A Quick Guide to Military Medals and Ribbons

Military medals and ribbons have subtle distinctions that might be difficult for a civilian or non-veteran to see. If you haven't served but are helping a loved one assemble their medals, awards, and ribbons, we'll go through each step in order to make the process more manageable and less baffling.

Medals for Military Service:

Medal Dimensions

Medals may be either full-size or tiny. Wholesale Medals manufacturer produces medals with various types of materials such as brass, copper etc. These small medals are worn on the left breast of the wearer's casual clothing and all formal dress and dinner dress uniforms. Medals are worn on the left breast of uniforms and formal clothes alike. Full-size and tiny medals are awarded in the same order of merit, although small awards may include more per row (usually between four and six). Size requirements for both full- and half-size medals vary per service.

Anodized and Regular Medals: When to Wear Them

There are two different types of medal finishes available: anodized and standard. Anodized medals are lustrous and gold-plated; they are worn on mess dresses and dinner dress uniforms at Balls and during weddings and funerals. Medals with a standard finish are identical in appearance to the ones you were given. These are the classic and most often worn medals, which may be worn at any event.

Types of Medals and How to Tell Them Apart

Medals may be categorized as either "decorative," "service," or "commemorative." The three medals are distinct from one another and serve different functions. The distinction between the three awards may be summed up in the fact that decoration and service medals are worn on racks while commemorative medals are not. You can also buy decorative medals from a well known wholesaler like Yearpins.

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Often bestowed on a DD-214 and distinguished by a more spherical medallion and the inclusion of the words "Service Medal" in the medal's name, service medals are given for particular campaigns and wars. They recognize service, accomplishment, and excellent behavior at times of conflict.

The Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Kuwaiti Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait are all medals that fall under this category.

Medals of decoration, which are awarded for acts of bravery, heroism, or exceptional service, take priority. Decoration medals are easily identifiable by the distinctive star or cross form of their medallions. Unlike commemorative or service medals, decorating medals is more challenging to get.

Buying a Variety of Medals

The Stolen Valor Act of 2005 was signed into law by President George W. Bush to safeguard the honor and dignity of and Medals of America abides by this legislation. Proof of heroism is necessary for higher-ranking honors like the Silver Star, Naval Cross, and Defense Distinguished Service Medal. A DD-214, news story, or any other kind of certified visual verification is acceptable as identification when making a purchase.

A commemorative medal may be identified by including the term "Commemorative" in the medal's title and by the absence of information about the medal on the recipient's DD-214. In recognition of a specific battle, activity, or service, the Department of Defense does not approve of wearing commemorative medals. These aren't something you'd see on a uniform or a medal rack, but they would look fantastic in a shadow box or collection.

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military honor that may be bestowed upon an individual. The medal is awarded for "conspicuous heroism and intrepidity at the danger of one's own life, over and above the call of duty, in action involving a real battle with an opposing armed force.” It is designed differently for each military service.

After the Civil War, most of the 1,523 Medals of Honor were given out, yet the award was founded during that conflict. This time-honored custom dates back to the American Civil War and is still observed today. There have been 3,500 recipients of the Medal of Honor among the many branches of the United States Armed Forces.

Ribbons

Size of ribbons:

Mounted ribbons come in a variety of widths and heights, including the more commonplace slide-on style, as well as tiny and mil-thin varieties. There is a precise time and location for wearing each pair of ribbons, which are always placed according to military standards.

Medals of America offers in-house mounting of slide-on ribbons, or you may mount them yourself with the purchase of holding bars, individual slide-on ribbons, and attachments.

Mini-ribbons are a scaled-down version of slide-on ribbons that may be worn on non-uniform items like polos to the office or a family BBQ on the weekend. They are often worn on hats, the lapels of blazers while going out to dinner, and on polo shirts when in the office to show off one's sense of service pride. Medals of America has a trademark on their mil-thin ribbons. Mil-thin ribbons are always attached to military standards, allowing them to lie entirely flat when worn on uniforms.

Ribbon-Only Awards

Ribbon-only awards are those that do not have a corresponding medal but are nonetheless presented to the recipient in the form of a ribbon. Regarding full-sized medals and ribbons, each branch has its own set of rules. Ribbons are given to recipients of certain military medals, such as the Combat Action Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award.

Ribbons aren't the only method to display an award; each service branch has a unique technique to display a Unit Citation. Ribbons with a gold edge take the same place in the pecking order as plain ribbons. The Army separates unit commendation awards from other military medals and ribbons by only wearing them on the right breast.