Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
The Marine Corps was the second branch of service to add a Good Conduct Medal to the growing pantheon of the medals of America. These Marine Corps medals were first issued in 1896, and were originally Marine Corps ribbons and medals suspended from a clasp bearing the words "U.S. Marine Corps". But, the clasp was eliminated after 1935 and these US military medals have remained unchanged in appearance since that time. These Marine Corps decorations are affectionately nicknamed, "The Good Cookie" by Marines. These military medals and ribbons 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 these military ribbons and medals may be authorized.
Service for the Good Conduct Medal must also be performed on active duty because these Marine Corps medals are not awarded to members of the Marine Corps 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 Marine killed in the line of duty.
The Marine Corps 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 Marine Corps military medals and ribbons. Originally Enlistment Bars were used to denote multiple awards, but after 1953 Service Stars became the standard to denote additional awards of the Good Conduct Medal.
The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal is generally available as Marine Corps medals, ribbons, and lapel pins among many common display styles. The Marine Corps awards can be worn as traditional slide-on military medals or mini-medals and traditional slide-on military ribbons. While traditionalist may still prefer to purchase the traditional slide-on full size military medals, mini-medals, and slide-on military ribbons; the newer thin mini-medals, and ultra thin military ribbons commercial suppliers now provide have become extremely popular among up and coming military personnel who know how important it is to their career advancement to always maximize the neatness and smartness of their uniform appearance.
