MyMilitaryMedals.com Blog
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation
May 14th 2010 - 9:37 am
In November of 1973 the Commandant of the Coast Guard established the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation. These Coast Guard ribbons are awarded in the name of the Coast Guard Commandant. These Coast Guard awards are bestowed upon units that display superior performance in exceptionally difficult tasks that sets them above other units performing similar tasks. Receiving these military ribbons requires unit performance that generally must be the equivalent to what is required of an individual to earn the Legion of Merit. These Coast Guard decorations are generally awarded to reward unit cohesion and efficiency among enlisted personnel. The Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation ranks below the Coast Guard Unit Commendation, and above the Coast Guard Team Merit Ribbon in the order of precedence for military medals and ribbons. Additional Awards are denoted by gold Service Star devices. This award is also available as a Unit Banner for unit display. The Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation is generally available as Coast Guard ribbons and a unit banner, and can be worn as military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most Coast Guard awards, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military ribbons, and the newer ultra thin military ribbons which have become so popular in recent years for their sleeker apperance.
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
May 13th 2010 - 4:29 pm
In July of 1967 the Secretary of the Navy ordered the establishment of the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. These mid-level Navy decorations are bestowed in the name of the Secretary of the Navy to both Navy and Marine Corps units. To win these Navy and Marine Corps ribbons, the unit must display superior performance in exceptionally difficult tasks that sets them above other units performing similar tasks. The required unit performance must generally be the equivalent to what is required of an individual to earn the Bronze Star. Service in the combat area is not required so long as the service performed is directly related to the combat effort. The Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ranks below the Navy Unit Commendation, and above the Navy "E" Ribbon in the order of precedence for military medals and ribbons. Additional Awards are denoted by bronze or silver Service Star devices for both the Navy and the Marine Corps. This award is also available as a Unit Banner. The Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation is generally available as Navy and Marine Corp ribbons and can be worn as traditional full size military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most military awards, it is available as traditional slide-on, full size military ribbons, and thin military ribbons.
Coast Guard Unit Commendation
May 10th 2010 - 12:51 pm
In 1963 the Coast Guard Unit Commendation was created for presentation to members of any Coast Guard unit which distinguishes itself by valorous or extremely meritorious service which does not involve combat, but supports Coast Guard operations. These military ribbons became the highest peacetime unit awards in the Coast Guard when this branch of service was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard Unit Commendation is considered equivalent to unit citations in the other branches of service, like the Defense Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Valorous Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Air Force Gallant Unit Citation, which is shared by the Marine Corps. These Coast Guard awards are worn just below the Presidential Unit Citation and just above the Meritorious Unit Commendation in the military medals and ribbons order of precedence. The Operational Distinguishing Device is authorized for units which are presented this award for field operations and conditions. Subsequent awards of the Coast Guard Unit Commendation are denoted by gold and silver Award Star devices. The Coast Guard Unit Commendation is generally available as Coast Guard ribbons and a unit banner, and can be worn as full size military ribbons and lapel pins. Like most military awards, it is available as slide-on, full size military ribbons, and the sleek thin military ribbons that have become so popular in recent years.
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
May 6th 2010 - 4:50 pm
In August of 1944 the War Department established the Meritorious Service Plaque. Army personnel from units that received these Army decorations were allowed to wear a Meritorious Service Unit Insignia on their sleeve. Additional awards were indicated by gold Award Stars, and later a gold Numeral inside the wreath on the plaque. In May of 1947 the Army established the Meritorious Unit Commendation with a design more similar to other Army ribbons, and a display style that harmonized better with other Army awards. The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the U.S. Army which is presented to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding services for at least six continuous months during the period of military operations against an armed enemy. The unit must show outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks in a manner that sets them above other units with similar missions. The degree of achievement required is the same as that which would warrant an individual the award of the Legion of Merit. These military ribbons may be worn by all unit members of a cited organization whether or not a member during the action sited, and is considered an individual decoration for persons who were unit members during the cited acts, even after they are no longer members of that unit. The order of precedence for all military ribbons and medals requires that the Army Meritorious Unit Commendation be worn just below the Army Valorous Unit Award, and just above the Army Superior Unit Award. A unit banner is also approved for display. The Army Meritorious Unit Commendation is generally available as Army ribbons, a lapel pins and a unit banner, and can be worn as traditional full size military ribbons and the sleek new ultra thin ribbons that look so trim as mounted military medals.
Gallant Unit Citation
May 3rd 2010 - 5:18 am
In March of 2004 the Air Force created new Air Force ribbons called The Gallant Unit Citation. These Air Force decorations reward units that distinguish themselves by extraordinary heroism while engaged in armed combat with an enemy force. These military ribbons are awarded for actions showing a lesser degree of gallantry and determination than required for the Presidential Unit Citation, though the actions performed must have set the unit apart and above the general performance of other units in the same engagement. The degree of heroism the unit displays would earn an individual a Silver Star. These military awards are normally only presented to units participating in single or successive actions that take place in a brief span of time, and the unit size is generally not larger than a group. The Gallant Unit Citation is worn just below the Presidential Unit Citation, and just above the Meritorious Unit Commendation in the order of precedence for military medals and ribbons. It is considered equivalent to the Defense Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Valorous Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Coast Guard Unit Commendation. Subsequent awards of these Air Force awards are denoted by Oak Leaf Cluster devices. A Unit Banner has also been approved for display. The Gallant Unit Citation is available as Air Force ribbons, lapel pins and a unit banner. These military ribbons are available as traditional slide-on, full size military ribbons, and now, thin ribbons are available to add a sleeker look to your military ribbons and medals.
Joint Meritorious Unit Awards
May 1st 2010 - 11:28 am
Defense Secretary Weinberger established The Joint Meritorious Unit Award in June of 1981, and it is the only unit award given by the Defense Department. That makes this military ribbon a relative newcomer to the pantheon of military decorations. These military awards are the unit equivalent of the Defense Superior Service Medal. They are presented to joint units or combined activities where direction comes through Unified or Combined Command channels, or where a joint mission is pursued under the direction of the Secretary of Defense, or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or their designated commander. The military order of precedence places the Joint Meritorious Unit Award just below the Presidential Unit Citation, equivalent to the Army Valorous Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Air Force Gallant Unit Citation, and the Coast Guard Unit Commendation, and just above the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Multiple awards are denoted by Oak Leaf Cluster devices. A Unit Banner has also been approved for display. The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is generally available as a military ribbon in all five branches of service and is available as traditional full size military ribbons, lapel pins and displayed as a unit banner. Like most military awards, it can be worn as traditional slide-on, full size military ribbons, or it can be integrated into the mounted ribbons of a rack of ultra thin ribbons.
