# Tiny coloured rectangular military badges **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762 "2005-11-19T03:28:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/1 "2005-11-19T03:28:35Z")
Can someone please explain to me the purpose and meaning of those tiny, coloured, rectangular badges one sees arranged in a matrix on military uniforms? For example, see this [picture of General Zhukov](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Georgij_%C5%BDukov-1.jpg) and note the badges beneath the star medals on the left side of his chest. Are those badges to indicate rank, battle participation, awards, or what? Is each row an entire badge, or is every little rectangle a separate badge with a separate meaning? Are they worn only on dress uniforms or on the regular uniforms as well? I know that the meaning of these badges will probably vary from country to country and military to military, but they seem pretty ubiquitous so I figure they all have similar purposes. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/2 "2005-11-19T03:32:15Z")
Each badge is a different “award.” Someone with military experience will come in soon to explain further, but depending on how and when you serve, peacetime or war, you earn a badge. Ivylad, for instance, got one because he was in the Navy during the first Gulf War. He didn’t actually go fight, as he was still in training school, but he was a member of the armed services during a war and as such earned a badge. And woe to you if you wear one you didn’t earn. That can cause quite a lot of problems for you. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/3 "2005-11-19T03:43:30Z")
They’re medals, of course. Rather than wearing the entire medal, which would cover your chest with baubles, in most dress uniform situations a solder just wears the “Ribbon” - that’s what they are called- that corresponds to the medal. By looking at the ribbons you can tell what medals the soldier has earned. Each medla has a uniquely coloured ribbon. Look at this page of U.S. decorations: [http://www2.powercom.net/~rokats/decora.html#MOH](http://www2.powercom.net/~rokats/decora.html#MOH) See how each medla hangs off a differently patterend ribbon? A horizontal cross section of that is the ribbon you wear on your uniform. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/4 "2005-11-19T03:45:28Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > They’re medals, of course. > > Rather than wearing the entire medal, which would cover your chest with baubles, in most dress uniform situations a solder just wears the “Ribbon” - that’s what they are called- that corresponds to the medal. By looking at the ribbons you can tell what medals the soldier has earned. Each medla has a uniquely coloured ribbon. > > Look at this page of U.S. decorations: > > [http://www2.powercom.net/~rokats/decora.html#MOH](http://www2.powercom.net/~rokats/decora.html#MOH) > > See how each medla hangs off a differently patterend ribbon? A horizontal cross section of that is the ribbon you wear on your uniform. Bingo. And [here’s](http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/Ribbons/OrderofPrecedence.htm) the Army’s page on them. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/5 "2005-11-19T04:21:50Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > They’re medals, of course. > > Rather than wearing the entire medal, which would cover your chest with baubles, in most dress uniform situations a solder just wears the “Ribbon” - that’s what they are called- that corresponds to the medal. By looking at the ribbons you can tell what medals the soldier has earned. Each medla has a uniquely coloured ribbon. Nitpick - In the US, not all ribbons have a corresponding medal. Many awards are just the ribbon itself. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/6 "2005-11-19T04:43:58Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Are they worn only on dress uniforms or on the regular uniforms as well? Ribbons and medals are typically worn on the more formal uniforms. Each (US) service has a wide variety of uniforms, ranging from basic work uniforms to formal dinner dress uniforms and everything in between. On less formal dress uniforms, you would wear only the ribbons. On more formal dress uniforms, you would wear medals, medals and ribbons, and for dinner dress uniforms, miniature medals\* and devices without ribbons. On the basic work uniforms, you wouldn’t wear any medals or ribbons. \*When you receive a medal, it will come with a full size medal, the corresponding ribbon bar, and a miniature medal and miniature ribbon pin. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/7 "2005-11-19T06:47:27Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > And woe to you if you wear one you didn’t earn. That can cause quite a lot of problems for you. > [@](#): > > (a) In General.— Whoever knowingly wears, manufactures, or sells any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. Source: 18 USC 704 > [@](#): > > **The Medal of Honor is the only service decoration that cannot be privately bought, traded, or sold.** All Medals of Honor are issued in the original only, by the Department of Defense, to a recipient. > > After the Army redesigned their medal in 1903, a patent was issued (United States Patent #D37,236) to legally prevent others from making the medal. When the patent expired, the Federal government enacted a law making it illegal to produce, wear, or distribute the Medal of Honor without proper authority. > > Violators of this law have been prosecuted. In 2003, two persons, Edward and Gisela Fedora, were charged with violating Title 18, U.S.C. 704 - Unlawful Sale of a Medal of Honor. They sold medals awarded to US Navy Seaman Robert Blume (for action during the Spanish-American War) and to US Army First Sergeant George Washington Roosevelt (for action during the Civil War) to an FBI agent. > > Although it is illegal to wear the Medal of Honor without authorization, it is not illegal to claim to be a recipient, unless such a claim is made with the intent of securing veteran benefits. A large number of veteran organizations and private companies devote themselves to exposing those who falsely claim entitlement to the Medal of Honor. Source: [http://www.medalofhonor.com/Summary.htm](http://www.medalofhonor.com/Summary.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/8 "2005-11-19T17:00:00Z")
> [@Garfield226](#): > > Bingo. And [here’s](http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/Ribbons/OrderofPrecedence.htm) the Army’s page on them. If you’re in the army, are you expected to be able to recognize all of those? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/9 "2005-11-19T17:02:58Z")
> [@Dewey Finn](#): > > If you’re in the army, are you expected to be able to recognize all of those? Og help you if you don’t recognize the first one. Generally, no. Knowing a few of the more important ones (Silver Star, Purple Heart) might keep you from making a fool of yourself sometime, though. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/10 "2005-11-19T17:05:21Z")
But you will probably be expected to defer to, or at least accept a certain amount of favoritism toward, someone of your own rank who wears more “fruit salad” than you. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/11 "2005-11-19T17:15:07Z")
Many of the ribbons on that page could not possibly be worn by anyone in the armed services today, since they are of wars fought fifty to a hundred years ago, or more. So it’s not quite THAT hard. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/12 "2005-11-19T18:34:46Z")
Here’s a link to the [U.S. Navy ribbons](http://www.mediacen.navy.mil/pubs/allhands/jan01/ribbons.htm) most likely to be found on uniforms today. As you can see, they’re really aren’t all that many. You tend to see the same ribbons on servicemembers, and learn to recognize them pretty readily. For example, I left active duty as a lieutenant. The highest award I received was the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal. That’s pretty typical for someone of my rank. I also received a Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal earlier in my career. Top-notch mid-grade officers (e.g. lieutenant commanders) could expect to receive a Meritorious Service Medal for an end-of-tour award, and top-notch senior officers (commanders and captains) would likely receive the Legion of Merit. Top-notch admirals in joint assignments might receive a Defense Superior Service Medal or Defense Distinguished Service Medal. Most of the other high medals (including the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star) are only awarded for distinguished service in combat. The Medal of Honor is the highest award that can be given. When awarded, it is often awarded posthumously. Many of the ribbons lower down on the list are unit awards, which you receive for being attached to particular ships or submarines. For example, I received a Navy Unit Commendation, Battle “E” Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Navy Arctic Service Ribbon. None of these ribbons have corresponding medals. Everyone in the military during certain declared actions or wars is awarded the National Defense Service Medal. Finally, in the Navy, you get can get marksmanship medals. I received the Expert Pistol Marksmanship Medal. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/13 "2005-11-19T18:51:52Z")
> [@robby](#): > > … > For example, I left active duty as a lieutenant… Only a point of clarification here. If **robby** was a lieutenant in the Navy, he/she would be the equivalent of a Captain in the other branches of the service. Not trying to be a PIA here, just trying to give credit where credit is due. This is why so many military folk just use O-1, O-2, O-6, etc. Advoids confusion. Apologies for the sidetrack. :o ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/14 "2005-11-19T18:57:36Z")
Right. I left active duty as a Lieutenant (O-3). Here’s a link for medals and awards for all the branches of the U.S. military: > **[U.S. Department of Defense](https://www.defense.gov/)** > > The Department of Defense is America's largest government agency. With our military tracing its roots back to pre-Revolutionary times, the department has grown and evolved with our nation. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/15 "2005-11-19T20:48:36Z")
Also, if you hang out with JROTC or ROTC cadets, they can get medals for stuff they did outside of ROTC (including a few things from when they were in high school), such as being an Eagle Scout. (aside) Does active military have an Eagle Scout ribbon? Also, if you earn an award more than once, instead of wearing two identical ribons (which, since they’re arranged in order of importance, would end up sitting next to eachother anyways), you would wear one ribbon with one or more little metal doohickies in the middle of it, with each metal doohicky representing how many times you won the award. Basically, the most important ribbons you’d need to watch for would be located in the top corner of the ribbon rack, assuming the person was wearing their ribbons correctly. I think if the person transfered from one service to another (ie: Navy to the Air Force or something like that) then he would wear two sets of ribbons, with the ones from his previous branch of service being below the ones for his current branch. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/16 "2005-11-19T21:55:46Z")
> [@](#): > > (a) In General.— Whoever knowingly wears, manufactures, or sells any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. What about costumes? One often sees movies portraying members of the military wearing various ribbons. Is that one of the “authorizations under regulations made pursuant to law”, or do they just use ribbons which don’t correspond to actual awards? Or I suppose they could just cast distinguished veterans as actors… ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/17 "2005-11-19T22:05:22Z")
Obviously it’s against the rules to wear ribbons you haven’t earned, but is there a rule that you have to wear the ones you did earn? Could a soldier who won several important medals for heroism in battle just wear those, but skip some of the “excellence in KP duty” type stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/18 "2005-11-19T22:23:56Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Obviously it’s against the rules to wear ribbons you haven’t earned, but is there a rule that you have to wear the ones you did earn? > > Could a soldier who won several important medals for heroism in battle just wear those, but skip some of the “excellence in KP duty” type stuff? Won’t speak for the other services, but in the CG you may wear all of them, just the top three or any combo of earned ribbons up to nine. Most people opt to wear all of them, with the wearing of just the top three coming in a close second. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/19 "2005-11-19T22:28:47Z")
Extending the OP a bit, what about civilian awards? Obviously, the MoH takes precendence over everything else. Here in the U.K. it seems that civilians wear full medals or nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762/20 "2005-11-19T22:28:52Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What about costumes? One often sees movies portraying members of the military wearing various ribbons. Is that one of the “authorizations under regulations made pursuant to law”, or do they just use ribbons which don’t correspond to actual awards? Or I suppose they could just cast distinguished veterans as actors… I’d guess that there are provisions in the law to allow for this, because many decent Hollywood flicks I’ve seen show the military members wearing actual ribbons. _A Few Good Men_ comes immediately to mind in this regard. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tiny-coloured-rectangular-military-badges/331762.md?page=2)