Ribbon Only
Awards
The following
awards given by the various Armed Services have no corresponding
medal.
They are ribbon only awards. They are featured as part of the
medal
collection because the are worn along side of medals, and medals are
often
worn as ribbon bars.
The
practice of awarding a ribbon only, in lieu of a full medal medal
started
with the creation of the 'Certificate of Merit'.
The
certificate entitled the recipient to wear a ribbon bar, but there was
no corresponding medal. In addition to the Certificate of merit,
the Army and Navy Commendation medals started as ribbon only awards,
and
all unit citations are worn as ribbons.
Army
Service Ribbon:
Instituted
1981, it is awarded for the completion of initial entry training.
Air
Force Overseas Service Ribbon:
Authorized
by the Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force, October 12, 1980.
Before
January 6, 1986, the ribbon was awarded to Air Force and Air Force
Reserve
members credited with completion of an overseas tour on or after
September
1, 1980. Air Force and Air Force Reserve members serving as of January
6, 1986, or later are entitled to reflect all Air Force overseas tours
credited during their career. A Service member may wear both ribbons,
if
appropriate. The short tour ribbon takes precedence over the long-tour
ribbon when both are worn. Subsequent awards are denoted by oak leaf
clusters.
N.C.O.
Professional Leadership Development Ribbon:
Instituted
in 1981, it is
awarded for completion of the Army NCO Professional Leadership
Development
course. (PLDC)
Combat
Action Ribbon
Instituted
in 1969, this
ribbon was awarded to recognize active participation in ground or air
combat
during specifically listed operations. (Navy and Marine Corps only)
Navy
Meritorious Unit
Commendation
This
ribbon was instituted
in 1967 and can be awarded to both Navy and Marine Corps units.
It
is awarded for Valorious actions or meritorious achievement (combat or
non-combat).
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