1/4” Star, Blue – NAVY and MARINE CORPS, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, denotes initial and subsequent awards (obsolete).
3/16” Star, Bronze – ALL SERVICES, campaign and expeditionary awards since World War II, denotes major battle participation (one star per major engagement). NAVY and MARINE CORPS, unit awards, indicates one additional award. ALL SERVICES, service awards, indicates one additional award. ALL SERVICES, American Defense Service Medal, for overseas service prior to World War II. ALL SERVICES, World War I Victory Medal, one star for each campaign clasp earned. COAST GUARD, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, one additional award. ALL SERVICES, United Nations and NATO mission medals, one star for each additional mission. AIR FORCE, Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon, “One of 12” competition finalist. AIR FORCE, Small Arms Expert Qualification Ribbon, indicates additional weapons qualification.
3/16” Star, Silver – ALL SERVICES, campaign and expeditionary awards since World War II, denotes battle participation in five major engagements. NAVY and MARINE CORPS, unit awards, indicates five additional awards. ALL SERVICES, service awards, indicates five additional awards. COAST GUARD, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, five additional awards. ARMY, World War I Victory Medal and campaign medals up to World War I, indicates citation for gallantry. NAVY, World War I Victory Medal, receipt of letter of commendation.
5/16” Star, Bronze – NAVY and MARINE CORPS, Haitian Campaign Medal (1915), denotes subsequent award of the “1919-1920” Clasp.
5/16” Star, Gold – NAVY, MARINE CORPS and COAST GUARD personal decorations, denotes one additional award. AIR FORCE, Combat Action Medal, one additional award. COAST GUARD, unit awards, indicates one additional award. ALL SERVICES, Inter-American Defense Board Medal, one additional award. ARMY, Sea Duty Ribbon, indicates tenth (final) award.
5/16” Star, Silver – NAVY, MARINE CORPS and COAST GUARD personal decorations, denotes five additional awards. COAST GUARD, unit awards, indicates five additional awards.
Arctic Device, Bronze – AIR FORCE, Overseas Service Ribbon (Short Tour), for service at bases above the Arctic Circle.
Arrow Head, Bronze – ARMY and AIR FORCE, campaign medals since World War II, for participation in combat parachute, glider, or amphibious assault landings.
Atlantic Device, Bronze – NAVY, MARINE CORPS and COAST GUARD, American Defense Service Medal, for Atlantic Fleet service prior to World War II.
Battle “E” Device – NAVY and MARINE CORPS, Navy ‘E’ Ribbon, denotes initial and subsequent awards (up to three).
Battle “E” Device with Wreath – NAVY and MARINE CORPS, Navy ‘E’ Ribbon, denotes the fourth (final) award.
Berlin Airlift Device, Gold – ALL SERVICES, Army of Occupation Medal and Navy Occupational Service Medal, for participation in, or in direct support of, the Berlin airlift (June 26, 1948 to September 30, 1949).
C Device, Bronze – ALL SERVICES, personal decorations, denotes recognition of meritorious service or achievement under combat conditions.
C Device, Silver – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes second award of C device.
C Device, Gold – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes third award of C device.
C Device, Bronze with Wreath – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes fourth award of C device.
C Device, Silver with Wreath – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes fifth award of C device.
C Device, Gold with Wreath – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes sixth award of C device.
Globe Device, Gold – NAVY, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, denotes service with USS Triton during its first submerged cruise around the world.
Good Conduct Knot – ARMY, Army Good Conduct Medal, denotes additional awards – bronze, 2nd to 5th awards / silver, 6th to 10th awards / gold, 11th to 15th awards.
Hourglass Device, Bronze – ALL SERVICES, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, denotes ten years of service in the Reserve Forces.
Hourglass Device, Silver – ALL SERVICES, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, denotes twenty years of service in the Reserve Forces.
Hourglass Device, Gold – ALL SERVICES, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, denotes thirty years of service in the Reserve Forces.
Hurricane Device, Gold – COAST GUARD, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, for participation in and support of Hurricane “Katrina” aftermath.
M Device, Bronze – ALL SERVICES, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, denotes mobilization for active military service.
Maltese Cross, Bronze – NAVY, World War I Victory Medal, denotes service by NAVY personnel with the Allied Expeditionary Forces (AEF).
Marine Device, Bronze – NAVY, campaign medals since World War II, denotes service by Naval combat personnel with Marine Corps units.
N Device, Antique Gold – AIR FORCE, Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, denotes performance of duties within the missile complex in direct support of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations, or direct support of nuclear laden aircraft.
N Device, Gold – NAVY, Presidential Unit Citation, for service aboard USS Nautilus during its first cruise under the Arctic ice cap.
Numeral, Bronze, Block – ALL SERVICES, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, number of times mobilized for active duty service. ALL SERVICES, Multinational Force and Observers Medal, total number of awards. ARMY, Air Medal, overseas training awards, and overseas service awards, total number of awards. ARMY, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, level of professional training obtained: Basic ribbon, Primary Level / Numeral ‘2’, Basic Level / Numeral ‘3’, Advanced Level / Numeral ‘4’, Senior Level / Numeral ‘5’ (obsolete), Sergeants-Major Academy. NAVY and MARINE CORPS, Air Medal, total number of strike/flight awards. NAVY, Recruiting Service Ribbon, total number of “Gold Wreath” awards.
Numeral, Gold, Block – NAVY and MARINE CORPS, Air Medal, total denotes number of individual awards.
Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze – ARMY and AIR FORCE, denotes one additional personal decoration, service award, reserve award, or unit award. ALL SERVICES, denotes one additional personal Joint Service decoration or Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver – ARMY and AIR FORCE, denotes five additional personal decorations, service awards, reserve awards, or unit awards. ALL SERVICES, denotes five additional personal Joint Service decorations or Joint Meritorious Unit Awards.
Operational Distinguishing Device – COAST GUARD, personal and unit awards, for distinguished operational service by a cited individual or cited unit.
R Device, Bronze – ALL SERVICES, personal decorations, denotes exceptional achievement involving employment of a remote weapons system or war fighting activity with a direct and immediate impact on a combat or other military operation.
R Device, Silver – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes second award of R device.
R Device, Gold – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes third award of R device.
R Device, Bronze with Wreath – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes fourth award of R device.
R Device, Silver with Wreath – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes fifth award of R device.
R Device, Gold with Wreath – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes sixth award of R device.
V Device, Bronze – ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE and COAST GUARD, personal decorations, denotes valorous actions in combat. AIR FORCE, Outstanding Unit Award and Organizational Excellence Award, denotes valorous actions by unit in combat (no longer awarded). ALL SERVICES, Joint Service Commendation Medal, denotes valorous actions in combat.
V Device, Silver – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes second award of V device.
V Device, Gold – MARINE CORPS, personal decorations, denotes valorous actions in combat. AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes third award of V device.
V Device, Bronze with Wreath – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes fourth award of V device.
V Device, Silver with Wreath – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes fifth award of V device.
V Device, Gold with Wreath – AIR FORCE, personal decorations, denotes sixth award of V device.
Wake Island Device, Silver – NAVY and MARINE CORPS, Expeditionary Medals, denotes participation in the defense of Wake Island, December 1941.
Wintered Over Device, Bronze – ALL SERVICES, Antarctica Service Medal, denotes one winter served on the Antarctic continent.
Wintered Over Device, Gold – ALL SERVICES, Antarctica Service Medal, denotes two winters served on the Antarctic continent.
Wintered Over Device, Silver – ALL SERVICES, Antarctica Service Medal, denotes three or more winters served on the Antarctic continent.
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