In the United States, military medals are given to service members who distinguish themselves through their work. These medals are often awarded for acts of bravery, heroism, selflessness, or dedication.
Military medals are awarded to members of all five branches of the US Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. They are often given for service to the United States during combat, although they can also be awarded for heroic acts during peacetime.
There are many types of military honors, each of which signifies a different level or type of service. Let’s take a look at the different types of military medals in order of precedence.
Understanding Military Medals and Their Importance
Medals have long been part of the US military tradition and customs. This practice started during the American Revolution when George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit in 1782. In the mid-19th century, the US Congress authorized the creation of more military medals. This includes the Medal of Honor, which is still given today and is the highest-ranking award on the military medal chart.
Over the years, the US Armed Forces have created a variety of other medals and awards to recognize different types of military service. Some medals are available to members of all service branches, while some are only given to those in specific branches.
Currently, medals honor various aspects of military service, including valor, achievements, participation in specific campaigns, or long-standing service and dedication. All of these factors play an important role in the success of the US military, which is why they are honored so heavily.
These medals are something to aspire to for military members across all branches. They are symbols of respect, honor, and recognition within the military community and the civilian population. Receiving a military medal signifies that you have put your country’s safety and security first and served to the absolute best of your ability.
Military Medals Chart by Branch
The military awards chart in the US varies between branches. While some awards are given to members of any branch, most medals are specific to certain service branches.
These medals reflect the distinct traditions and values of each service branch. Some medals even feature branch-specific colors and design elements, making them instantly recognizable to other service members. Each branch has a unique hierarchy of awards. Here’s a breakdown of important military medals by branch.
U.S. Army Medals and Decorations
The Army is the oldest branch of the US military, and many of its traditions have persisted for well over 200 years.
The most prestigious award on the US Army medal chart is the Medal of Honor. This is the highest honor available in the US military. It is given to those who go above and beyond the call of duty with exceptional valor, often after risking their lives. The design for the Army version of this medal features Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, surrounded by a green laurel wreath. The medal is suspended from a bald eagle.
The next-highest Army medals are the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star, which honor exceptional valor and bravery in combat. From there, the next of the Army medals in order is the Distinguished Service Medal, given to service members in combat and non-combat positions who have excelled in a position of great responsibility.
Other highly-ranked medals in this branch include the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. The Army Commendation Medal can be given for both acts of heroism and meritorious service, while the Army Achievement Medal primarily recognizes acts of service and outstanding achievements. These awards are given to service members who are not eligible for higher-level awards but have still distinguished themselves through their military service.
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Medals and Decorations
Both the US Navy and the US Marine Corps have their own medals and awards. The order of military medals in these branches is similar to that of the Army, but many awards are unique to Naval and Marine service. Although these are two different branches of the military, they share many of the same medals.
Navy and Marine Corps members can both receive the Medal of Honor, the most prestigious honor in these branches. Like the Army Medal of Honor, this medal’s design features Minerva, the goddess of wisdom.
The next-most prestigious medal in these branches is the Navy Cross, which is similar to the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross. Other high-level medals include the Silver Star and Bronze Star and branch-specific medals for achievements and commendation.
On top of that, there are campaign-specific medals that are specific to these branches, including the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal and the Navy Expeditionary Medal. These medals are awarded to service members who participate in combat or other operations on foreign territory.
U.S. Air Force Medals and Decorations
The US Air Force was founded in the 1920s as the Army Air Corps. It was part of the Army rather than being its own branch of the military. Aviation technology improved over time and became an essential part of many military operations, which prompted Congress to create the US Air Force in 1947.
When the Air Force was part of the Army, members would receive Army Air Corps distinctions. When the Air Force became a separate military branch, these were spun off into separate medals. The Air Force medal structure is very similar to the Army medals chart, although there are some distinctions. It’s also important to note that many Space Force members are eligible for Air Force medals, as the Space Force is a relatively new branch that does not have its own medal structure.
As with the other branches, the highest award in the Air Force is the Medal of Honor. The Air Force version of the Medal of Honor features the Statue of Liberty surrounded by a laurel wreath. The top of the medal features unique lightning bolt detailing.
The next-highest honor in the Air Force is the Air Force Cross, which is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross. Members of this branch can also earn the Distinguished Flying Cross. The Distinguished Flying Cross is given for aerial achievements and heroism while in flight, while the Air Force Cross can be given for action taken in combat in any capacity.
U.S. Coast Guard Medals and Decorations
US Coast Guard members can also earn the Medal of Honor as the branch’s highest award. The next-highest medal for this branch is the Coast Guard Cross. Other notable medals include the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, which recognizes merit in a role of great responsibility, and the Coast Guard Medal, which recognizes various forms of non-combat heroism.
Military Medal Precedence and Ordering
Military members wear their medals in a specific order based on their prestigiousness. This is known as “precedence.” The highest-ranking medals are worn first.
Although each branch of the military may have slight variations in precedence, all branches follow a similar hierarchical structure for cohesion.
The Order of Precedence for Displaying Medals
The military ribbons and medals chart generally follows this order of precedence for displaying or wearing medals:
- Medal of Honor
- Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross
- Distinguished Service Medals
- Silver Star
There is a complete order of precedence that includes dozens of medals and ribbons from each branch. Each US military branch has resources available to guide service members with the order of precedence.
It’s also possible for US military members to receive medals from allied nations and other foreign organizations as part of their work. Military personnel must be specifically authorized by law to wear these medals. If authorized, these medals should be displayed after all US medals in the order of precedence.
How Medals Are Displayed on Uniforms by Branch
US military service members must follow specific guidelines for placing military medals and ribbons on their uniforms. Medals are generally worn on the left side of the chest, although exact placements vary by branch. These placements also vary between male and female service members to accommodate different body shapes. When wearing both medals and ribbons, ribbons should be worn on the right side of the uniform.
In general, medals are usually reserved for formal uniforms worn to military events and functions. Members do not typically wear medals on their field uniforms, as they could be impractical or dangerous in combat.
Types of Military Medals and Their Meanings
On the military medals chart, there are several different types of awards, each honoring different types of service and heroism. Here are the different types of military medals available and what they represent.
Valor and Gallantry Medals
Many military medals are designed to acknowledge valor or gallantry. They are given out for exceptional acts of courage and bravery in combat. Many recipients of these medals have put their lives at risk as part of their service.
Some of the highest medals for valor include the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross and its equivalents, and the Silver Star. The rank of these medals is determined by the extremity and intensity of the service member’s valor.
The President of the United States awards the Medal of Honor, and leaders within specific branches of the military award other valor medals.
Achievement and Service Medals
Achievement and service medals recognize contributions to the military in addition to combat. These include outstanding dedication in roles of great responsibility and unique innovations or noteworthy leadership. These medals are generally given at the discretion of leaders within each branch of the armed forces.
The highest-ranked medals in this category are the Distinguished Service Medals, awarded across all military branches. Other examples of this include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals, and Achievement Medals.
Campaign and Service Ribbons
These medals and ribbons are given out for participation in specific campaigns or missions. They recognize services in significant or noteworthy operations. These awards on the Army ribbon chart are often categorized by the location of the campaign. Some examples of these awards include the Vietnam Service Medal, the Afghanistan Service Medal, and the Antarctica Service Medal.
Foreign Decorations and Awards
It’s also possible for US service members to receive awards from allied nations or even international organizations. However, the US government must approve these awards before they can be worn.
For example, many US military members received awards from allied nations such as France and the United Kingdom during World Wars I and II. Some military members also receive medals from NATO and other international organizations.
How to Preserve and Display Military Medals
Receiving a military medal is a great honor, so it’s important for current and former service members to keep them in good condition. This will help the medal last for generations to come and preserve its symbolic integrity.
If you are displaying medals in your home or in a public institution, keep them right-side up and protected in a frame or box. If multiple medals are displayed at once, you may opt to keep them in the order of precedence.
Care and Preservation Tips for Military Medals
To prevent your military medals from decaying, it’s important that they are stored in a cool, dry place. This helps prevent them from tarnishing or wearing down. When possible, use archival-quality display materials, including acid-free mounting tools.
Displaying Military Medals with Pride
Because military medals represent such important achievements, displaying them with pride and respect is important. Consider using high-quality shadow boxes or frames that are designed to protect the medals. If displaying the medals publicly, you may want to add subtle lighting to make them more visible.
Order Custom Medals Today
Military medals are respected symbols of honor and service. They recognize the essential work that service members do to protect American interests at home and abroad. Each medal and recipient has its own unique story, and we encourage you to learn more about them.
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