Ribbons and Badges
When you receive an award or medal in the Army, you get an accompanying ribbon that is to be worn on your dress uniform. Ribbons are worn in order of precedence from the wearer's right to left with the top row being the highest precedence. The ribbon rack is worn centered above the wearer's left breast pocket. The Weapons Qualification Badge and the Driver's Badge are worn equally spaced on the upper portion of the left breast pocket flap.
Ribbons
(Hover over the ribbon for a larger view)
Army Commendation Medal (with one oak leaf cluster)
A mid-level award presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. The Army Commendation Medal is typically awarded to junior officers and enlisted personnel as an end-of-tour award. Additional awards are denoted by oak leaf clusters.
Army Achievement Medal
Awarded for outstanding achievement or meritorious service not of a nature that would otherwise warrant awarding the Commendation Medal. The Army Achievement Medal may be awarded in a combat area, but for non-combat meritorious service. The Achievement Medal is the lower of the United States military's meritorious service medals. Additional awards are denoted by oak leaf clusters.
Army Good Conduct Medal
Awarded to any enlisted member of the United States Army who completes three consecutive years of "honorable and faithful service." Such service implies that a standard enlistment was completed without any non-judicial punishments, disciplinary infractions, or court martial offenses.
National Defense Service Medal
Awarded to anyone who serves on active duty in the United States military during a designated time period. The award was intended to be a "blanket campaign medal" issued to any member of the United States military who served in a designated time period of which a national emergency had been declared. As of 2005, it is the oldest service medal that is still issued to the active military.
Southwest Asia Service Medal (with two star devices)
Awarded for military service between August 2, 1990 and November 30, 1995 for participation during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. To be awarded the decoration a service member must also have served in the geographical land areas of any of the following nations: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and/or United Arab Emirates. The Southwest Asia Service Medal is authorized for four campaigns of service, each denoted by a service star awarded with the medal.
Army NCO Professional Development
Awarded for completion of any of the prescribed United States Army non-commissioned officer development courses. The first award of the ribbon is issued for completion of the Warrior Leader's Course formerly called the Primary Leadership Development Course.
Army Service Ribbon
Awarded to any member of the United States Army who have completed initial entry training. Qualifying instruction courses include basic training, Army ROTC, and Officer Candidate School. The Army Service Ribbon is presented as a one-time award only and there are no devices authorized for additional awards of the decoration.
Army Overseas Service
Awarded to any member of the United States Army completing a standard overseas tour of duty. Such tours are normally for two to three years and must be served outside the contiguous United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Additional awards of the Army Overseas Service Ribbon are denoted by bronze numerals.
Saudi Arabian Medal Ribbon for the Liberation of Kuwait
Awarded to members of the Coalition Forces who participated in Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait between the dates of January 17, 1991 and February 28, 1991. It is considered the rarer of the two versions of the medal, as it recognizes service in a relatively short period of time (only a few months) whereas the Kuwaiti version of the medal is granted for service over several years. For this reason, the Saudi Arabian Kuwait Liberation Medal is considered senior in precedence to the Kuwaiti version of the medal.
Badges
Sharpshooter Weapons Qualification Badge
Presented to service members upon successful completion of a weapons qualification course. Weapons Qualification Badges are issued in three levels (in descending order): Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman. Army weapons qualification badges display all of the weapons the soldier has qualified with by hanging the appropriate weapons bar below the badge itself. The Rifle Bar is the most common.
Driver's Badge
Awarded to Army personnel who have received driver training, have subsequently qualified to operate military motor vehicles, and have logged 8,000 accident and violation free miles. I received the "Driver - W" bar because my qualification is for wheeled vehicles. The Driver's Badge is worn suspended beneath a service member's standard decorations and to the right of any of the wearer's Weapons Qualification Badges.
