SGT Private RallyPoint Member 5637957 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The top five awards for bravery - the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross (those three decorations are considered equal), and the Silver Star are all awarded ONLY for valorous acts while engaged in direct combat against an armed enemy of the United States. I do believe meritorious service awards, with criteria which often distinguishes between officer and enlisted, have there place. However, shouldn&#39;t we place more emphasis on medals awarded strictly for valor? Awards for valor are egalitarian. A private can be decorated with the Medal of Honor or a Silver Star just as soon as a Five Star General. Shouldn&#39;t that be above meritorious service medals?<br /> 2020-03-07T11:04:41-05:00 SGT Private RallyPoint Member 5637957

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The top five awards for bravery - the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross (those three decorations are considered equal), and the Silver Star are all awarded ONLY for valorous acts while engaged in direct combat against an armed enemy of the United States. I do believe meritorious service awards, with criteria which often distinguishes between officer and enlisted, have there place. However, shouldn&#39;t we place more emphasis on medals awarded strictly for valor? Awards for valor are egalitarian. A private can be decorated with the Medal of Honor or a Silver Star just as soon as a Five Star General. Shouldn&#39;t that be above meritorious service medals?<br />

2020-03-07T11:04:41-05:00 2020-03-07T11:04:41-05:00 SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth 5637963

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I say leave things as they are.

2020-03-07T11:05:28-05:00 2020-03-07T11:05:28-05:00 CW5 Jack Cardwell 5638016

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Thanks for sharing.

2020-03-07T11:15:54-05:00 2020-03-07T11:15:54-05:00 SGT Robert Pryor 5638022

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Absolutely.

2020-03-07T11:17:01-05:00 2020-03-07T11:17:01-05:00 CPT Jack Durish 5638060

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>How &#39;bout starting with the basics. It&#39;s the Medal of Honor (there is no honor in Congress). Then there are awards for service, achievement, and valor (&quot;V&quot; device) such as the Commendation Medal and Bronze Star. Should the honoree having both wear one of each? How &#39;bout awards for service and achievement be worn on the right breast and those for valor on the left? Oh, the confusion...

2020-03-07T11:29:25-05:00 2020-03-07T11:29:25-05:00 Lt Col Jim Coe 5638116

<div class="images-v2-count-1"><div class="content-picture image-v2-number-1" id="image-432556"> <div class="social_icons social-buttons-on-image"> <a href='https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fshould-the-order-of-precedence-change-for-decorations-and-awards%3Futm_source%3DFacebook%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3DShare%20to%20facebook' target="_blank" class='social-share-button facebook-share-button'><i class="fa fa-facebook-f"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Should+the+order+of+precedence+change+for+decorations+and+awards%3F&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rallypoint.com%2Fanswers%2Fshould-the-order-of-precedence-change-for-decorations-and-awards&amp;via=RallyPoint" target="_blank" class="social-share-button twitter-custom-share-button"><i class="fa fa-twitter"></i></a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Check this out on RallyPoint!&body=Hi, I thought you would find this interesting:%0D%0AShould the order of precedence change for decorations and awards?%0D%0A %0D%0AHere is the link: https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/should-the-order-of-precedence-change-for-decorations-and-awards" target="_blank" class="social-share-button email-share-button"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i></a> </div> <a class="fancybox" rel="6c7e36c12857256a431642ada909d261" href="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/432/556/for_gallery_v2/597e2930.jpg"><img src="https://d1ndsj6b8hkqu9.cloudfront.net/pictures/images/000/432/556/large_v3/597e2930.jpg" alt="597e2930" /></a></div></div><a class="dark-link bold-link" role="profile-hover" data-qtip-container="body" data-id="390226" data-source-page-controller="question_response_contents" href="/profiles/390226-11b-infantryman">SGT Private RallyPoint Member</a>, this is an interesting idea; however, I agree with 1SG Mark Flowers. The DoD and Service boards that govern the awards and ribbons considered the various awards including history and other factors. I say leave the top medals for valor and service as they are. If we change anything, we should do away with some of the &quot;been there, done that&quot; ribbons that proliferate on today&#39;s service members&#39; ribbon rack. Air Force Training Ribbon is one example. Also standardization among the services on awards and devices for marksmanship, years of service, and overseas service would be good.<br /><br />I was a Cold Warrior. I have 12 ribbons; six are for medals. The other six could be represented in some other way. <br />1. Air Force Training should have never been created.<br />2. Marksmanship. I like the way the Army handles this.<br />3. Longevity. The Army and Navy use stripes on sleeve. Air Force should do the same.<br />4. Overseas long tour. ditto 3<br />5. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Shouldn&#39;t be an individual ribbon. I was assigned when the unit was awarded so I get a ribbon, twice. Should just be a streamer on unit flag.<br />6. Presidential Joint Unit Citation. Ditto 5.

2020-03-07T11:43:38-05:00 2020-03-07T11:43:38-05:00 SPC Nancy Greene 5638359

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Excellent Question SGT David Reynolds!

2020-03-07T13:07:18-05:00 2020-03-07T13:07:18-05:00 TSgt Michael Brandt 5638535

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I think the Air Force and their ribbons are fine how they are you have some new troops that get a lot of pride out of having a few ribbons on there class As and if it boost pride and morale I see nothing wrong with that

2020-03-07T14:16:30-05:00 2020-03-07T14:16:30-05:00 PVT Mark Zehner 5639344

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Interesting!

2020-03-07T19:44:10-05:00 2020-03-07T19:44:10-05:00 SSG Kenneth Ponder 6069425

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Get rid of the meritous awards. They&#39;re nothing but bullshit anyway.<br />Majority of all awds started around WWl.

2020-07-03T23:02:41-04:00 2020-07-03T23:02:41-04:00 MSG John Duchesneau 6985786

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>You make a good point. That&#39;s the only change I would make except for making the Armed Forces Service Medal rank above the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and possibly making the National Defense Service Medal rank below campaign medals.

2021-05-19T00:52:12-04:00 2021-05-19T00:52:12-04:00 CPT Byron Ward 8737472

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am a BIG advocate of putting the Silver Star above all DSMs.

2024-04-25T22:18:26-04:00 2024-04-25T22:18:26-04:00 CPT Byron Ward 8739034

<div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am fine with the precedence of most decorations, but I very strongly advocate one change: PUT THE SILVER STAR ABOVE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDALS!

2024-04-27T11:05:43-04:00 2024-04-27T11:05:43-04:00 2020-03-07T11:04:41-05:00