The United States Armed Forces authorize certain medal and ribbon devices that may be worn if authorized on a defined set of United States military decorations and awards.[1] The devices vary between 3⁄16 inch to 13⁄32 inch in size and are usually attached to suspension and service ribbons of medals and to unit award ribbons. The devices are usually made of brass or metal alloys that appear gold, silver, or bronze in color with either a dull or polished look. The devices may denote additional awards of the same decoration or award, an award for valor or meritorious combat service, participation in a particular campaign, periods of honorable service, specific events, and other special meanings. These are sometimes referred to as award devices, but are most commonly referred to in service regulations and Department of Defense instructions simply as "devices" for awards and decorations.
On January 7, 2016, the Secretary of Defense approved two new devices for medals and ribbons: a "C" Device which will be affixed to multi-purpose performance awards in recognition of meritorious service under combat conditions and, an "R" Device which will be affixed to non-combat performance awards to specifically recognize remote but direct impact on combat operations.[2][3][4] The "R" device is to be a bronze letter "R", 1⁄4 inch in size.[5] Both of the devices will be worn if authorized for wear, on specific decorations.[6] The services have a year to implement these changes.[7][8]
The following is a list of U.S. military service devices for medals and ribbons:
5/16 inch star (gold or silver)
"A" Device
Arrowhead device
Berlin Airlift Device (Cold War, 1947–1948)
Battle star (3⁄16"), bronze or silver
"C" device (1⁄4")
Campaign clasp
Campaign star (3⁄16"), bronze or silver
Citation Star (3⁄16"), WW I, "Silver Star"
"E" device (Navy)
Enlistment Bar
Fleet Marine Force Combat Operation Insignia
Globe Device
Gold frame
Good Conduct Loop
Hourglass Device
Hurricane Device
Marksmanship Device
Maltese Cross
"M" Device
"N" Device (Navy)
"N" Device (Air Force)
Navy Commendation Star (3⁄16)", WW I, silver
Numeral device
Oak leaf cluster (5⁄16" or 13⁄32"), bronze or silver
Operational Distinguishing Device
"R" device (1⁄4")
Service star (3⁄16"), bronze, silver and gold
Strike/Flight numerals
"V" device
Wintered Over Device
Wake Island Device (World War II)
^"Department of Defense Manual 1348.33, Volume 3" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. 23 November 2010. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
^"Decorations and awards" (PDF). www.defense.gov.
^DoD Military Decorations and Awards Review Results (1-36) http://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Military-Decorations-and-Awards-Review-Results.pdf Retrieved January 10, 2016)
^Ferdinando, Lisa (7 January 2016). "Pentagon Announces Changes to Military Decorations and Awards Program". DoD News. U.S. Department of Defense.
^Baldor, Lolita C. (6 January 2016). "Pentagon set to announce awards for combat, drone service". Associated Press U.S. News. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
^Lamothe, Dan (6 January 2016). "Pentagon to overhaul how it recognizes heroism, review cases for modern veterans". Checkpoint, The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
^Copp, Tara (6 January 2016). "DOD to review 1,100 Iraq, Afghanistan medals to determine if they were awarded appropriately". Stars and Stripes. Defense Media Activity. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^Cowan, Paris (8 January 2016). "Pentagon introduces military decorations for drone pilots, cyber fighters". itnews. nextmedia Pty Ldt. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
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