Medal ribbon

A United States Army Reserve general's service ribbons
A purple rectangle with thin white edges
The U.S. Purple Heart's service ribbon

A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each country's government has its own rules on what ribbons can be worn in what circumstances and in which order. This is usually defined in an official document and is called "the order of precedence" or "the order of wearing." In some countries (particularly in North America and in Israel), some awards are "ribbon only," having no associated medal.

Design

According to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the U.S. military's standard size for a ribbon bar is 1+38 inches (35 mm) wide, 38 inch (9.5 mm) tall, with a thickness of 0.8 mm.

The service ribbon for a specific medal is usually identical to the suspension ribbon on the medal. For example, the suspension and service ribbon for the U.S. government's Purple Heart medal is purple with a white vertical stripe at each end (see photo).

However, there are some military awards that do not have a suspension ribbon, but have an authorized ribbon and unit award emblem. The Soviet Order of Victory is a badge that was worn on the military parade uniform. However, a ribbon bar representing the Order of Victory was worn on a military field uniform.

Colors

Ribbon bars come in a variety of colors. In the case of the U.S. government, it maintains a specific list of colors used on its ribbons, based on the Pantone Matching System and Federal Standard 595 color systems:

Colors used on U.S. military ribbons
Name Color RGB value Pantone MS value
Air Force Yellow 255,205,0 116
Apple Red 213,0,50 119
Army Green (Uniform) 40,71,52 553
Aspic Green 191,184,0 397
Black 0,0,0 5445
Blue HQ 183,201,211 289
Blue HX 12,35,64 3105
Blue Turquoise 104,210,223 542
Bluebird 123,175,212 542
Bottle Green 17,87,64 343
Brick Red 134,38,51 202
Brittany Blue 163,199,210 551
Bronze 139,111,78 874
Brown 96,61,32 161
Buff 185,151,91 465
Burnt Orange 227,82,5 166
Cannes Blue 123,175,212 542
Cardinal Red 186,12,47 200
Chamois 242,199,92 141
Cobalt Blue 0,32,91 281
Corsaire Blue 0,45,114 288
Crimson 165,0,80 220
Dark Blue 0,38,58 539
Eggshell 221,203,164 468
Emerald 100,167,11 369
Flag Blue 4,30,66 282
Flame Red 255,88,93 178
Forget-Me-Not Blue 154,219,232 304
Garnet 111,38,61 209
Gherkin Green 74,119,41 364
Gold 133,113,77 872
Gold Brown 184,97,37 471
Golden Orange 255,158,27 1375
Golden Yellow 255,205,0 116
Goldenlight 255,198,88 135
Graphite Blue 0,38,58 539
Grebe Gray 84,88,90 425
Green 33,87,50 357
Grotto Blue 0,193,213 3115
Imperial Blue 0,61,165 293
Imperial Purple 152,29,151 254
Irish Green 0,132,61 348
Ivory 255,255,255
Jasmine 253,210,110 134
Khaki 176,170,126 452
Lemon Yellow 251,221,64 114
Light Blue 91,127,149 5415
Light Green 146,172,160 5575
MC Antique White 233,223,151 461
Mahogany 127,48,53 491
Marine Corps Scarlet 228,0,43 185
Maroon 87,41,50 504
Midnight Blue 0,38,58 593
Mintleaf 164,214,94 367
Mosstone Green 122,154,1 377
Myrtle Green 0,122,51 356
Natural 202,199,167 454
Navy Blue #1 4,30,66 282
Navy Blue #2 4,30,66 282
Nugget Gold 255,209,0 109
Old Blue 162,170,173 429
Old China Blue 123,175,212 542
Old Glory Blue 1,33,105 280
Old Glory Red 186,12,47 200
Old Gold 132,117,78 871
Olive 78,91,49 574
Olive Drab 105,91,36 455
Orange 252,76,2 1655
Oriental Blue 0,114,206 285
Oriole Orange 229,114,0 152
Ostende Blue 123,175,212 542
Paprica 250,70,22 172
Parrot Blue 136,219,223 318
Peacock Blue 0,146,188 313
Primitive Green 0,154,68 347
Prophet Green 67,176,42 361
Purple 95,37,159 267
Putty 178,168,162 407
Rally Red 111,38,61 209
River Blue 0,111,98 562
Scarlet 186,12,47 200
Silver Gray 158,162,162 422
Smoke 84,88,90 425
Soldier Red 111,38,61 209
Spicebrown 115,56,29 168
Spring Green 197,232,108 374
Spruce Green 0,76,69 3302
Star Yellow 253,218,36 115
Steel 124,135,142 430
Tarragon Green 137,144,100 5773
Teal Blue 0,62,81 3035
Terra Cotta 150,56,33 174
Toast 155,90,26 154
Ultramarine Blue 0,20,137 Reflex Blue
Victory Medal Blue #1 0,75,135 301
Victory Medal Blue #2 0,75,135 301
White 255,255,255
Yale Blue 0,114,206 285
Yellow 255,199,44 123

Construction

There is a variety of constructions of service ribbons. In some countries, service ribbons are mounted on a "pin backing", which can be pushed through the fabric of a uniform and secured, with fasteners, on the inside edge. These ribbons can be individually secured and then lined up, or they can be all mounted on to a single fastener. After the Second World War, it was common for all ribbons to be mounted on a single metal bar and worn in a manner similar to a brooch. Other methods of wearing have included physically sewing each service ribbon onto the uniform garments.

Display

"Orders of wearing" define which ribbons may be worn on which types of uniform in which positions under which circumstances. For example, miniature medals on dinner dress, full medals on parade dress, ribbons on dress shirts, but no decorations on combat dress and working clothing. Some countries (such as Cuba) maintain a standard practice of wearing full service ribbons on combat utility clothing. Others strictly prohibit this. These regulations are generally similar to the regulations regarding display of rank insignia and regulations regarding saluting of more senior ranks. The reasoning for such regulations is to prevent these displays from enabling opposing forces to easily identify persons of higher rank and therefore aid them in choosing targets which will have a larger impact on the battlefield. In times of war, it is not uncommon for commanders and other high value individuals to wear no markings on their uniforms and wear clothing and insignia of a lower ranking soldier.

Service medals and ribbons are generally worn in rows on the left side of the chest. In certain commemorative or memorial circumstances, a relative may wear the medals or ribbons of a dead relative on the right side of the chest. Medals and ribbons not specifically mentioned in the "Order of wear" are also generally worn on the right side of the chest. Sequencing of the ribbons depends on each country's regulations. In the United States, for example, those with the highest status—typically awarded for heroism or distinguished service—are placed at the top of the display, while foreign decorations (when allowed) are last in the bottom rows. When medals are worn (typically on the left side of a shirt or jacket), ribbons with no corresponding medals are worn on the right side.

Collecting

The study, history and collection of ribbons, among other military decorations, is known as phaleristics (sometimes spelled faleristics by users of U.S. English).[citation needed]

Notable examples

Australia

Canada

Canadian Jump Wings




Denmark

Ecuador

Egypt

India

Indonesia

Iran

Israel

Malaysia

Nazi Germany

Nigeria

Norway

Philippines


Sweden

United Kingdom

Thailand

United States

Commander Richard Marcinko's ribbon rack worn in the standard U.S. Navy style, rows of three with no spacing or staggering.

In the United States, the different federal uniformed services have different standards for wearing ribbon bars on uniforms.

  • In the United States Navy, they are worn in rows of three with no staggering or spacing between rows (with the exception of the top row, which may be staggered to the wearer's left if covered by a lapel). Holders of more than three ribbons may elect to wear only their three highest-ranked ones, instead of all of them. If their top three ribbons are obscured by a lapel, they can stagger the top row.
  • In the United States Marine Corps, they can be worn in rows of three or four, with optional staggering and optional space between rows.
  • In the United States Army, they can be worn staggered with spacing between rows.

A complete ribbon display is known by a variety of nicknames, including ribbon rack or rack for short, fruit salad, or salad bar.

See also


This page was last updated at 2024-02-23 21:20 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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