USMC Medals & Ribbons

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Defense Distinguished Service Medal



Defense Distinguished Service Ribbon




The defense distinguished service medal was established by executive order 11545 (reference (I)), 9 july 1970. it is awarded by the secretary of defense to officers of the armed forces of the united states whose exceptional performance of duty and contributions to national security or defense have been at the highest levels. such officers have direct and ultimate responsibility for a major activity or program that significantly influences the policies of the US government. only under the most unusual circumstances will the defense distinguished service medal be awarded as an impact award for outstanding temporary duty achievement. the defense distinguished service medal is specifically intended to recognize exceptionally distinguished service and to honor an individual's accomplishments over a sustained period.
normally, such broad responsibilities shall be held by only the most senior officers whose duties bring them into direct and frequent contact with the secretary of defense and the other senior officials within the government. examples of such positions are the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff; the chiefs and the vice chiefs of the military services, including the commandant and the assistant commandant of the marine corps; and the cincs and the deputy cincs of the unified combatant commands.
the defense distinguished service medal also may be awarded to other senior officers who serve in positions of great responsibility, or to an officer whose direct and individual contributions to national security or defense are recognized as being so exceptional in scope and value as to be equivalent to contributions normally associated with positions encompassing broader responsibilities.

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Navy Distinguished Service Medal



Navy Distinguished Service Ribbon




The distinguished service medal established by act of congress 9 july 1918 section 6243 of title 10, u.s.c. (reference (eee)). the distinguished service medal is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the navy or marine corps, distinguishes himself/herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the united states in a duty of great responsibility. to justify this decoration, an exceptional performance of duty, clearly above that normally expected, which has contributed materially to the success of a major command or project, is required. in general, the distinguished service medal will be awarded only to those officers in principal commands at sea or in the field whose service is such as to justify the award. however, this shall not be interpreted to preclude the award of the distinguished service medal to any individual whose service meets the requirements. if there is any doubt as to the degree of service involved, the legion of merit is the more appropriate award.

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Silver Star Medal



Silver Star Ribbon




The silver star, 6244 of reference (lll), united states code (10 usc 6244 ), was established by act of congress august 7, 1942 (public law 702). silver star is awarded to a member of the armed forces of the united states or of a friendly foreign nation who distinguishes himself/herself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding service. for u.s. military personnel. to justify this decoration, the service rendered must have been comparable to that required for the distinguished service medal but in a duty of lesser though considerable responsibility. in general, the legion of merit will be awarded to officers in lesser commands at sea or principal commands on shore who have performed such exceptionally meritorious service as to justify the award of the distinguished service medal except as to degree of merit. however, this should not be interpreted to preclude the award of the legion of merit to any individual, regardless of grade or rate, whose acts or services meet the requirements. when the degree of achievement or service rendered, although meritorious, is not sufficient to warrant the award of the legion of merit, the bronze star medal or the meritorious service medal should be considered.

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Defense Superior Service Medal



Defense Superior Service Ribbon




The defense superior service medal (DSSM) was established by executive order 11904, 6 february 1976. it is awarded by the secretary of defense to members of the armed forces of the united states who, after 6 february 1976, distinguished themselves by noncombat meritorious achievement or service in a position of significant responsibility. only under the most unusual circumstances will defense superior service medal be awarded as an impact award for outstanding temporary duty achievement. the defense superior service medal is is specifically intended to recognize exceptionally meritorious service performance and to honor an individual's accomplishments over a sustained period.

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Legion Of Merit Medal



Legion Of Merit Ribbon




The legion of merit, section 1121, title 10, united states code (10 usc 1121), was established by act of congress 20 july 1942. awarded to a member of the armed forces of the united states or of a friendly foreign nation who distinguishes himself/herself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding service. to justify this decoration, the service rendered must have been comparable to that required for the distinguished service medal but in a duty of lesser though considerable responsibility. in general, the legion of merit will be awarded to officers in lesser commands at sea or principal commands on shore who have performed such exceptionally meritorious service as to justify the award of the distinguished service medal except as to degree of merit. however, this should not be interpreted to preclude the award of the legion of merit to any individual, regardless of grade or rate, whose acts or services meet the requirements. when the degree of achievement or service rendered, although meritorious, is not sufficient to warrant the award of the legion of merit, the bronze star medal or the meritorious service medal should be considered.

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Distinguished Flyng Cross Medal



Distinguished Flying Cross Ribbon




The distinguished flying cross, section 6245 of reference (nnn), united states code (10 usc 6245), was established by act of congress. awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the u.s. navy or the u.s. marine corps, distinguishes himself/herself by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. to justify this decoration for heroism, an act in the face of danger, well above those actions performed by others engaged in similar flight operations, is required; for achievement, the results accomplished must be so exceptional as to render them conspicuous among those accomplished by others involved in similar circumstances.

1. in adjudging the appropriate awards for the various members of a flight crew, it is considered that the pilot responsible for flying the aircraft is sometimes eligible for a higher award than other members of the flight crew. however, in a two-seat aircraft where the pilot and crewmember constitute a team and function as an integral part of the weapons system, both would generally be eligible for the same award. a crewmember other than the pilot should not be precluded from receiving a higher award if circumstances so indicate. each case will be considered on its own merits.
2. establishment of a new aerial record does not necessarily qualify as an extraordinary achievement in aerial flight.
3. combat distinguishing device. the combat distinguishing device may be authorized for valor (heroism) after 4 april 1974.

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Navy & Marine Corps Medal



Navy & Marine Corps Ribbon




The navy and marine corps medal is authorized by (ppp) section 6246 of title 10, united states code. the navy and marine corps medal is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the u.s. navy or the u.s. marine corps, distinguishes himself/herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy. for acts of lifesaving, or attempted lifesaving, it is required that the action be performed at the risk of one's own life. as the senior peacetime award for heroism, this award hinges on the actual level of personal "life threatening" risk experienced by the awardee. for heroic performance to rise to this level it must be clearly established that the act involved very specific life-threatening risk to the awardee. when there is none, or at best very limited life-threatening risk to the awardee, the award of the navy and marine corps commendation medal may be more appropriate.

Note: although the navy and marine corps medal is often awarded for heroism involving lifesaving, it is not a lifesaving medal.