Medal 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.[1] 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.

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

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.[2]

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[3]
Name[3] Color[3] RGB value[3] Pantone MS value[3]
Air Force Yellow 255,205,0116
Apple Red 213,0,50119
Army Green (Uniform) 40,71,52553
Aspic Green 191,184,0397
Black 0,0,05445
Blue HQ 183,201,211289
Blue HX 12,35,643105
Blue Turquoise 104,210,223542
Bluebird 123,175,212542
Bottle Green 17,87,64343
Brick Red 134,38,51202
Brittany Blue 163,199,210551
Bronze 139,111,78874
Brown 96,61,32161
Buff 185,151,91465
Burnt Orange 227,82,5166
Cannes Blue 123,175,212542
Cardinal Red 186,12,47200
Chamois 242,199,92141
Cobalt Blue 0,32,91281
Corsaire Blue 0,45,114288
Crimson 165,0,80220
Dark Blue 0,38,58539
Eggshell 221,203,164468
Emerald 100,167,11369
Flag Blue 4,30,66282
Flame Red 255,88,93178
Forget-Me-Not Blue 154,219,232304
Garnet 111,38,61209
Gherkin Green 74,119,41364
Gold 133,113,77872
Gold Brown 184,97,37471
Golden Orange 255,158,271375
Golden Yellow 255,205,0116
Goldenlight 255,198,88135
Graphite Blue 0,38,58539
Grebe Gray 84,88,90425
Green 33,87,50357
Grotto Blue 0,193,2133115
Imperial Blue 0,61,165293
Imperial Purple 152,29,151254
Irish Green 0,132,61348
Ivory 255,255,255
Jasmine 253,210,110134
Khaki 176,170,126452
Lemon Yellow 251,221,64114
Light Blue 91,127,1495415
Light Green 146,172,1605575
MC Antique White 233,223,151461
Mahogany 127,48,53491
Marine Corps Scarlet 228,0,43185
Maroon 87,41,50504
Midnight Blue 0,38,58593
Mintleaf 164,214,94367
Mosstone Green 122,154,1377
Myrtle Green 0,122,51356
Natural 202,199,167454
Navy Blue #1 4,30,66282
Navy Blue #2 4,30,66282
Nugget Gold 255,209,0109
Old Blue 162,170,173429
Old China Blue 123,175,212542
Old Glory Blue 1,33,105280
Old Glory Red 186,12,47200
Old Gold 132,117,78871
Olive 78,91,49574
Olive Drab 105,91,36455
Orange 252,76,21655
Oriental Blue 0,114,206285
Oriole Orange 229,114,0152
Ostende Blue 123,175,212542
Paprica 250,70,22172
Parrot Blue 136,219,223318
Peacock Blue 0,146,188313
Primitive Green 0,154,68347
Prophet Green 67,176,42361
Purple 95,37,159267
Putty 178,168,162407
Rally Red 111,38,61209
River Blue 0,111,98562
Scarlet 186,12,47200
Silver Gray 158,162,162422
Smoke 84,88,90425
Soldier Red 111,38,61209
Spicebrown 115,56,29168
Spring Green 197,232,108374
Spruce Green 0,76,693302
Star Yellow 253,218,36115
Steel 124,135,142430
Tarragon Green 137,144,1005773
Teal Blue 0,62,813035
Terra Cotta 150,56,33174
Toast 155,90,26154
Ultramarine Blue 0,20,137Reflex Blue
Victory Medal Blue #1 0,75,135301
Victory Medal Blue #2 0,75,135301
White 255,255,255
Yale Blue 0,114,206285
Yellow 255,199,44123

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).

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 U.S. military, the different federal uniformed services have different standards for wearing ribbon bars on uniforms.

  • In the U.S. 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 U.S. Marine Corps, they can be worn in rows of three or four, with optional staggering and optional space between rows.
  • In the U.S. 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

References

  1. U.S. Army Regulation 600-8-22, 2006, P. 72&73, 6--2 Service ribbons, a.
  2. Defense Logistics Agency (2015). "MIL-DTL-11589". Defense Logistics Agency.
  3. "COLOR CONVERSION LIST-8/14/95". Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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