Awards Overview

Start Here If You Are New to Awards

You served. Someone in your chain of command noticed. They wrote you up for an award. Now you are wondering what comes next, what the medal even is, and how it ends up on your uniform and in your permanent record.

This page walks you through the awards system from your seat as a General Marine. By the end, you will know.

• What an award is and why the Navy and Marine Corps gives them
• The three categories of awards you will see in your career
• Who decides whether you get one and who hands it to you
• Where the award lives in your records
• What you do (and do not do) in the process

Every fact on this page comes from SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 (the Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual), SECNAVINST 1650.1JSECNAVINST 1650.1J (the policy), MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J (Marine Corps procedures), and the most recent MARADMINs on the subject.

What an Award Is

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 1B, an award is a formal recognition the Department of the Navy bestows on a Service Member or unit for a specific act or period of service.

The manual breaks awards into two big buckets.

• A decoration recognizes a specific act of gallantry or a period of meritorious service or achievement. You do not earn a decoration. You receive one. Your chain of command confers it on you at their discretion.
• A CE&S award (Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service medal or ribbon) recognizes participation in an operation or service meeting specific criteria. These are tied to where you served and when, not to a specific act.

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.a, the purpose of the awards program is to recognize Service Members for three reasons.

1. Acts of heroism
2. Exceptionally meritorious achievement or service
3. Arduous or otherwise special service

The manual also reminds Service Members in Appendix 1B paragraph 1B.2.d, "One cannot qualify for or earn a decoration. It is a discretionary honor and conferred by the chain of command." This matters. You do not check a box and get a Bronze Star. Your leaders watch your performance, decide it warrants formal recognition, and write you up.

Why Awards Matter to You

Awards stay with you for the rest of your life. They show up on.

• Your Master Brief Sheet (MBS) and Official Military Personnel File (OMPF)
• Your DD-214 at separation or retirement
• Promotion board jackets
• Your shadow box at retirement
• VA claims, civilian employment claims, and reunion conversations 30 years from now

Awards also tell your service story to people who were not there. A Combat Action Ribbon tells future commanders you have been under fire. A Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a "C" device tells them you delivered meritorious work under combat conditions. The story is permanent, so you want it accurate.

The Three Categories of Awards

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.a, the awards program organizes into three big categories. You will see all three on most awards racks.

Personal Military Decorations (PMDs)

PMDs recognize you as an individual. Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.a.(1), PMDs are "discretionary honors conferred upon individuals who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor or non-combat heroism, or by exceptionally meritorious achievement or service."

The PMDs in the Department of the Navy, in order from highest to lowest per Chapter 2 Appendix 2A, are.

1. Medal of Honor (MOH)
2. Navy Cross (NX)
3. Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
4. Silver Star Medal (SS)
5. Legion of Merit (LOM)
6. Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
7. Navy and Marine Corps Medal (NM)
8. Bronze Star Medal (BSM)
9. Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
10. Air Medal
11. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (NC)
12. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM)

You will see most General Marines earn the NAM, NC, or NM during their careers. Higher PMDs get rarer the further up the list you go.

Unit Decorations

Unit decorations recognize a whole command, not you as an individual. Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.a.(2), they recognize ships and units "for collective demonstration of Extraordinary Heroism in combat, or for otherwise exceptionally meritorious achievement."

The three Department of the Navy unit decorations, in order, are.

1. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC)
2. Navy Unit Commendation (NUC)
3. Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC)

You participate in a unit decoration when you were assigned to the unit during the qualifying period the award covers. You do not need to do anything special to earn it beyond being there. The award belongs to the unit, but every Marine assigned during the period wears the ribbon.

The Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA) works the same way for joint commands.

Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service (CE&S) Awards

CE&S awards recognize where you served and what kind of service it was. Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.a.(3), they "recognize individuals for participation in significant military operations, or otherwise unique or arduous service."

Examples you will see often.

• Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) and Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM) for service in those theaters
• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (GWOTEM) and Service Medal (GWOTSM)
• Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (SSDR) for sea time
• Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (MCGCM) for three years of honorable service per qualifying period
• Marksmanship badges (Rifle and Pistol Expert, Sharpshooter, Marksman)
• Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon (MCDIR) and Combat Instructor Ribbon (MCCIR) for those duty assignments

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.b.(3), most CE&S awards do not require a nomination. You qualify if your records show you meet the criteria. The big exception is the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM), which you do nominate yourself for.

Two Awards Standing Apart from the Three Categories

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.a.(4), the Purple Heart (PH) and Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) "do not fit squarely within any of the above categories" but share traits with PMDs.

• The Purple Heart recognizes a wound or death from enemy action. Criteria are in SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2B.
• The Combat Action Ribbon recognizes active participation in ground or surface combat. Criteria are in SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 2C.

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1A.3, neither award has a time limit for origination. A Marine wounded in combat 20 years ago is still eligible. The pages on Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon in this category go deeper.

How an Award Gets to You

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.b and MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J, the process moves through six stops. Knowing the flow helps you understand where your nomination is when your S-1 says "it is at the next echelon."

Step 1. Originator Writes You Up

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.b.(1), a PMD nomination is officially originated by a commissioned officer senior in grade or position to you at the time of the act or service period. A DoD civilian equivalent to GS-11 or above in a supervisory position over you is also allowed to originate.

This is almost always your immediate or next-level officer in your chain of command. Junior NCOs often draft the write-up, then route it to the officer who signs as originator.

A unit decoration is originated by the unit's Immediate Superior in Command (Navy) or immediate commander (Navy or Marine Corps). Per the manual, "Under no circumstances may any member of the unit to be decorated officially originate such a nomination." The unit does not write itself up.

Step 2. Nomination Goes Into iAPS

The originator submits the nomination through the Improved Awards Processing System (iAPS). The package includes.

• Award Recommendation Form
• Summary of Action (SOA) describing what you did
• Proposed citation language
• Proposed certificate
• Eyewitness statements (for valor awards)
• Any required supporting documentation per Chapter 2 Appendix 2D

Step 3. Routing for Endorsement

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1, the nomination travels up your chain of command. Each echelon reviews and endorses. An endorser is allowed to upgrade, downgrade, or recommend disapproval. Each endorsement adds weight or context to the package.

For valor awards, per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1A.2.b.(2), each echelon acts within ten working days of receipt. Valor nominations are a priority and get fast-tracked.

Step 4. Approval Authority Decides

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.c, "Unless specifically delegated in writing, approval authority within the DON for all military decorations, medals, and ribbons is retained by SECNAV."

Most lower decorations are delegated. Per MARADMIN 077/25MARADMIN 077/25 (the most recent CMC delegation MARADMIN), approval authority within the Marine Corps lives at these levels.

• NAM at O-4 commanders and above
• NC at O-5 commanders and above
• MSM at general officers
• LOM at delegated O-9 commanders for retirement awards
• NX, DSM, SS, DFC, NM, BSM at SECNAV (with sub-delegation per the MARADMIN)
• MOH at the President

Step 5. Presentation Ceremony

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.d, "All PMDs and the PH must be officially presented to the awardee (or next of kin if the awardee is deceased) in a dignified ceremony by a commissioned officer or DON official of rank appropriate to the level of award." The presenting official must be senior to you in grade or position.

The ceremony reads your citation aloud, the presenter pins the medal or hands the certificate, you exchange a salute, and someone takes a photo. Larger ceremonies invite family, the unit, and senior leaders.

Step 6. The Award Lands in Your Records

Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J, the citation and certificate get filed in your OMPF. MCTFS gets updated to show the award. Your Master Brief Sheet (MBS) reflects it within a few weeks. At separation, your DD-214 pulls from MCTFS.

This last step is where awards quietly fall through the cracks. The page on Verifying Your Awards in OMPF walks through how to confirm everything landed correctly.

Your Role as a General Marine

Here is the part most Marines miss. Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.b.(6), "Awardees, and the family members of deceased awardees, have no official role in the nomination and approval process. Prior to the final award decision, it is neither necessary nor appropriate to disclose the existence of, or any details related to, any nomination."

Translation. You do not write yourself up. You do not check on your nomination. You do not learn it exists until your chain of command tells you the award is approved. Your job during the nomination process is to keep doing your job.

What you actively do.

1. Earn it by performing in a way your chain of command notices.
2. Show up to the ceremony in the right uniform with your existing awards positioned correctly.
3. Verify it landed in your record within 30 days of the ceremony by pulling your OMPF and MBS.
4. Keep your own copy of the citation and certificate. If S-1 ever loses the original, you have proof.
5. Wear it correctly on the right uniforms in the right order per Marine Corps Uniform Regulations.

What you do not do.

• Nominate yourself for a PMD (with the narrow exceptions like MOVSM)
• Tell your buddies you got written up before approval comes back
• Ask your S-1 weekly where the package is
• Refuse the award or downgrade it on your own

There are limited exceptions where you originate or self-nominate. The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) is one. Marksmanship badges record automatically from your qualification scores. The page on MOVSM and the page on Marksmanship Badges cover those.

Three Rules About Awards Worth Knowing

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.e, the manual states a hard rule on duplicative awards. "Only one decoration (PMD or unit) will be made for the same act, achievement, or period of meritorious service." If you receive a Bronze Star for valor on a specific patrol, you do not also receive a NAM for the same patrol. Originators verify against your record before submitting.

Per paragraph 1.2.f, only the approving authority is allowed to revoke an award. Once SECNAV approves a PMD, only SECNAV revokes it. Lower commanders do not pull awards back after presentation.

Per paragraph 1.2.g, reconsideration of a previous decision requires "new, substantive, and relevant material evidence not available when the original decision was made." Adding more detail to facts already known does not meet the bar. This protects you and the system from re-litigation.

Time Limits You Should Know

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 1A.

If a PMD nomination misses the 3-year window, Chapter 8 of SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 covers procedures for awards beyond time limits. Past 5 years, only Congress through Section 1130 of Title 10, U.S. Code, or the Board for Correction of Naval Records, are pathways for consideration.

Where Your Awards Live

You have three records to know.

Your OMPF (Permanent Personnel File)

Per MCO P1070.12MCO P1070.12 (the IRAM) and MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J. Pull through O-RMA. Holds your.

• Award citation
• Award certificate
• Page 11 entries documenting the award

This file follows you for life. After retirement it lives at the National Personnel Records Center.

MCTFS and Your Master Brief Sheet (MBS)

The Marine Corps Total Force System holds the data record of every award with codes for the medal, devices (V, C, R), and stars for multiples. Pull your MBS through MOL. The MBS is what feeds promotion boards and your DD-214.

Your DD-214 (Separation Document)

Per MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25 paragraph 7.a, your DD-214 generates from MCTFS at the start of terminal leave. Awards approved after this date typically miss the DD-214. The page on Retirement Awards and DD-214 covers timing.

Common Questions Marines Ask

Will my chain tell me they wrote me up?

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.2.b.(6), no. Disclosure before final approval is "neither necessary nor appropriate." You learn about the award when it is approved.

My buddy did the same thing as me and got a NAM. I got nothing. What do I do?

Per the manual, awards are discretionary. The chain of command exercises judgment. If you believe your work warranted recognition and was overlooked, talk to your immediate supervisor. They are accountable for recognizing their Marines. Per Chapter 8, after-the-fact nominations are allowed within the time windows above.

Is it allowed to nominate myself for a PMD?

For most PMDs, no. For the MOVSM, yes. For marksmanship badges, your qualification score posts automatically. For unit decorations, no member of the unit originates the package.

My award was approved but I have not seen the certificate. What do I do?

Coordinate with your S-1. Per MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J, the certificate prints from iAPS after approval. If iAPS shows approved but no certificate, it is an administrative loose end your S-1 chases. The page on Receiving an Award covers ceremony and certificate procedures.

My buddy says my unit earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation. Why is it not on my ribbon rack?

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 3, you participate if you were assigned to the unit during the qualifying period. If your dates align and the award is not in your record, coordinate with your S-1 to add the participation credit. The page on Unit Awards walks through the verification.

My retirement is in 6 months. How do I make sure my awards land on the DD-214?

Per MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25 paragraph 7.a, the meritorious period for any retirement award should end roughly two weeks before terminal leave starts so MCTFS reflects the award before DD-214 generation. The page on Retirement Awards and DD-214 lays out the timeline by award level.

Who to Contact for Help

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.3.

A Note on HQMC Awards Office Designations

The Marine Corps reorganized its awards office over time. Three designations show up in policies and on this site. Understand the distinction so you route requests correctly.

• HQMC Manpower Performance Branch, Military Awards Section (MMPB-3). The current umbrella office handling Marine Corps awards adjudication, policy interpretation, and CMC-level approval routing. Listed on the Manpower Marines website at https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Performance-Branch/Military-Awards/.
• HQMC MMPB-31. A sub-element under MMPB-3 specifically handling administrative actions on awards. This includes administrative change requests, replacement certificate procedures, and the administrative correction templates referenced in MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25 paragraph 10.k. MMPB-31 is NOT the same as MMMA. The two have different functions.
• CMC (MMMA), Military Awards Branch. The historical designation appearing in older policy documents (SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 1.3, MARADMIN 245/11MARADMIN 245/11, and earlier MARADMINs). When you see MMMA in a 2011-era MARADMIN, the function continues today under MMPB-3. The address listed in older documents (2008 Elliot Road, Quantico, VA 22134, or 3280 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5103) reflects the historical MMMA mailing addresses still cited in those policies.

For current Marine Corps awards questions, contact MMPB-3.

• Email. smb_hqmc_pers_awards@usmc.mil
• Website. https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Performance-Branch/Military-Awards/

For administrative corrections, replacement certificates, and template requests, route through MMPB-31 channels per MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25.

Other key contacts.

• Department of the Navy awards board: Navy Department Board of Decorations and Medals (NDBDM), 720 Kennon Street SE, Suite 309, Washington, DC 20374-5023. Email SECNAV_awards@navy.mil.

Your first stop is always your S-1, then PAC, then HQMC if needed.

Where to Go Next

The other 14 pages in this category go deeper on specific topics.

• Personal Military Decorations (PMDs) breaks down each PMD by criteria.
• Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon cover the two unique awards.
• Unit Awards You Participate In walks through PUC, NUC, MUC, and JMUA.
• Campaign and Service Medals lists the CE&S awards Marines see most often.
• Joint Service Awards, Foreign Awards, MOVSM, and Marksmanship Badges cover specialized categories.
• Receiving an Award walks through the ceremony.
• Wearing Your Awards covers precedence and devices on your uniform.
• Verifying Your Awards in OMPF shows you how to confirm your record is right.
• PCS and Awards Timing and Retirement Awards and DD-214 cover the timing rules around career moves.

Related Roles

• Leaders identify deserving Marines, draft Summaries of Action, and route nominations through the chain.
• Commanders approve awards within delegated authority and endorse nominations going higher.
• Admin at S-1 and PAC processes awards through iAPS and into your OMPF and MCTFS record.

You are the Marine the system was built to recognize. Your job is to perform, show up, and verify your record. The rest of the system works on your behalf.