Wearing Your Awards (Precedence and Devices)

Start Here If You Are New to Wearing Awards

You stood in formation a hundred times in your career. You wear the same uniform other Marines wear. Why does your awards rack look different from theirs? Because every device, every star, every ribbon position matters. The Marine Corps codifies exactly how awards wear, and inspections, photographs, and formal events all expect you to wear them right.

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

• The order of precedence per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 1
• Ribbon-versus-medal wear by uniform
• The V, C, and R device placement rules from ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17
• The gold and silver star convention on DON awards
• The oak leaf cluster convention on joint and DoD awards
• Marksmanship badge placement on the pocket
• Foreign award wear restrictions
• Uniform-by-uniform configuration (Service A/B/C, Blues, Evening Dress)
• Replacement procedures for lost or damaged ribbons and medals

Every fact on this page comes from MCO 1020.34MCO 1020.34 (Marine Corps Uniform Regulations), SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 1, ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17, MARADMIN 665/17MARADMIN 665/17, DoD Manual 1348.33DoD Manual 1348.33 Volume 3 (for joint award conventions), and current MMPB-3 Military Awards Section guidance.

The Order of Precedence

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 1, the order of precedence is the controlling sequence for how awards arrange on the rack. The general structure runs from highest precedence at the wearer's right (your right when looking down at your chest) to lowest at the wearer's left.

The major bands.

1. Personal Military Decorations (PMDs) - your highest awards
2. Unit Decorations (PUC, NUC, MUC, JMUA)
3. Campaign, Expeditionary, and Service awards (CE&S)
4. Marksmanship awards (rifle and pistol qualification badges)

Within each band, the specific order follows the SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 chapter and tab sequence. Joint awards interleave with DON awards based on stature equivalence (the Joint Service Awards page on this site covers the joint interleaving in detail).

A Working PMD Order (Highest to Lowest)

1. Medal of Honor (MOH)
2. Navy Cross (NX)
3. Defense Distinguished Service Medal (DDSM)
4. Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
5. Silver Star Medal (SS)
6. Defense Superior Service Medal (DSSM)
7. Legion of Merit (LOM)
8. Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
9. Navy and Marine Corps Medal (NM)
10. Bronze Star Medal (BSM)
11. Purple Heart (PH)
12. Defense Meritorious Service Medal (DMSM)
13. Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)
14. Air Medal
15. Joint Service Commendation Medal (JSCM)
16. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (NC)
17. Joint Service Achievement Medal (JSAM)
18. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (NAM)
19. Combat Action Ribbon (CAR)

Unit Awards Order

1. Presidential Unit Citation (PUC)
2. Joint Meritorious Unit Award (JMUA)
3. Navy Unit Commendation (NUC)
4. Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC)

CE&S Order

The CE&S section follows the SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A tab sequence. The Campaign and Service Medals page on this site covers CE&S precedence in detail.

Mexican Border Defense Medal (MBDM) Precedence

Per MARADMIN 233/26MARADMIN 233/26 paragraph 9 (20 May 2026), the Mexican Border Defense Medal is worn immediately after the Korea Defense Service Medal in the CE&S precedence order. The Campaign and Service Medals leaf covers the MBDM framework (Period of Award, Area of Eligibility, eligibility criteria, one-award rule).

Marksmanship Badges Order

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 17 paragraph d.

1. Competition Badges (Distinguished, President's Hundred, EIC)
2. Rifle Qualification Badge
3. Pistol Qualification Badge

Marksmanship badges sit at the bottom of the entire awards rack per Tab 17 paragraph d.

Ribbon Versus Medal Display

Marines wear awards in two forms based on the uniform.

Ribbons

Worn on Service A, Service B, Service C (where authorized), and Blue Dress B. Ribbons sit on the left chest above the pocket. The standard ribbon dimension is 1-3/8 inches wide.

Medals

Worn on Blue Dress A, Evening Dress, and other formal contexts. Medals sit on the left chest, hung from a ribbon bar attached to the uniform. Medals are larger and three-dimensional, with the medallion or pendant hanging below the ribbon.

Miniature Medals

Worn on Evening Dress (mess dress) and on civilian formal attire (per Marine Corps Uniform Regulations). Miniatures are smaller versions of full-size medals.

The unit S-1 or your local exchange's medal mounting service handles the physical mounting of medals on the rack.

Gold and Silver Stars on DON Awards

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 individual tabs, the standard convention for subsequent DON awards is the 5/16-inch star.

• 5/16-inch gold star. Subsequent valor or combat awards (NX, SS, BSM with V).
• 5/16-inch bronze star. Subsequent service or non-valor awards (NAM, NC, MSM, MOVSM, etc.).
• 5/16-inch silver star. Replaces five gold or bronze stars (so the sixth award is one silver star).

The star sits centered on the ribbon. Multiple stars arrange in a horizontal row from the wearer's right to left.

Service Stars on CE&S Awards

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 4 individual tabs, CE&S awards covering multiple qualifying periods use 5/16-inch service stars.

• 5/16-inch bronze service star. Subsequent qualifying period or operation.
• 5/16-inch silver service star. Replaces five bronze service stars.

Common applications. ACM with star for each named operation phase. ICM with star for Operation New Dawn following Operation Iraqi Freedom. SSDR with star for each subsequent 12-month sea time accumulation. MCGCM with star for each subsequent three-year qualifying period.

Oak Leaf Clusters on Joint and DoD Awards

Per DoD Manual 1348.33DoD Manual 1348.33 Volume 3, subsequent joint and DoD awards use oak leaf clusters instead of stars.

• Bronze oak leaf cluster. Subsequent award (2nd through 5th).
• Silver oak leaf cluster. Replaces five bronze oak leaf clusters.

Joint awards include DDSM, DSSM, DMSM, JSCM, JSAM, and JMUA. The oak leaf cluster sits on the ribbon and on the medal in the same convention as DON stars.

A Marine wearing both DON and joint awards has both star and oak leaf cluster devices on different ribbons. Look at the ribbon, identify the issuing service, and apply the right device convention.

V, C, and R Device Placement (ALNAV 055/17)

Per ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17 paragraph 7.c, the V, C, and R devices are 1/4-inch bronze letter devices that sit on specific ribbons per the criteria.

Order on the Same Ribbon

When different letter devices wear on the same ribbon, the order of precedence in descending order is V, C, R. The senior device sits to the wearer's right, and all letter devices sit to the right of any stars.

One Device per Single Award

Per ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17 paragraph 7.d, for any single act or merit period, only one of the three letter devices is authorized. A Marine awarded a NC with V (CV) for combat valor does not also receive the C device for combat conditions on the same award.

Subsequent Awards With Devices

Per ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17 paragraph 7.b, only one of each letter device wears on the same ribbon. Subsequent awards denote by 5/16-inch stars per the standard convention.

Where Each Device Goes

• V device. Awards eligible per ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17 paragraph 3 (DFC, BSM, Air Medal, JSCM, NC).
• C device. Awards eligible per ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17 paragraph 4 (DDSM, DSM, DSSM, LOM, DFC, Air Medal, JSCM, NC, JSAM, NAM).
• R device. Awards eligible per ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17 paragraph 5 (DSSM, LOM, DMSM, MSM, JSCM, NC, JSAM, NAM).

The PMDs page on this site covers each award's device eligibility in detail.

Marksmanship Badge Placement

Per Marine Corps Uniform Regulations and SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 17 paragraph e.

Position on the Service Uniform

Marksmanship badges wear on the left breast pocket of Service A or Service B, centered on the pocket flap. On Service C, the badges wear in the same relative position.

Multiple Badges (Rifle and Pistol)

If a Marine wears both a rifle and a pistol badge.

• Rifle badge wears on the wearer's left of the pocket.
• Pistol badge wears on the wearer's right of the pocket.
• The two badges sit side by side, centered on the pocket flap.

Competitive Badges (Distinguished, President's Hundred, EIC)

The Distinguished Marksman Rifle, Distinguished Pistol Shot, President's Hundred, and EIC (Bronze, Silver, Gold for rifle and pistol) badges follow the same pocket position as the qualification badges. Specific positioning relative to the qualification badges is in the current Marine Corps Uniform Regulations.

On Blues and Evening Dress

The marksmanship badge wear varies by uniform. Blue Dress wear and Evening Dress wear follow MCO 1020.34MCO 1020.34. Verify with your senior enlisted leader before formal events.

Foreign Award Wear Restrictions

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 7.2.d (covered in detail on the Foreign Awards page).

Approved Foreign Decorations

Even an approved foreign decoration is allowed to wear only.

• At a public function of the issuing foreign nation or entity
• At the residence of a public official or distinguished citizen of the foreign nation
• At a function in honor of such individuals or their nation
• At an event where dignitaries from various foreign nations are present (in which case the Marine wears all approved foreign decorations)

In every other context, the foreign decoration stays off the uniform.

NATO and UN Service Medals

SECDEF-pre-approved NATO and UN service medals wear under standard precedence rules without the paragraph 7.2.d restrictions. The medals interleave with U.S. CE&S awards based on the DoD-published precedence list. Common SECDEF-approved medals include the NATO Medal (with operation-specific clasps) and the UN Service Medal.

Uniform-by-Uniform Wear

Per MCO 1020.34MCO 1020.34, the awards configuration varies by uniform.

Service A (Winter Service Uniform)

• Ribbons on left chest above the breast pocket
• Marksmanship badges on left breast pocket flap
• Devices (V/C/R, stars) visible on the ribbons
• Branch insignia and rank as standard

Service B (Summer Service Uniform)

• Ribbons in the same position as Service A
• Same marksmanship badge placement
• Same device wear

Service C (Short-Sleeve Khaki, where authorized)

• Ribbons in standard position
• Same marksmanship badge placement (with possible adjustments per current Uniform Regulations)

Blue Dress A (with Medals)

• Full-size medals on the left chest, hung from the ribbon bar
• Marksmanship badges and Combat Action Ribbon on the right chest in specific positions per Uniform Regulations
• Aiguillette for some billets (e.g., aides-de-camp)
• White cover, white belt, sword for officers per the unit's local convention

Blue Dress B (with Ribbons)

• Ribbons in standard position (same as Service A)
• Same marksmanship badge placement
• Cover, sword as Blue Dress A

Evening Dress (Mess Dress)

• Miniature medals on the left chest
• Specific layout per Marine Corps Uniform Regulations
• Aiguillette and other formal accouterments

The S-1 or your senior enlisted leader confirms the specific configuration for each ceremony or event.

Combat Action Ribbon and Other Distinguishing Awards

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 1 and current Uniform Regulations, certain awards have unique placement on Blue Dress A.

CAR Position on Blue Dress A

The Combat Action Ribbon, on Blue Dress A with full-size medals, often wears on the right chest in a specific position per Uniform Regulations. Unlike most ribbons that occupy the left chest with medals on the left chest in front, the CAR sits separately to denote the unique combat-engagement recognition.

Verify with current MCO 1020.34MCO 1020.34 and your unit's senior enlisted leader before mounting Blue Dress for a formal event.

Marksmanship Badges on Blue Dress

Marksmanship badges wear on Blue Dress per the current Uniform Regulations. The exact position varies by uniform variant.

Replacement of Ribbons and Medals

Lost or damaged ribbons and medals follow specific replacement procedures.

Routine Wear Replacements

Ribbons, medals, and devices wear out from regular use. Replace through your local exchange or a commercial military equipment vendor. The S-1 confirms current ribbon configurations for any new entries.

Replacement of Issued Awards (Section 1135 of Title 10)

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 8.2.a and Section 1135 of Title 10, the Secretary concerned replaces on a one-time basis any military medal or ribbon issued to members of the Armed Forces upon request. Replacement requests for Marine Corps awards route through MMPB-31 per MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25 paragraph 10.k.

The Verifying Your Awards page on this site covers the replacement submission process in detail.

Foreign Award Replacements

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 7.1.d, the U.S. Government does not procure foreign decorations. Marines replace foreign awards from commercial sources at their own expense. The Foreign Awards page on this site covers the procurement.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I have a NAM with star, a NAM with C device, and a NC. How do I arrange them on my rack?

The NC sits to the wearer's right (higher precedence). Below that, your NAM ribbons combine into one entry. The NAM with C device and the NAM with star reflect different awards. Per ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17, only one of each letter device wears on a ribbon, and the star count reflects total awards. If your two NAM awards together total two awards (with one of them carrying the C device), you wear one NAM ribbon with one bronze star and the C device. The C device sits to the right of the star per ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17 paragraph 7.c. Verify with your S-1 for proper mounting.

Why does the joint award use an oak leaf cluster instead of a star?

Oak leaf clusters are the DoD-wide convention for subsequent awards. The Department of the Navy uses gold and silver stars on its decorations. Joint awards (DDSM, DSSM, DMSM, JSCM, JSAM, JMUA) follow the DoD oak leaf cluster convention. Marines wearing both DON and joint awards carry both device types depending on the ribbon.

I earned an EIC Gold badge. Where does it go relative to my Expert Rifle badge?

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 17 paragraph d.(1), competition badges (Distinguished, President's Hundred, EIC) sit above the rifle and pistol qualification badges in the marksmanship awards order. The EIC Gold wears on the left breast pocket alongside the qualification badges, with positioning per current Uniform Regulations.

I have a foreign award approved by CMC but I am not at any foreign-nation function. Do I wear it daily?

No. Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 7.2.d, even approved foreign decorations are allowed to wear only at specific functions involving the issuing foreign nation or its officials. On a routine duty day in garrison, the foreign decoration stays off the uniform.

My Bronze Star with V is mounted incorrectly. The V is to the left of the star. Is that wrong?

Per ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17 paragraph 7.c, all letter devices sit to the right of any stars. The V should be to the right of the star (the wearer's right). Have your medal mounting redone by a competent vendor.

I served in Iraq twice and Afghanistan once. How do I show the multiple deployments on my ICM and ACM?

Per SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Tabs 1 and 2, the ACM and ICM each carry one or more 5/16-inch bronze service stars indicating subsequent qualifying period operations within the named conflict. Each named operation phase produces one star. Verify your MBS shows the correct star count.

My Service A ribbons came back from the dry cleaner crooked. Do I have to remount?

Yes. Awards integrity is part of uniform integrity. Misaligned ribbons fail inspection and reflect poorly on the Marine. Remount before the next inspection or formal event.

What do I do with my retirement awards on the Blue Dress for the retirement ceremony?

Mount the full-size medals on Blue Dress A. The retirement award typically pins on at the ceremony itself, so coordinate with the S-1 to have the medal ready and the rack pre-mounted up to but not including the retirement award. The Receiving an Award page on this site covers the ceremony procedure.

Where to Go for Help

A Note on HQMC Awards Office Designations

The Marine Corps reorganized its awards office over time. Three designations show up in policies tied to award wear and replacement. Get the distinction right 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 including replacement medals (per Section 1135 of Title 10) 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, MCO 1650.19JMCO 1650.19J, and earlier MARADMINs). When you see MMMA in those documents, the function continues today under MMPB-3.

For Marine Corps award wear questions, contact MMPB-3.

• Email. smb_hqmc_pers_awards@usmc.mil
• Phone. 703-784-9342
• Website. https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Performance-Branch/Military-Awards/

For replacement medals and ribbon corrections, route through MMPB-31 channels per MARADMIN 093/25MARADMIN 093/25 paragraph 10.k.

Routing by Issue

• Active duty Marines verifying current uniform configuration. Your S-1 and senior enlisted leader.
• Order of precedence questions on a specific ribbon arrangement. SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Chapter 1, MCO 1020.34MCO 1020.34, and your S-1.
• V, C, R device placement on a specific award. ALNAV 055/17ALNAV 055/17 paragraph 7 and MARADMIN 665/17MARADMIN 665/17.
• Subsequent award devices (stars and oak leaf clusters). SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 individual tabs and DoD Manual 1348.33DoD Manual 1348.33 Volume 3.
• Marksmanship badge placement. SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 Appendix 4A Tab 17 paragraph e and Marine Corps Uniform Regulations.
• Foreign award wear restrictions. SECNAV M-1650.1SECNAV M-1650.1 paragraph 7.2.d.
• Joint award oak leaf cluster placement. DoD Manual 1348.33DoD Manual 1348.33 Volume 3.
• Replacement medals and ribbons. MMPB-31 via your S-1 citing Section 1135 of Title 10.
• Medal mounting services. Your local exchange or commercial vendor specializing in military awards.

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Awards Overview lays out the three categories of awards and the full routing flow.
• Personal Military Decorations covers V/C/R device eligibility per award.
• Joint Service Awards covers oak leaf cluster conventions on joint awards.
• Foreign Awards covers the wear restrictions on approved foreign decorations.
• Marksmanship Badges covers the qualification and competition badge structure.
• Verifying Your Awards in OMPF walks through the verification flow.
• Receiving an Award covers ceremony uniform standards.

Related Roles

• Leaders inspect Marines in formation, identify ribbon and medal misalignments, and coach junior Marines on proper wear.
• Admin at S-1 manages medal mounting coordination, ribbon configurations for ceremonies, and replacement medal requests through MMPB-31.
• Commanders set the standard for unit uniform discipline, ensure subordinate Marines wear awards correctly, and exercise judgment on ceremony uniform configurations.

The Marine Corps codified every device, every star, every position. Wearing your awards correctly is part of wearing the uniform with discipline. Verify the precedence, the devices, and the placement before every formal event.