Awards, Decorations & Badges
Ribbons, medals, service stripes, combat badges, and identification badges.
37 guides in this topic
AR 670-1: 22-1. General
Chapter 22 governs all awards authorized for wear on Army uniforms, including U.S. and foreign decorations, service medals, badges, unit awards, and appurtenances. The term "award" covers any decoration, service medal, badge, ribbon, or appurtenance bestowed on an individual or unit.
AR 670-1: 22-10. U.S. and foreign unit awards
Permanent and temporary fourrageres and lanyards may be worn on the ser- vice/dress uniform per the provisions of AR 600–8–22.
AR 670-1: 22-11. Appurtenances
Appurtenances are devices affixed to service or suspension ribbons, or worn in lieu of medals or ribbons. They are worn to denote an additional award, participation in a specific event, or some other distinguishing characteristic of an award.
AR 670-1: 22-12. Badges authorized for wear on Army uniforms
Badges are awarded for identification purposes or for attaining special skills or proficiency. Authorized badges include those awarded by the U.S. Army and other U.S. Services, marksmanship badges from national matches, badges of civic and military societies, and foreign badges. See DA Pam 670-1 for placement and wear guidance.
AR 670-1: 22-13. Badges not authorized for wear on Army uniforms
The following badges are NOT authorized for wear on Army uniforms: badges from states or inferior jurisdictions, foreign civilian organizations, foreign military badges (unless previously authorized), marksmanship badges from other Services, and locally authorized badges.
AR 670-1: 22-14. Categories of badges authorized for wear on Army uniforms
Four categories of badges are authorized for wear on the Army uniform: marksmanship badges and tabs, combat and special skill badges and tabs, identification badges, and foreign badges. See DA Pam 670-1 for placement guidance for each category.
AR 670-1: 22-15. Marksmanship badges and tabs
Marksmanship badges include Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman. Qualification bars denote specific weapons. The Excellence in Competition badge and President's Hundred Tab are also authorized for eligible Soldiers.
AR 670-1: 22-16. Combat and special skill badges
Combat badges (CIB, CMB, CAB) recognize engagement with the enemy. Special skill badges (Airborne, Air Assault, Ranger Tab, etc.) recognize qualification in special skills. First award of a combat badge takes precedence.
AR 670-1: 22-17. Identification badges
Identification badges identify personnel serving in specific positions or assignments. Examples include the Presidential Service Badge, Joint Chiefs of Staff ID Badge, and Army Staff ID Badge. Wear is authorized during and after the assignment.
AR 670-1: 22-18. Foreign badges
Personnel may wear one foreign badge at a time on the Army service/dress uniform and the AGSU. Only badges awarded by a foreign military department in recognition of military activities are authorized for permanent wear. See DA Pam 670-1 for wear details.
AR 670-1: 22-2. Authorization
Commanders may require the wear of authorized awards for parades, reviews, inspections, funerals, and ceremonial or social occasions. Otherwise, authorized awards are worn at the Soldier's option during normal duty hours. Personnel are encouraged to wear awards on service, dress, mess, and evening mess uniforms.
AR 670-1: 22-3. When wearing awards is prohibited
Wearing awards is prohibited on unauthorized uniforms (per 18 USC 704), while serving a sentence of confinement, and on civilian clothing (except civilian awards, lapel buttons, or rosettes intended for civilian wear). Soldiers may wear miniature medals on formal civilian attire when the Army uniform is inappropriate or not authorized.
AR 670-1: 22-4. Order of precedence by category of medal
The order of precedence by category is: (1) U.S. military decorations, (2) U.S. unit awards, (3) U.S. nonmilitary decorations, (4) U.S. service/campaign medals and ribbons, (5) U.S. Merchant Marine awards, (6) U.S. nonmilitary unit awards, (7) foreign military decorations, (8) foreign unit awards, (9) non-U.S. service awards, (10) State awards for ARNG Soldiers.
AR 670-1: 22-5. Order of precedence within categories of medals
DA Pam 670-1 lists the specific order of precedence within each award category. U.S. military decorations rank from Medal of Honor (highest) through Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and down. Service medals are ordered by the campaign or period they represent. See DA Pam 670-1 for the complete ranked lists.
AR 670-1: 22-6. Wear of service ribbons and lapel buttons
See DA Pam 670-1 for ribbon wear guidance. Lapel buttons are miniature enameled replica awards worn only on civilian clothing, with exceptions for the gold star and next of kin lapel buttons, which may also be worn on the service/dress uniform.
AR 670-1: 22-7. Full-sized U.S. and foreign decorations and service medals
All personnel may wear full-sized decorations and service medals on the service/dress uniform. The Medal of Honor has specific wear guidance in DA Pam 670-1. See DA Pam 670-1 for detailed placement and mounting instructions.
AR 670-1: 22-8. Miniature decorations and service medals
Miniature medals are half-scale replicas of full-sized medals. Only miniature medals (not full-sized) are authorized on mess and evening mess uniforms, and on formal civilian attire. There is no miniature Medal of Honor. The CIB and EIB are the only badges available in three sizes (full, miniature, and dress miniature). Miniature combat and special skill badges may be worn with miniature medals.
AR 670-1: 22-9. Multiple neck ribbons, broad sashes, and stars
An individual awarded more than one decoration that includes a broad ribbon, sash, or star will wear only one broad ribbon or sash, and no more than four stars at one time.
Army Directive 2023-01: Army Recruiting Ribbon Program
The Army Recruiting Ribbon is awarded to Soldiers who provide a valid referral of an individual who both enlists and ships to Initial Military Training. Soldiers may receive it up to four times, with 10 promotion points toward E-5/E-6 per award (up to 40 total). The battalion commander is the approval authority.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-1. General
This chapter covers the wear of decorations, service medals, badges, unit awards, and appurtenances, both U.S. and foreign, authorized for wear on Army uniforms.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-10. U.S. and foreign unit awards
U.S. unit award emblems are worn on the right side of the ASU, AGSU, and ASU shirt, in order of precedence from the wearer's right to left, no more than three per row. Permanent wear requires assignment during the cited period (or 30 consecutive days for attached personnel). Temporary wear is authorized while assigned to the cited unit but not for official photos or boards. Fourrageres and lanyards are worn on the left shoulder.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-11. Appurtenances
Appurtenances denote additional awards or participation in specific events. Key devices include: oak leaf clusters (bronze or silver, silver replaces five bronze), "V" device (one per ribbon for valor), service stars (bronze or silver for campaigns), arrowhead (for amphibious assault), numerals, and clasps. The Army Good Conduct Medal uses loop clasps progressing from bronze through silver to gold for 2nd through 15th awards.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-12. Badges authorized for wear on Army uniforms
Badges authorized for Army uniform wear include: U.S. military badges from all services, badges from the Regular Army and Navy Union, national match marksmanship badges approved by HQDA, badges of civic and military societies (worn only at meetings/functions), and foreign badges authorized by AR 600-8-22. Tabs (Sapper, Ranger, Special Forces, President's Hundred) are authorized for permanent wear. See AR 670-1 for full policy.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-13. Badges not authorized for wear on Army uniforms
See AR 670-1 for policy on badges not authorized for Army uniform wear. Exception: under 32 USC, ARNG personnel may wear State awards when under command of the governor or Adjutant General during AGR duty, training, drill status, and similar periods. State awards are worn in State order of precedence after Federal and foreign awards. Soldiers on active Federal service may accept but not wear State awards.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-14. Categories of badges authorized for wear on Army uniforms
The four categories of badges authorized for wear on Army uniforms are: (a) marksmanship badges and tab, (b) combat and special skill badges and tabs, (c) identification badges, and (d) foreign badges. See AR 670-1 for detailed policy on each category.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-15. Marksmanship badges and tab
Marksmanship badges in order of precedence: Distinguished International Shooter, Distinguished Rifleman, Distinguished Pistol Shot, National Trophy Match, Inter-Service Competition, Excellence in Competition (Rifleman and Pistol Shot), and qualification badges (Expert, Sharpshooter, Marksman). Up to three may be worn on the left breast pocket flap. The President's Hundred tab (yellow with green letters) is worn above the SSI on the left sleeve.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-16. Combat and special skill badges and tabs
Combat and special skill badges are organized in six groups: Group 1 (CIB, CMB, CAB), Group 2 (EIB, EFMB, ESB), Group 3 (aviator, flight surgeon, aviation, EOD, parachute rigger badges), Group 4 (parachutist, pathfinder, air assault, diver, space badges, Ranger/SF/Sapper tab replicas), Group 5 (driver/mechanic, marksmanship), Group 6 (physical fitness, APFU only). Up to six total badges may be worn on the ASU; four on the AGSU.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-17. Identification badges
ID badges in order of precedence: Presidential Service, Vice Presidential Service, Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combat Service ID Badge, Army Staff (MacArthur Badge), Guard Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Military Horseman, Drill Sergeant, U.S. Army Recruiter, Master Gunner, Career Counselor, ARNG Recruiting/Retention, Instructor, and Retired Service. No more than two per side on the ASU; one per side on the AGSU.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-18. Foreign badges
Soldiers may wear one foreign badge on the AGSU coat, ASU coat, ASU shirt, and maternity tunic. Foreign badges are not authorized on mess or utility uniforms. At least one U.S. medal or ribbon must be worn simultaneously. Male Soldiers wear the badge centered 1/8 inch above the right pocket flap; female Soldiers wear it 1/2 inch above the nameplate. The German Marksmanship Award (Schutzenschnur) is authorized for enlisted personnel only.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-2. Authorization
Soldiers may sew on authorized skill and ID badges on utility uniforms. When badges are sewn on, nametape, U.S. Army tape, and grade insignia must also be sewn on. Pin-on and sew-on badges may not be mixed.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-3. When wearing awards is prohibited
Wearing awards is prohibited: (a) on any uniform other than those authorized in AR 670-1, (b) when serving a sentence of confinement, and (c) when wearing civilian clothing, except for civilian awards, lapel buttons, or rosettes intended for civilian attire. Soldiers may wear miniature medals on formal civilian attire at formal social functions when the Army uniform is inappropriate or not authorized.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-4. Order of precedence by category of medal
When medals from multiple categories are worn, the order of precedence by category is: (1) U.S. military decorations, (2) U.S. unit awards, (3) U.S. nonmilitary decorations, (4) U.S. service/campaign medals and training ribbons, (5) U.S. Merchant Marine awards, (6) U.S. nonmilitary unit awards, (7) foreign military decorations, (8) foreign unit awards, (9) non-U.S. service awards, (10) State awards for ARNG Soldiers.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-5. Order of precedence within categories of medals
Within U.S. military decorations, the Medal of Honor has highest precedence, followed by Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, and continuing through the Joint Service Achievement Medal and service-specific achievement medals. U.S. service medals begin with the Prisoner of War Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-6. Wear of service ribbons and lapel buttons
Service ribbons are worn in order of precedence from right to left, in rows of no more than four ribbons with no space or 1/8-inch space between rows. Male Soldiers wear ribbons centered 1/8 inch above the left breast pocket on the ASU and AGSU coats. Ribbons are not authorized on the AGSU shirt. Lapel buttons are miniature enameled replicas worn only on civilian clothing. Gold star and next of kin lapel buttons may be worn on ASU and AGSU coats.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-7. Full-sized U.S. and foreign decorations and service medals
Full-sized medals are worn on the ASU and AGSU coats in order of precedence from the wearer's right to left, no more than four per row, with 1/8-inch space between rows. Medals may not overlap. Up to three combat and special skill badges may be worn above the medals. The Medal of Honor is worn with the neckband around the neck, outside the shirt collar and inside the coat collar, hanging over the necktie.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-8. Miniature decorations and service medals
Miniature medals are worn on mess and evening mess uniform jackets in order of precedence, no more than four per row, and may be overlapped up to 50 percent (maximum holding bar length 2-3/4 inches). Male Soldiers wear them centered on the left lapel approximately 1/2 inch below the notch. Only dress miniature combat and special skill badges and miniature metal tab replicas are worn with miniature medals; unit awards are not worn with them.
DA PAM 670-1: 22-9. Multiple neck ribbons, broad sashes, and stars
No more than two decorations with neck ribbons may be worn at one time; the highest precedence decoration is suspended above the other, with the Medal of Honor always taking precedence. Neck ribbons are worn outside the shirt collar and inside the coat collar. Foreign stars are worn above the waistline: two stars alongside or above the first, three in a triangle (point up), four with the fourth centered beneath the triangle.