Posted on Nov 13, 2014
Should U.S. government civilian awards be worn on a military uniform?
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So let's say GS9 Snuffy is recalled to active duty. Snuffy has several DOD medals for Civilian Service, and other Agency medals issued by the US Gov? Some have ribbons. Can/Should Snuffy wear them on uniform? Why?
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Posted 11 y ago
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AR 670-1 Chapter 29 section 29-6, c. U.S. non-military decorations. U.S. non-military decorations authorized for wear on Army uniforms are listed below in their order of precedence. Personnel will wear other U.S. non-military (Federal agency) decorations based upon date of receipt. If more than one decoration is awarded by the same agency, the decorations are worn in the order of precedence, as established by the awarding agency. Personnel will not wear U.S. non-military decorations that duplicate recognition for service or an act for which a military decoration has already been awarded. Awards given by a jurisdiction inferior to the Federal Government are not authorized for wear on the Army uniform, except as specified in paragraph j, below.
(1) Presidential Medal of Freedom.
(2) Presidential Citizen’s Medal.
(3) President’s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Award. (4) Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award.
(5) Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom.
(6) Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
(7) Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award.
(8) Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal. (9) NASA Space Flight Medal.
(10) Public Health Service Commendation Medal. (11) Public Health Service Achievement Medal. (12) Department of State Superior Honor Award. (13) Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service. (14) Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
(15) Superior Civilian Service Award.
(16) Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.
(17) Achievement Medal for Civilian Service.
As a current MilTech employee I think you should be authorized. As a Miltech you are a Reservist and a Army civilian at the same time. You are still serving your country and doing a full time job that would be done in uniform, but without wearing the uniform. You still have to partake in missions and readiness, those apartments should be on the uniform and there is already a section of the regulation stating so.
(1) Presidential Medal of Freedom.
(2) Presidential Citizen’s Medal.
(3) President’s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service Award. (4) Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award.
(5) Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom.
(6) Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
(7) Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award.
(8) Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal. (9) NASA Space Flight Medal.
(10) Public Health Service Commendation Medal. (11) Public Health Service Achievement Medal. (12) Department of State Superior Honor Award. (13) Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service. (14) Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
(15) Superior Civilian Service Award.
(16) Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.
(17) Achievement Medal for Civilian Service.
As a current MilTech employee I think you should be authorized. As a Miltech you are a Reservist and a Army civilian at the same time. You are still serving your country and doing a full time job that would be done in uniform, but without wearing the uniform. You still have to partake in missions and readiness, those apartments should be on the uniform and there is already a section of the regulation stating so.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I was awarded the Non-Article 5 NATO medal while in Afghanistan as a DAC. What would the precedence be for this one? Seems strange to have one campaign medal positioned apart from the others.
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I had no idea and am glad I just stumbled on this conversation. I am a current Army Reservist and proudly wear all my OIF medals on my ribbon rack from my first deployment (Baghdad ‘03-04). However, I received numerous civilian medals from my OEF deployment as a DAC (Kandahar, ‘10-11) that I have never worn. I alasts wondered why the medal sets included ribbons if I couldn’t wear them on my uniform. Thanks for helping clear this up!
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Can they? Yes they can wear them on the uniform. Why/should they? They earned it and they are authorized to wear it. Soldiers should never be intimidated not to or ashamed to wear an authorized award, no matter where it came from.
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MSG (Join to see)
I cant find any guidance for apurtences for civilian awards. If a civilian/soldier does wear honorary civilian awards, and has multiple, is there any guidance on if multiple awards are recognized?
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1LT (Join to see)
Traditional guidance is based on the award and how subsequent awards are recognized. If there is no guidance, then only one award is worn ... save subsequent awards for the resume. Generally, DA or other DoD civilian service awards will denote how subsequent awards, if any, are denoted. Some civilian awards are only one and done.
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Nope. I'm essentially in that position, SGM (Join to see), (minus the recall) and I think civilian awards (/medals/ribbons) are for civilians, not for the military uniform. That's my vote anyhow.
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CPT (Join to see)
But these are military members who did something significant on behalf of the Armed Forces in a civilian capacity/status. Also, it's in 670-1, so unless you and I are writing the regulations, our debate is an academic exercise, at best.
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No, not just no HELL NO. Civilian awards do not belong on a military uniform ever!
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SFC Jeremy Boyd
That is your opinion and as such is to be respected, but AR 670-1 does have a list of U.S. non-military medals/decorations that, in fact, are authorized for wear on Army dress uniforms. I would speculate, however, that they would be limited to USAR/ARNG Soldiers that concurrently serve in GS civilian positions, retirees serving as JROTC instructors, etc. It's highly unlikely that most active Soldiers would have occasion to have earned civilian awards.
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CPT (Join to see)
It is service toward the Armed Forces in a civilian capacity by a military member. I'd argue that if you received the Presidential Medal of Freedom or something along those lines, you'd reconsider.
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Gregory Pasquier
I would like to remind the Private that the US military is civilian-run. There is no difference between a "civilian" award and a military one.
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LTC John Griscom
As a Department of the Army Civilian for 26 years, I made four deployments to the Middle East; once for Desert Storm for which I was awarded a Bronze Star and once to Saudi Arabia/Kuwait for Operation Vigilant Warrior when I got a Superior Civil Service Medal.
Until they change the reg, these, plus two others, are on the ribbon rack on my uniform that I wear for special events.
Until they change the reg, these, plus two others, are on the ribbon rack on my uniform that I wear for special events.
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I am in need of some uniform guidance.
I am a retired navy PO1 (E-6) and a member of the Scottish-American Military Society (SAMS). Our uniform regs allow members to wear our military ribbons on our uniform shirts. We are also permitted to wear our service's dinner dress uniform with mini medals for formal occasions. I have recently been nominated to receive the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President%27s_Volunteer_Service_Award )
My question is two-fold. If I receive this award, can I: (1) wear the associated ribbon on my military ribbon rack? If so, what would be the order of precedence? And (2) can I wear the medallion with my mess dress uniform?
I am a retired navy PO1 (E-6) and a member of the Scottish-American Military Society (SAMS). Our uniform regs allow members to wear our military ribbons on our uniform shirts. We are also permitted to wear our service's dinner dress uniform with mini medals for formal occasions. I have recently been nominated to receive the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).
( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President%27s_Volunteer_Service_Award )
My question is two-fold. If I receive this award, can I: (1) wear the associated ribbon on my military ribbon rack? If so, what would be the order of precedence? And (2) can I wear the medallion with my mess dress uniform?
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The Air Force MPF accepted the two civilian medals I earned and added them into my awards record also confirming that I was authorized to wear them with the rest of my USAF awards on my ribbon rack.
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I was researching this topic and came across this thread. My situation is that I was awarded an Army MUC and NATO ISAF medal (civilians eligible for both) for a DA Army civilian deployment (OEF). Since these are military awards I have asked if I am eligible to wear on my Navy uniform (Reservists). I have not come across a legitimate answer.
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LtCol Donald Moor
You would need the awards documented in your service record to legally wear them. Though military awards, they would most likely still fall under the following paragraph. Best COA would be to submit the request to have them added to your record through your admin.
SECNAV Instruction M-1650.1 , Chapter 5, Section 4, c-d.
c. Permission shall not be granted to wear on the uniform
any non-military award the individual received for performance
in a civilian capacity (e.g., a federal civil servant who is a
member of the Navy Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve).
d. Permission by CNO or CMC shall be explicitly documented
within the individual’s official service record. No non-
SECNAV M-1650.1
16 Aug 2019
5-3
military decoration shall be worn unless such concurrence is in
the official record.
SECNAV Instruction M-1650.1 , Chapter 5, Section 4, c-d.
c. Permission shall not be granted to wear on the uniform
any non-military award the individual received for performance
in a civilian capacity (e.g., a federal civil servant who is a
member of the Navy Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve).
d. Permission by CNO or CMC shall be explicitly documented
within the individual’s official service record. No non-
SECNAV M-1650.1
16 Aug 2019
5-3
military decoration shall be worn unless such concurrence is in
the official record.
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