Navy Ribbons Order of Precedence: Medals and Ribbons Chart (2026)
The Navy order of precedence for medals and ribbons, explained simply: the six groups in order, the full list of decorations, how to build your rack, and the wear rules from the Uniform Regulations.
Some links on NavyMentor are affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. How this works
In this guide
Navy ribbons are worn in a fixed order, with your highest award first. Personal decorations come first. Unit awards come next. Then come campaign and service awards, foreign awards and, last of all, marksmanship ribbons. On the uniform, the highest ribbon sits in the top row, on the side closest to the middle of your chest.
That is the whole idea in three sentences. The hard part is the detail: which medal outranks which, how many ribbons go in a row, and where the rack sits on your uniform.
This guide walks you through all of it in plain English. Every rule here comes from the Navy’s own Uniform Regulations, and we link to the official chart so you can double-check your own rack. 🎖️
What “order of precedence” means
Precedence simply means rank order. Every award has a place in line. An award for a personal act of bravery outranks an award for being part of a good unit. That, in turn, outranks an award for serving in a certain place or time.
The order matters because your ribbon rack tells a story. Anyone who knows the system can read your career at a glance. If the ribbons are in the wrong order, the story is wrong — and an inspector will notice.
The Navy and the Marine Corps share one awards manual, issued by the Secretary of the Navy. The other services have their own charts. That is why an Army or Air Force rack can look different from a Navy one, even with some of the same ribbons.
A few words you will see
- Award: any decoration, medal, badge or ribbon.
- Decoration: an award given to one person for a specific act of bravery or for outstanding service.
- Unit award: an award given to a whole unit. Only people who were part of the unit during the cited action wear it.
- Service award: an award for taking part in a war, campaign or expedition, or for meeting a set service requirement.
- Ribbon: a short strip of a medal’s ribbon, worn on a bar. Some awards are ribbon-only and have no medal.
- Attachment or device: a small star, oak leaf cluster or letter worn on a ribbon.
The six groups, in order
Before you worry about single ribbons, get the big groups right. Every ribbon you own belongs to one of these groups. Sort by group first, then sort inside each group.
| Order | Group | What it recognises | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Military decorations | Personal bravery or outstanding service | Navy Cross, Bronze Star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal |
| 2 | Unit awards | What your unit achieved while you were in it | Presidential Unit Citation, Navy “E” Ribbon |
| 3 | Non-military decorations | U.S. decorations from outside the military | Presidential Medal of Freedom, Gold Life Saving Medal |
| 4 | Campaign and service awards | Where, when and how you served | Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon |
| 5 | Foreign and non-U.S. awards | Awards from other countries and from bodies such as the UN and NATO | United Nations Medal, NATO Medal |
| 6 | Marksmanship awards | Weapons qualification | Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon |
Think of it as three questions, in order: What did you do? What did your unit do? Where and when did you serve?
Navy military decorations, highest to lowest
These are the personal awards. They sit at the very top of any rack. The Navy’s Uniform Regulations list them in this order.
| # | Decoration | In plain English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medal of Honor | The nation’s highest award for valor |
| 2 | Navy Cross | The Navy’s second-highest award for valor in combat |
| 3 | Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Top-level service in a joint post |
| 4 | Distinguished Service Medal | Top-level service in a Navy post |
| 5 | Silver Star Medal | Gallantry in action |
| 6 | Defense Superior Service Medal | Superior service in a senior joint post |
| 7 | Legion of Merit | Exceptionally meritorious service |
| 8 | Distinguished Flying Cross | Heroism or achievement in flight |
| 9 | Navy and Marine Corps Medal | Heroism not involving the enemy |
| 10 | Bronze Star Medal | Heroic or meritorious service in a combat zone |
| 11 | Purple Heart | Wounded or killed in action |
| 12 | Defense Meritorious Service Medal | Meritorious service in a joint post |
| 13 | Meritorious Service Medal | Outstanding non-combat service |
| 14 | Air Medal | Achievement in flight |
| 15 | Joint Service Commendation Medal | Commendable service in a joint post |
| 16 | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | Often called the “NCM” or “Navy Com” |
| 17 | Joint Service Achievement Medal | Achievement in a joint post |
| 18 | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal | The “NAM” — the most common personal award for junior sailors |
| 19 | Combat Action Ribbon | Took an active part in ground or surface combat |
Source: U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, article 5305.
Notice that a “Defense” or “Joint” medal sits just above its Navy twin. The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is above the Meritorious Service Medal. The Joint Service Achievement Medal is above the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Remember that and half the list falls into place.
Unit awards
Unit awards come straight after your personal decorations. You wear one only if you were part of the unit during the period it was recognised for.
- Presidential Unit Citation
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
- Navy Unit Commendation
- Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Navy “E” Ribbon (the Battle “E”)
These are all ribbon-only awards. There is no medal that goes with them. That matters when you wear medals, as you will see below.
Campaign and service awards most sailors see
This is the longest group by far. The full official list has dozens of awards, many of them for past wars. The table below shows the ones a sailor serving today is most likely to wear, in the correct order. Awards you do not have are simply skipped.
| Order | Award | Usually earned by |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navy Good Conduct Medal | Enlisted sailors, for a set period of good service |
| 2 | Navy Expeditionary Medal | Taking part in certain operations abroad |
| 3 | National Defense Service Medal | Service during set periods of national emergency; the most recent period closed at the end of 2022 |
| 4 | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Named U.S. military operations |
| 5 | Afghanistan, Iraq and Inherent Resolve Campaign Medals | Service in those campaigns |
| 6 | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Deployed abroad in support of the Global War on Terrorism |
| 7 | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Support of those operations |
| 8 | Korean Defense Service Medal | Service in Korea |
| 9 | Armed Forces Service Medal | Certain peacekeeping and support operations |
| 10 | Humanitarian Service Medal | Hands-on help in a named relief operation |
| 11 | Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal | Sustained volunteer work in the community |
| 12 | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon | Completing a qualifying deployment |
| 13 | Navy Arctic Service Ribbon | Service above the Arctic Circle |
| 14 | Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon | A tour at an overseas duty station |
| 15 | Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon | A tour as a recruiter |
| 16 | Navy Recruit Training Service Ribbon | A tour training recruits |
| 17 | Navy Ceremonial Guard Service Ribbon | A tour with the Ceremonial Guard |
| 18 | Armed Forces Reserve Medal | Long reserve service or mobilisation |
Source: U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, article 5308 (selected awards, kept in official order).
We left out older campaign medals and some specialist ribbons to keep the table readable. If you hold an award that is not shown here, find its exact place on the official chart. Newer ribbons are added from time to time, so the chart is the only complete source.
Foreign awards and marksmanship ribbons
Foreign and non-U.S. awards
Awards from other countries and from international bodies go after all U.S. awards. Inside this group there is still an order:
- Foreign personal decorations — worn in the order you received them.
- Foreign unit awards — such as the Philippine or Korean Presidential Unit Citations.
- Non-U.S. service awards — the United Nations Medal, the NATO Medal, the Multinational Force and Observers Medal and the Inter-American Defense Board Medal.
- Foreign service awards — such as the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Kuwait Liberation Medals.
One important rule: you may wear a foreign award only if you are also wearing at least one U.S. award.
Marksmanship awards
Marksmanship comes last. For most sailors that means two ribbons, in this order:
- Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon
- Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon
Sailors who qualify as Expert receive the Expert Rifleman Medal or the Expert Pistol Shot Medal. The rifle award still comes before the pistol award.
How to wear Navy ribbons
Knowing the order is half the job. The other half is putting the rack on the uniform correctly. Here are the rules, taken from article 5312 of the Uniform Regulations.
- Rows of three. Wear up to three ribbons in a single row. If you have more than three, wear them in horizontal rows of three.
- Short row on top. If your ribbons do not divide evenly by three, the top row holds the smaller number. Centre it over the row below.
- No gaps. There are no spaces between ribbons or between rows.
- ¼ inch above the pocket. The lower edge of the bottom row sits ¼ inch above the left breast pocket, centred and level.
- Top down, inboard to outboard. Your highest ribbon goes in the top row on the inboard side — the side nearest the centre of your chest. Then work outward, then down.
- Three or all. If you have earned three or more ribbons, you may wear either your three senior ribbons or all of them.
To someone standing in front of you, your rack reads like a page of a book: left to right, top to bottom. The first “word” on the page is your highest award.
Which uniforms take ribbons?
Ribbons go on the coat or jumper of Service Dress Blue and Service Dress White. They also go on the shirts of Service Khaki, Summer White and the E1–E6 Service Uniform. Ribbons are not worn on working uniforms, or on formal dress and dinner dress uniforms.
If the lapel covers your ribbons
On a service dress coat, the lapel can hide part of the rack. The regulations allow for this. You may line up the rack with the left edge of the pocket. If more than half of a ribbon is still covered, that row may hold two ribbons instead of three.
Coats and shirts without pockets
Some women’s coats and shirts have no breast pocket. In that case, the regulations say to centre the ribbons on the left side, with the bottom of the lowest row about 6¼ inches down from the shoulder seam. You can adjust the height a little so the rack sits properly.
Keep them clean and plain
Ribbons are mounted on a bar and pinned to the uniform. They must not have a clear plastic cover, and they must not be treated with anything that changes how they look. Replace a ribbon when it fades or frays.
Ribbons, large medals or miniature medals?
The same award can be worn in three forms. Which one you wear depends on the uniform.
| Form | Worn with | Key rules |
|---|---|---|
| Ribbons | Service dress and service uniforms | Rows of three, ¼ inch above the left pocket |
| Large medals | Full Dress uniforms | On the left side. Up to three side by side; up to five in a row if they overlap. With more than five, wear your five senior medals or all of them. |
| Miniature medals | Formal dress and dinner dress uniforms | Half-size copies of the large medals. No ribbons are worn with them. |
What happens to ribbon-only awards on Full Dress?
Some awards have no medal — the Combat Action Ribbon, unit awards, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and others. On Full Dress, these ribbons move to your right breast, level with the bar holding your lowest row of medals. They still go in order of precedence, top down and inboard to outboard.
Medals on civilian clothes
The regulations allow miniature medals on civilian evening dress (white tie) or dinner dress (black tie), worn the same way as on a dinner dress jacket. On other civilian clothes you can wear a small lapel button or rosette on the left lapel. This is the usual choice for veterans at formal events.
Stars, oak leaves and letters: reading the small devices
You never wear the same ribbon twice. If you earn an award again, you add a small device to the ribbon you already have. This is where many racks go wrong.
| Device | What it means | Used on |
|---|---|---|
| Gold star (5/16 inch) | A second or later award | Navy military decorations, such as the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal |
| Bronze oak leaf cluster | A second or later award | Defense and joint awards, such as the Joint Service Achievement Medal |
| Bronze star (3/16 inch) | A second or later award | Many unit and service awards, such as the Good Conduct Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon |
| Silver star | Worn in place of five gold or five bronze stars | The same ribbons as the stars it replaces |
| Silver oak leaf cluster | Worn in place of five bronze oak leaf clusters | Defense and joint awards |
| Letters such as “V” and “C” | Special conditions, such as valor or combat conditions | Only where your citation authorises it |
A single device is centred on the ribbon. Stars are worn with two rays pointing down. If you have more than one device, they go in a level line, spaced evenly around the centre.
Three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals = one ribbon with two gold stars. The ribbon itself counts as the first award. Each star counts as one more.
Ribbons that have a right way up
Most ribbons look the same either way round. A few do not. The regulations spell out how to wear them. These are the ones sailors run into most often:
- Combat Action Ribbon: the outermost blue stripe goes to the wearer’s right.
- Presidential Unit Citation: the blue stripe is uppermost.
- Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait): the black stripe is uppermost.
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal: the blue stripe in the centre goes to the wearer’s right.
- Kosovo Campaign Medal: the broad blue stripe goes to the wearer’s right.
If you are not sure, compare your ribbon with the picture on the official chart. It takes ten seconds and saves an awkward inspection.
Build your ribbon rack in six steps
- List every award you have earned. Use your official record, not memory. Your awards are listed in your service record and on your award certificates.
- Sort them into the six groups. Decorations, unit, non-military, campaign and service, foreign, marksmanship.
- Order each group. Use the tables above, then confirm on the official chart.
- Add the devices. One ribbon per award, with stars or oak leaves for repeats.
- Lay out the rows. Rows of three, with any short row on top and centred.
- Check it, then mount it. Have a shipmate or your chief look it over before you pin it on.
A worked example
Say a sailor has earned these seven ribbons: a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (twice), a Navy “E” Ribbon, a Good Conduct Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon and a Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.
Seven ribbons means one on top and two full rows below. This is how it looks to someone facing the sailor:
| Row | Left | Centre | Right |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | Achievement Medal (with one gold star) | ||
| Middle | Navy “E” Ribbon | Good Conduct Medal | GWOT Service Medal |
| Bottom | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon | Overseas Service Ribbon | Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon |
The personal decoration is on top. The unit award comes next. The service awards follow in order. Marksmanship is last.
Real-life situations
1. You are building your first rack
New sailors often start with only one or two ribbons, and that is normal. Wear them in a single row. Buy a mounting bar that fits the number you have now, and expect to rebuild it as you earn more.
2. You just got a second award of the same medal
Do not add a second ribbon. Add a device to the first one. For a Navy decoration that is a gold star. For most service ribbons it is a small bronze star.
3. You are getting ready for a dress inspection
Print the official chart. Check your rack ribbon by ribbon, then check the devices, then measure the ¼ inch gap. Faded ribbons are the easiest hit to avoid, so replace them.
4. You served with another branch
Awards from the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard that match a Navy award are worn in the order that service sets. But where there is a tie, the Navy award takes precedence.
5. You are a veteran or a family member building a display
A shadow box usually follows the same order: highest award at the top, reading left to right. If medals are missing, veterans and next of kin can ask for replacements through the National Personnel Records Center. A Veterans Service Officer can help with the request.
Buying ribbons and medals is legal. But wear only the awards in your official record. Falsely claiming certain military decorations to gain money or other benefits is a federal crime.
Common mistakes (and the fix for each)
⚠️ Mistake: Putting the short row at the bottom.
✅ Fix: The row with fewer ribbons always goes on top, centred over the row below.
⚠️ Mistake: Building the rack backwards.
✅ Fix: Highest award is top row, inboard. To a person facing you, it is at the top left.
⚠️ Mistake: Wearing two of the same ribbon.
✅ Fix: One ribbon per award. Show repeats with stars or oak leaf clusters.
⚠️ Mistake: Using the wrong device.
✅ Fix: Gold stars for Navy decorations. Bronze oak leaf clusters for defense and joint awards.
⚠️ Mistake: Placing a unit award above a personal medal.
✅ Fix: All personal military decorations come before any unit award.
⚠️ Mistake: Wearing a ribbon upside down.
✅ Fix: Check ribbons with uneven stripes against the official chart.
⚠️ Mistake: Using another service’s chart.
✅ Fix: Use the Navy chart. The Army and Air Force order some awards differently.
⚠️ Mistake: Wearing ribbons on a working uniform.
✅ Fix: Ribbons are for service and service dress uniforms only.
Pro tips from the fleet
- Keep two racks. One for daily wear and a fresh one kept for inspections and ceremonies.
- Take a photo of a correct rack. It makes rebuilding much faster after you earn a new award.
- Check your record first. If an award is missing from your record, fix the record before you wear the ribbon.
- Buy spare devices. The small stars are easy to lose and cost very little.
- Ask your chief. A two-minute check from someone experienced beats an hour of guessing.
- Re-check the chart each year. New ribbons are added, and the order is updated.
Helpful gear for your ribbons and medals
You do not need much. A good reference book, a mounting bar that fits your rack, and a display case if you want to keep medals safe at home. We chose these by researching what each one does and who it suits. We have not tested them hands-on, and we list the trade-offs. Read how we choose products.
| Product | Best for | Key feature | Price level | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best referenceThe Bluejacket's Manual, 26th Edition | Learning Navy customs, uniforms and awards | The standard handbook for sailors | Mid-range | See on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Best for building a rackVanguard Ribbon Mounting Bar (5 ribbons) | Mounting slide-on ribbons neatly | Metal bar that holds five ribbons | Budget | See on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Best for displayReminded Military Shadow Box | Keeping medals and a flag at home | Solid pine case with a glass front | Mid-range | See on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Price level is a broad guide, not a live price. Scroll the table sideways on small screens.
The Bluejacket's Manual, 26th Edition
Mid-range
The Bluejacket's Manual has been the basic handbook for U.S. Navy sailors for more than a century. It covers customs, uniforms, ranks, ships and day-to-day Navy life in one place. It is a helpful companion to the official regulations, which always come first.
Ideal for: New sailors, families, and anyone who wants the background behind the rules.
- Covers uniforms, customs and Navy basics
- Written for enlisted sailors
- Long-running standard reference
- Authors
- Thomas J. Cutler, Mark T. Hacala and Paul A. Kingsbury
- Publisher
- Naval Institute Press
- Edition
- 26th
- Length
- 712 pages
- Published
- April 2023
What we like
- Broad and easy to read
- Trusted publisher
- Useful through a whole career
Trade-offs
- Not a substitute for current regulations
- A thick book to carry
- Award rules can change after printing
Vanguard Ribbon Mounting Bar – 5 Ribbons
Budget
A metal mounting bar that holds five slide-on ribbons in the regulation layout. Ribbons slide onto the bar, which then fastens to your uniform and keeps the rows tight with no gaps. Vanguard is a long-established maker of U.S. military insignia.
Ideal for: Sailors with exactly five ribbons who are building or rebuilding a rack.
- Keeps ribbons aligned with no gaps
- Made for standard slide-on ribbons
- Lets you rebuild a rack in minutes
- Brand
- Vanguard
- Holds
- 5 ribbons
- Material
- Metal
- Type
- Slide-on ribbon mounting bar
What we like
- Simple and inexpensive
- Neat, regulation look
- From a well-known insignia maker
Trade-offs
- Fits five ribbons only, so you need a new bar when your count changes
- Ribbons are sold separately
- Stock can run low
Need a different size? Mounting bars are made for any number of ribbons.
See other bar sizes on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Reminded Military Shadow Box Display Case
Mid-range
A display case made to hold medals, ribbons and a folded flag together. It has a navy blue velvet insert for pinning awards and a glass front to keep dust off. It can hang on a wall or stand on a shelf.
Ideal for: Veterans, retirees and families who want to protect and display a set of awards.
- Room for medals and a burial flag
- Velvet backing for pinning awards
- Hangs or stands
- Brand
- Reminded
- Material
- Solid pine
- Lining
- Navy blue velvet insert
- Front
- Glass
- Display
- Wall or shelf
What we like
- Keeps awards together and protected
- Suits a retirement or memorial gift
- Simple to arrange
Trade-offs
- Check the listed flag size before you buy
- Medals and flag are not included
- Glass needs careful handling
New to the Navy?
See what the first weeks really look like, from arrival day to graduation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the order of precedence for Navy ribbons?
Military decorations come first, then unit awards, non-military decorations, campaign and service awards, foreign and non-U.S. awards, and marksmanship awards last. Inside each group, the Navy’s official chart sets the exact order.
How many ribbons go in a row on a Navy uniform?
Three. If your total is not a multiple of three, the top row holds the smaller number and is centred over the row below.
Do I have to wear all of my ribbons?
No. The regulations say that if you have earned three or more ribbons, you may wear either your three senior ribbons or all of them.
Where do ribbons go on the Navy uniform?
On the left side, with the lower edge of the bottom row centred a quarter of an inch above the left breast pocket and level with the deck.
What is the highest Navy medal?
The Medal of Honor is the highest. The Navy Cross is second, and it is the highest decoration the Department of the Navy can award on its own.
Can veterans wear their medals on civilian clothes?
The Navy’s regulations allow miniature medals with civilian white-tie or black-tie dress, and lapel buttons or rosettes on the left lapel of other civilian clothes.
Your ribbon rack checklist
- List your awards from your official record.
- Sort into the six groups in the right order.
- Order each group using the official chart.
- One ribbon per award, with devices for repeats.
- Rows of three, short row on top and centred.
- Highest ribbon top row, inboard.
- No gaps between ribbons or rows.
- ¼ inch above the left breast pocket.
- Check stripe direction on uneven ribbons.
- Get a second pair of eyes before inspection.
Get those ten things right and your rack will be correct. More than that, it will tell your story the way you earned it — in the right order, for anyone who knows how to read it. 🎖️
Want more plain-English Navy guides? Start with how to join the Navy, see what life on a Navy ship is like, or browse gift ideas for sailors.
Sources
Facts last checked against these sources: October 2026.
- U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, Chapter 5, articles 5301–5319 (MyNavy HR): precedence of awards and the rules for wearing ribbons, medals and attachments.
- Awards Precedence Chart (MyNavy HR): the official chart, with pictures of each ribbon.
- SECNAVINST 1650.1 series — Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual: who is eligible for each award.
- National Personnel Records Center — awards and decorations: how veterans and next of kin can request replacement medals.
