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Related Resources • Air Force Awards & Decs • Navy/USMC Awards & Decs

As do the other U.S. Military Services, the Army uses military awards and decorations (medals and ribbons) to foster mission accomplishment by recognizing excellence of military  members of the force and motivating them to high levels of performance and service.

A medal will not be awarded or presented to any individual whose entire service subsequent to the time of the distinguished act, achievement, or service has not been honorable. The determination of "honorable" will be based on such honest and faithful service according the standards of conduct, courage, and duty required by law and customs of the service of a member of the grade to whom the standard is applied.

Army awards and decorations are approved accordance to the guidance contained in Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards.

Rules for the proper wear of Army awards and decorations can be found in Army Regulation 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms.

The below decorations are shown in order of precidence.

Click on the below decorations for a detailed description and basic award criteria:

MEDAL OF HONOR	DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL	SILVER STAR
LEGION OF MERIT	DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
SOLDIER’S MEDAL	BRONZE STAR MEDAL
PURPLE HEART	MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL
AIR MEDAL	ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
ARMY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL	PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL
GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL	RESERVE COMPONENTS ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL
CIVIL WAR CAMPAIGN MEDAL	INDIAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
SPANISH CAMPAIGN MEDAL	SPANISH WAR SERVICE MEDAL
CUBAN OCCUPATION MEDAL	PUERTO RICAN OCCUPATION MEDAL
PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN MEDAL	PHILIPPINE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL
CHINA CAMPAIGN MEDAL	CUBAN PACIFICATION MEDAL
MEXICAN SERVICE MEDAL	MEXICAN BORDER SERVICE MEDAL
WORLD WAR I VICTORY MEDAL	OCCUPATION OF GERMANY WW I
AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL	WOMEN'S ARMY CORPS MEDAL
AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL	ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL
EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN MEDAL	WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL
ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL	MEDAL FOR HUMANE ACTION
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL	KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL
ANTARCTICA SERVICE MEDAL	ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL
VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL	SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE MEDAL
KOSOVO CAMPAIGN MEDAL	AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
IRAQ 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	ARMED FORCES RESERVE MEDAL
NCO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RIBBON	ARMY SERVICE RIBBON
OVERSEAS SERVICE RIBBON	RESERVE COMPONENTS OVERSEAS TRAINING RIBBON
CROIX DE GUERRE FRANCE	CROIX DE GUERRE BELGIUM
(VARIOUS DESIGNS) UN PEACEKEEPING MEDALS	NATO MEDAL
VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS	REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL
KUWAIT LIBERATION MEDAL (PRESENTED BY SAUDI ARABIA)	KUWAIT LIBERATION MEDAL (PRESENTED BY KUWAIT)
UNIT AWARDS
ARMY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION	JOINT MERITORIOUS UNIT AWARD
ARMY VALORIOUS UNIT AWARD	ARMY MERITORIOUS UNIT AWARD
ARMY SUPERIOR UNIT AWARD	PHILLIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION	REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
VIETNAM GALLANTRY CROSS UNIT CITATION	VIETNAM CIVIL ACTIONS UNIT CITATION