisoner of War Medal
Combat Readiness Medal (Air and Space Forces)
Good Conduct Medals Army Good Conduct Medal Navy Good Conduct Medal Air Force Good Conduct Medal Space Force Good Conduct Medal Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal
Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon Outstanding Guardian of the Year Ribbon Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year Ribbon
Air and Space Recognition Ribbon
Service, Expedition, and Campaign Medals
Reserve Service Medals Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Navy Expeditionary Medal Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Antarctica Service Medal Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
Air and Space Campaign Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal
Service and Training Awards
Army Sea Duty Ribbon Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon Navy Arctic Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbons Army Overseas Service Ribbon Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon Coast Guard Overseas Service Ribbon Air and Space Overseas Short Tour Service Ribbon Air and Space Overseas Long Tour Service Ribbon Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon
Coast Guard Restricted Duty Ribbon Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon
Longevity Ribbon Air and Space Longevity Service Award
Recruiting and Training Service Ribbons Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon Coast Guard Recruiting Service Ribbon Navy Accession Training Service Ribbon Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon Marine Corps Combat Instructor Ribbon Developmental Special Duty Ribbon (Air and Space Forces) Army Recruiting Ribbon
Guard Ribbons Navy Ceremonial Guard Ribbon Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon
Professional Development Ribbons Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon Air Force NCO PME Graduate Ribbon
Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbons Navy Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon Air Force Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon Coast Guard Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
Training Ribbons Army Service Ribbon Air and Space Training Ribbon
Marksmanship Awards
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Air and Space Forces) Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon

Awards for Different Military Branches

Each branch of the U.S. military has its own specific awards and rules:

Awards for all services
Army awards
Navy and Marine Corps awards
Air Force and Space Force awards
Coast Guard awards

Sometimes, special devices are added to ribbons and medals. These small pins show if someone has received the same award multiple times or achieved something extra special.

Awards No Longer Given Out

Some U.S. military awards are no longer given. This usually means the events they recognized have ended. For example, medals for past wars are not given anymore. However, some inactive awards might be used again in the future.

Award Name
Individual Awards (No Longer Given)
Certificate of Merit Medal
Army Wound Ribbon (This was replaced by the Purple Heart)
Old Campaign Medals
Civil War Campaign Medal
Indian Campaign Medal
World War I Victory Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Korean Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal

Award Name
Post-Cold War Campaign Medals
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal

Awards That Were Planned But Not Given

Some awards were designed but never officially approved or given out.

Award Name
Planned Awards
Distinguished Warfare Medal

Award Name
General Service Award
Cold War Victory Medal

One-Time Awards

Single service awards were special military awards created for one specific event. The first was given during the Spanish–American War. The last one was the Four Chaplains' Medal in 1960, honoring four chaplains who died together in World War II.

Award Name
Special Valor Awards
Four Chaplains' Medal

Award Name
Exploration Awards
Peary Polar Expedition Medal

Unofficial Awards

Unofficial awards were military awards created by local commanders, often to celebrate a specific battle. The most famous unofficial awards were given during the American Civil War.

Award Name
Civil War Awards
	Kearny Cross
	Kearny Medal

Award Name
Research Awards
Walter Reed Medal

After the Civil War, rules became stricter, and commanders stopped giving out unofficial awards. However, many unofficial medals were still made privately to remember battles or as souvenirs. One well-known example is the Walter Reed Medal, given for scientific achievements in treating malaria.

Awards from Other Countries

U.S. military members can also wear awards from other countries or international groups. These awards are approved by the State Department. They can be for high-ranking officers, for bravery, or for service in other countries.

Hundreds of foreign and international awards have been approved for U.S. military personnel since World War I. Here are some common ones:

Award Name
World War I
French Legion of Honor
French Croix de guerre
World War II (Europe)
French Croix de guerre
Belgian Croix de guerre
World War II (Pacific)
Philippine Defense Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Korean War - South Korea and the United Nations
United Nations Service Medal
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

Award Name
Vietnam War - Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)
RVN Gallantry Cross (with Palm)
RVN Campaign Medal with 1960- device
Persian Gulf War
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
International Awards (20th Century)
United Nations Medal
Multinational Force and Observers Medal
NATO Medal (Yugoslavia)
NATO Medal (Kosovo)

During the First and Second World Wars, some French and Belgian medals were also given as unit citation cords, called Fourragère. Service members could get both the individual award and the unit cord. The unit cord could be worn temporarily or permanently if the service member was part of the unit during the battle that earned the award.

As of 2002, South Korea has again given the Korean Presidential Unit Citation to some U.S. Marine Corps units. This means this award, which was once obsolete, is now active again for U.S. decorations. Most foreign military awards today are given only to very high-ranking officers when they leave a major command.