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I tried to order a ribbon set on-line and the rack builder informed me that I could not have 4 gold stars and an O device on my Meritorious Team Commendation ribbon. I checked the manual, but I couldn't find any prohibition against having more than 4 devices. How do you properly wear a ribbon with an O and 5 awards? I have always put 2 stars on each side of the O.
Medals
Awards
Ribbons
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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CPO Jon Campbell In the Army, we could only use up to 4 appurtenances on a reward. I believe that is universal for all services since the Dept of Heraldry is DOD. I ran into the same issue at the 10 Army Achievement mark. If silver is "5" and then the bronze only included "4" ....Then you either max out at 4 appurtenances or 9 awards. According to our beloved AR 670-1 the solution, as insane as it sounds, is to wear a second award. Your Meritorious Team Commendation ribbon with all the chatchkies comes first, and then the slick one immediately follows suit (in the lessor award position). I am sans coffee at the moment so if I am vague, put me on blast and I'll clarify. Try not being so high speed and you won't run into these issues....lol
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MSgt Scott Ashley
I had the same problem with the outstanding unit awards... It does look like a goof, but that's what you do...
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SSgt Michael Cox
the problem is having room on the ribbon for all the devices. if i remember right my on my ribbon rack i have 2 outstanding unit ribbons because of my V and 4 oak leaf clusters wouldn't fit.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
SSgt Michael Cox, I have the same issue with the AFOUA. I have it with the "V" and "13" devices. Ends up being on Ribbon with the "V", 2 Silver OLC, 1 Bronze OLC and a second ribbon with a single Bronze OLC.
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In the Air Force, the AFI guidance is you can only wear four devices on any one decoration/ribbon. If and when you have more awards then you wear a second decoration/ribbon of the same type.
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Jon, that's a new one for me. I've seen a number of people w/ five devices on their ribbons, typically as you say a combination of operational "O"s and stars denoting subsequent awards. Thinking maybe the vendor isn't up to speed on what is allowed.
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CPO Jon Campbell
I have seen it too and I've never had anyone tell me that 4 devices was the limit. It wouldn't surprise me if it was against Heraldry standards though. The CG has not always been in tune there.
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LCDR (Join to see)
I believe the sea services allow 5 items per ribbon, while the Army and Air Force only allow 4. But it gets trickier too. Say you have the O and a gold star; USMC (hypothetically, since O is a USCG device) would put the star to the RIGHT of the O as the observer is looking at it, while USN/USCG would put it to the LEFT. Then a star on either side. Then USN/USCG put 2 to the left and 1 to the right. Then 2 on either side. So I'd assume, from that pattern, that as looking as an observer, it's 3 stars then an O then 2 stars (left to right). USMC would be the opposite, 2 then O then 3. USA/USAF would just have 2 ribbons. I can't find regs for that, it's in the old Medals of America Medals from 1939 to present book...and yes, I realize the post is around 1000 days old.
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I was curious as to what the O device was so I googled it. This is what Wikipedia has to say about the CG O device.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_Distinguishing_Device
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_Distinguishing_Device
Operational Distinguishing Device - Wikipedia
The Operational Distinguishing Device ("O" device) is a miniature silver 516 inch letter "O" that is authorized by the United States Coast Guard as a ribbon device[1]which may be authorized for wear on certain awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard.[2]
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Not sure about the coast guard, but in the Army you wear a second ribbon. Let's say you earn a 10th AAM (Army Achievement Medal), you can't wear a silver oakleaf and 4 bronze oakleaf (9+Ribbon=10) so you would wear one ribbon with a silver oak leaf and 3 bronze oakleaf (equals 9) and the 10th award would be a blank ribbon to the wearers left of the other AAM.
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I know for my AF Outstanding Unit Award since I have a Valor pin and just under the amount to switch from bronze to my third silver device on the ribbon I had to add a second ribbon of the same type next to it which is authorized.
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I would think the O-Device is either junior to, or senior to, the 4 stars, thus either way it should be on an end of the ribbon, not the center.
If you earned 5 of the same award, the ribbon counts as the First, the 4 stars are re-awards 2-3-4-5. How many of them were earned as also assigned the O device?
Im not any official rulebook here, but my gut-check says if I had 5 awards, and 3 were with the device, and 2 were not, then it seems wearing 2 of the same ribbon next to each other, the junior having 1 star, and the senior having 2 stars AND the O-Device wouldn't be unreasonable. I say this simply out of not "overstating" that ALL of them were warranting the device.
I have seem 2 Bronze Star ribbons worn similarly, the senior having the V Device (valor), the other plain. But I confess that just because I've SEEN it doesn't necessarily mean its fully correct (and I'm talking about well-intentioned military folks, don't get me started on the Stolen Valor asshats).
Anyone is welcome to point out where I got this wrong, from an actual Regs perspective, if you are indeed able.
If you earned 5 of the same award, the ribbon counts as the First, the 4 stars are re-awards 2-3-4-5. How many of them were earned as also assigned the O device?
Im not any official rulebook here, but my gut-check says if I had 5 awards, and 3 were with the device, and 2 were not, then it seems wearing 2 of the same ribbon next to each other, the junior having 1 star, and the senior having 2 stars AND the O-Device wouldn't be unreasonable. I say this simply out of not "overstating" that ALL of them were warranting the device.
I have seem 2 Bronze Star ribbons worn similarly, the senior having the V Device (valor), the other plain. But I confess that just because I've SEEN it doesn't necessarily mean its fully correct (and I'm talking about well-intentioned military folks, don't get me started on the Stolen Valor asshats).
Anyone is welcome to point out where I got this wrong, from an actual Regs perspective, if you are indeed able.
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SFC (Join to see)
Although awards are annotated differently on ERBs if they have a V device, it's still worn on the same ribbon as other non V device awards. You only add a second ribbon if you have the issue the OP stated, ie need a 5th appurtenance.
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MSG David Johnson
In the case of a Bronze Star Medal, or an Army Commendation Medal with the V device you would only wear a 3 Oak Leaf cluster, meaning 4 awards.
Where normally if there was not the V device you would wear a 4 Oak Leaf Clustr indicating the 5th award.
Where normally if there was not the V device you would wear a 4 Oak Leaf Clustr indicating the 5th award.
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