The U.S. Army uses military awards and decorations to symbolize accomplishments by its soldiers for heroism in combat and noncombat-related duty.

The first medals and ribbons were issued to Army soldiers during the Civil War. These were unofficial awards given by individual commanders. The first official award established in the Army was the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest medal of distinction.

A medal will not be awarded or presented to any individual whose entire service after the time of the distinguished act, achievement, or service has not been honorable. The determination of “honorable” is based on honest and faithful service according to 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.

Medals are earned and received, not won. For example, someone who earns a Silver Star should be described as a Silver Star recipient.

Army Units and Individual Awards

The Army separates unit citations and awards from individual awards. Individual awards, medals, and badges are worn on the left side of the chest. Unit awards and citations are worn on the right side of the chest, above the name tag, and encased in a gold frame that wraps around the ribbon.

Army awards and decorations are approved according 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.

Individual awards are listed below:

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 (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 are listed below:

Army Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award Army Valorous Unit Award Army Meritorious Unit Award Army Superior Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Croiss Unit Citation Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation

The U.S. Army uses military awards and decorations to symbolize accomplishments by its soldiers for heroism in combat and noncombat-related duty.

The first medals and ribbons were issued to Army soldiers during the Civil War. These were unofficial awards given by individual commanders. The first official award established in the Army was the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest medal of distinction.

A medal will not be awarded or presented to any individual whose entire service after the time of the distinguished act, achievement, or service has not been honorable. The determination of “honorable” is based on honest and faithful service according to 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.

Medals are earned and received, not won. For example, someone who earns a Silver Star should be described as a Silver Star recipient.

Army Units and Individual Awards

The Army separates unit citations and awards from individual awards. Individual awards, medals, and badges are worn on the left side of the chest. Unit awards and citations are worn on the right side of the chest, above the name tag, and encased in a gold frame that wraps around the ribbon.

Army awards and decorations are approved according 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.

Individual awards are listed below:

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 (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 are listed below:

Army Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award Army Valorous Unit Award Army Meritorious Unit Award Army Superior Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Croiss Unit Citation Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation

The U.S. Army uses military awards and decorations to symbolize accomplishments by its soldiers for heroism in combat and noncombat-related duty.

The first medals and ribbons were issued to Army soldiers during the Civil War. These were unofficial awards given by individual commanders. The first official award established in the Army was the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest medal of distinction.

A medal will not be awarded or presented to any individual whose entire service after the time of the distinguished act, achievement, or service has not been honorable. The determination of “honorable” is based on honest and faithful service according to 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.

Medals are earned and received, not won. For example, someone who earns a Silver Star should be described as a Silver Star recipient.

Army Units and Individual Awards

The Army separates unit citations and awards from individual awards. Individual awards, medals, and badges are worn on the left side of the chest. Unit awards and citations are worn on the right side of the chest, above the name tag, and encased in a gold frame that wraps around the ribbon.

Army awards and decorations are approved according 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.

Individual awards are listed below:

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 (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 are listed below:

Army Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award Army Valorous Unit Award Army Meritorious Unit Award Army Superior Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Croiss Unit Citation Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation

The U.S. Army uses military awards and decorations to symbolize accomplishments by its soldiers for heroism in combat and noncombat-related duty.

The first medals and ribbons were issued to Army soldiers during the Civil War. These were unofficial awards given by individual commanders. The first official award established in the Army was the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest medal of distinction.

A medal will not be awarded or presented to any individual whose entire service after the time of the distinguished act, achievement, or service has not been honorable. The determination of “honorable” is based on honest and faithful service according to 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.

Medals are earned and received, not won. For example, someone who earns a Silver Star should be described as a Silver Star recipient.

Army Units and Individual Awards

The Army separates unit citations and awards from individual awards. Individual awards, medals, and badges are worn on the left side of the chest. Unit awards and citations are worn on the right side of the chest, above the name tag, and encased in a gold frame that wraps around the ribbon.

Army awards and decorations are approved according 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.

Individual awards are listed below:

  • 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
  • (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 are listed below:

  • Army Presidential Unit Citation
  • Joint Meritorious Unit Award
  • Army Valorous Unit Award
  • Army Meritorious Unit Award
  • Army Superior Unit Award
  • Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
  • Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
  • Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
  • Vietnam Gallantry Croiss Unit Citation
  • Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation