US Military Awards Ranked by Honor

This group of medals are awarded to U.S. servicemen by the governments of other countries. One of these is the Korean Order of National Security Merit. The order is divided into five classes, and is awarded to those individuals who have rendered distinguished service to national security for the nation of South Korea.

International Awards are ribbons and medals given by foreign powers that are allies of the United States. The United Nations Medal, for example, is an international decoration awarded by the United Nation to military servicemen across the world for participation in joint international military and police operations such as peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and disaster relief.

In 1884, the US Secretary of War established the “distinguished class” of marksman, followed in 1887 by the first Distinguished Marksman Badge to honor those who achieved this status with the rifle, carbine, revolver, or a combination. Later in 1903, the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge was created, which was the highest award for pistol marksmanship in the US military until 1962. In order to achieve “distinguished status” and receive one of these badges, US Coast Guardsmen must earn at least 30 leg points, which are accumulated over a competitor’s lifetime.

Rifle marksmanship awards are given for scoring expert on a rifle which is a certain amount depending on each specific branch. For example, the Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship ribbon is awarded to personnel who qualify at the Marksman level over a course of fire prescribed by regulations. The current qualifying rifles are the M16 or M4.

The Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (SAEMR) was authorized in 1962. It is awarded to all Air Force service members who qualify as “Expert” in small-arms marksmanship with either the M-16 rifle or standard issue handgun.

Professional development ribbons are awards given to members of the U.S. military who have achieved sanctioned academic achievements like NCO school or Professional Development Education courses.

Guard ribbons are specific medals that are earned by participation and mobilization in a branch’s guard component. These can range from specific awards given for actions while acting in a guard capacity to recognizing participation in mobilizations or deployments outside their normal duties. One example, the Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon, is a U.S Marine Corps military award that was established in 1997. It recognizes Marine Corps personnel who have served as U.S. Embassy Security Guards and is retroactive to 1949.

Training service ribbons are special ribbons that recognize members of branches who have acted as trainers at basic training or tech schools for their own branch. The Marine Corps Combat Instructor Ribbon is a military award of the United States Marine Corps established in August 2014. The ribbon acknowledges completion of a tour as a combat instructor or leadership role at the School of Infantry.

Recruiting service ribbons are special ribbons that recognize members of branches who have acted as a recruiter for their own branch.

The General Service Awards are medals issued by the various U.S. military branches to recognize military personnel who have served in various roles, with separate medals for domestic and overseas service. General Service Medals are for simple acts that stand out above the normal duty but not in the level that meet the other service medals.

Campaign medals are specialized medals designed to commemorate authorized military operations, such as the recent conflict in Iraq. These medals serve as a form of recognition for military personnel who contributed to these campaigns, either in an active or supporting role. Their purpose is to acknowledge the sacrifices and efforts of those who served in these theaters of war.

Special medals are created to represent special and unique achievements that are either hard to get or unique, like the Antarctica Service Medal or the Air and Space Campaign Medal. There are different types of Special Service Medals, such as the Antarctica Service Medal and the Air and Space Campaign Medal.

General service medals are awarded to anyone who has served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces during either the Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and the Global War on Terrorism.

The Occupation Medal was created to recognize the soldiers who participated in World War II. It was issued from 1945 to 1990. Occupation medals were the precursor to the expeditionary and campaign medals the U.S. Military would use later.

Expeditionary medals are a series of medals that are given to U.S. Armed Forces members for actions that take place in a foreign theater against an enemy force. This award is usually not a combat award but is given to those who have served a stated period of time where hazard pay or hostile fire pay is included.

Reserve medals are specific medals that are earned by participation and mobilization in a branch’s Reserve component. These can range from specific awards given for actions while acting in a reserve capacity to recognizing participation in mobilizations or deployments outside their normal duties.

The various medals and awards included in the Good Conduct Medal reward soldiers who have served honorably and faithfully for a set period of time. The medals are awarded to soldiers who have displayed exemplary behavior during their service. This category also includes special awards like the Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon.

The Prisoner of War Medal is an esteemed military accolade granted to individuals who have experienced time in captivity as prisoners of war. President Ronald Reagan established this recognition in November 1985 to pay tribute to those who have been held captive by opposing forces during times of war. The Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard all award this medal as a testament to the sacrifices and hardships endured by prisoners of war.

Efficiency Awards are medals issued by the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The E ribbons are given to service members who have earned the Occupational Excellence Award during their training.

The Meritorious Unit Commendations aremedal that can be issued by the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard to an entire unit that doesn’t merit a presidential unit citation. These medals are given to units who have shown exceptional conduct in either combat or non-combat situations. They can be issued for multiple reasons, including assisting in a national disaster to the unit distinguishing itself in official inspections.

This medal category is awarded to U.S. military units, rather than individuals. The unit must display gallantry and determination in accomplishing its mission under highly difficult conditions.

The Combat Action Ribbon category is a medal that may be awarded to members of the Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard who have actively participated in ground or aerial combat. To be considered for a Combat Action Ribbon, evidence must establish the military member engaged the enemy, was under hostile fire, or attacked by the enemy. Simply being in an active combat zone isn’t enough to merit one of these medals.

The Achievement Medals are a military award that is issued by the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. They are awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who distinguish themselves by outstanding achievement or meritorious service that doesn’t quite constitute nomination for a commendation medal.

Commendation Medals are issued by the Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. This medal category is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by meritorious achievement or service. One example, the Joint Service Commendation Medal was authorized in June 1963 and is senior in precedence to service-specific Commendation Medals.

The award category is given for achievements in non-combat situations that warrant more than an achievement medal but not as high as a Meritorious Service Medal. Often, this class of award is given to Non-Commissioned Officers.

The Meritorious Service Medal is a military award that is given to service members who display exemplary achievement or service. Issued by the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, there are specific medals for each branch. Some examples of the different medals include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal and the Aerial Achievement Medal. To be eligible for the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, one must complete duties with distinction on a joint assignment. Most often, this award is given to officers in pay grades O-4 and above.

The Non-Combat Heroism Medal is issued by the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Despite the name, these medals are awarded to service members in a combat arena, but they are awarded for actions related to saving the lives of fellow soldiers, rather than taking the lives of enemies. The most well-known example is the Purple Heart.

These Distinguished Service Medals are awarded to members of the armed services for activities not quite sufficient to merit consideration for a service cross medal. One such medal, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, is the highest honor that can be given to a member of the Armed Forces for non-combat related achievement.

The Service Cross Medal is a military decoration that is issued by the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. This medal is awarded to servicemen and women who distinguish themselves by their extraordinary heroism in combat against an armed enemy force. The actions that are being honored must be notable and involve a great risk of life in order to be considered for this medal.

The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest and most prestigious military award. It is awarded to members of the armed forces who have distinguished themselves through acts of extraordinary heroism. There are just 65 living recipients of the award.