Navy Good Conduct Medal
The Navy was the first branch of military service to add a Good Conduct Medal to the long list of medals of America. These Navy medals have gone through four incarnations, with the first version dating back to 1869. This first of the US military medals issued for Good Conduct was issued between 1870 and 1884. In those days, this Navy medal was not meant to be worn on the uniform. It was merely a badge of honorable service, and was issued with discharge papers as a badge to present during reenlistment. A sailor in the Navy received a new Good Conduct Medal for each honorable enlistment completed. Between 1880 and 1884, a second version of the Navy Good Conduct Medal was issued. These Navy ribbons and medals were considered “transitional decorations” and were the first of the Good Conduct Medals to be worn on a uniform. In 1885 a third new Navy Good Conduct Medal was issued which lasted until1891. These new military medals had Enlistment Bar devices approved to denote each honorable enlistment completed instead of the currently used Service Stars.
During the Spanish American War the all red ribbon of the Navy Good Conduct Medal was confused with the Specially Meritorious Service Medal which also sported an all red ribbon, and some Navy personnel had received both. So, it was decided to change the Navy Good Conduct Medal one more time. The fourth and current version of these military ribbons and medals are awarded to every active duty sailor who completes three years of honorable service, although the same award required four years of similar service before 1996. These military awards imply that a standard enlistment was completed without any non-judicial punishments, disciplinary infractions, or court martial offenses. If a service member commits an offense, the three-year mark \"resets\" and a service member must perform an additional three years of service without having to be disciplined, before the Navy Good Conduct Medal may be authorized.
Service for the Good Conduct Medal must also be performed on active duty and the medal is not awarded to members of the Navy Reserve. During times of war, the Good Conduct Medal may be awarded for one year of faithful service. The Good Conduct Medal may also be awarded posthumously, to any sailor killed in the line of duty.
The Navy Good Conduct Medal is worn just below the Prisoner of War Medal and just above the Reserve Good Conduct Medal in the general order of precedence that has been established for the proper display of all Navy military medals and ribbons. Service Stars are used to denote additional awards. Upon 12 years of honorable and faithful service, sailors are also allowed to wear gold versions of their Petty Officer insignia, something usually seen with those with the rank of Chief Petty Officer, or Petty Officer First Class.
The Navy Good Conduct Medal is generally available as Navy medals, ribbons, lapel pins and hat insignia. Navy Good Conduct Medals are available in traditional slide-on military medals or mini-medals and traditional slide-on military ribbons. In more recent times the sleek new thin military medals, mini-medals and the ultra thin military ribbons have garnered a wide following with military personnel who have realized the importance of always looking their best to enhance their chances of advancement in their respective military services.
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