NAVY SERVICE RIBBONS/MEDALS 1989-1994

Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon Criteria: Awarded by the Secretary to any ship, aircraft, detachment, or other unit of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps which has since December 6, 1941 (one day prior to the Japanese attack on the U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii) distinguished itself in action against the enemy with outstanding heroism not sufficient to justify award of the Navy Presidential Unit Citation. It is also awarded for non-combat service, in support of military operations, which was outstanding when compared to other units or organizations performing similar service. The Navy Unit Commendation was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on December 18, 1944. Note: This service ribbon is one of the few awards issued by the military as a ribbon only. There is no accompanying medal.

Navy Good Conduct Medal Ribbon Criteria: The current Navy Good Conduct Medal dates from 1961 and is issued to every active duty sailor who completes three years of honorable and faithful service. Before 1996, four years of honorable and faithful service was required. During times of war, the Good Conduct Medal may be awarded for one year of faithful service. The Good Conduct Medal may also be awarded posthumously, to any soldier killed in the line of duty. Upon 12 years of honorable and faithful service, sailors are also allowed to wear gold-colored version of their Petty Officer insignia, something usually seen with those with the rank of Chief Petty Officer and above, although a few with the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class (usually in the Navy Reserve) have their version of this rank insignia. Of all the Good Conduct Medals, The Navy Good Conduct Medal is the oldest, dating back to 1869. There have been a total of four versions of the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the first version of which was issued from 1870 to 1884. The second version of the Navy Good Conduct Medal was issued between 1880 and 1884. The medal was phased out by 1885 and a new medal issued between 1885 and 1961. Enlistment bars, denoting each honorable enlistment completed, were pinned on the ribbon as attachments. Service stars denote additional awards of the Navy Good Conduct Medal. Attachments: Bronze Star Device, Silver Star Device. Note: This service ribbon is issued by the military along with an accompanying medal. Check the appropriate Branch of Service category for purchase of its medal counterpart

National Defense Service Medal Ribbon Criteria: Awarded to anyone who serves on active duty in the United States military during a designated time period. In the fifty years since the creation of the National Defense Service Medal, it has been authorized for the following time periods; June 27, 1950 to July 27, 1954 for service during the Korean War; January 1, 1961 to August 14, 1974 for service during the Vietnam War; August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995 for service during the Gulf War; September 11, 2001 to a date yet-to-be-determined for service during the War on Terrorism. For service in the Gulf War and War on Terrorism, it is also authorized for members of the military reserve provided they are a “military reservist in good standing.” The National Defense Service Medal is further authorized to students at the service academies, but is not granted to discharged or retired veterans who did not serve in one of the above time periods. The decoration is also not authorized to members of the inactive reserve. The award was intended to be a “blanket campaign medal” issued to any member of the United States military who served in a designated time period of which a “national emergency” had been declared. As of 2005, it is the oldest service medal which is still issued to the active military. Attachments: Bronze Star Device. Note: This service ribbon is issued by the military along with an accompanying medal. Check the appropriate Branch of Service category for purchase of its medal counterpart.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Ribbon Criteria: Awarded for participation in "any military campaign of the United States for which no other service medal is authorized" including the Cuban Missile Crisis between October 1962 and June 1963, actions in Lebanon, Taiwan, the Congo, Quemoy and Matsu, and for duty in Berlin between 1961 and 1963, initial operations in South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, Panama, Grenada, Libya, Operation Earnest Will, peacekeeping and sanction missions against Iraq, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Vigilant Sentinel, and United Nations actions, including Bosnia and Somalia. Additional awards of the medal are denoted by service stars, with the arrowhead device also authorized for United States Army personnel who are awarded the decoration through participation in an airborne or amphibious assault. The Fleet Marine Force combat operation insignia is also authorized for certain sailors. Attachments: Bronze Star Device, Silver Star Device, Bronze Arrowhead Device - Mounted Note: This service ribbon is issued by the military along with an accompanying medal. Check the appropriate Branch of Service category for purchase of its medal counterpart.

Southwest Asia Service Medal Ribbon Criteria: Awarded for military service between August 2, 1990 and November 30, 1995 for participation during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. To be awarded the decoration a service member must also have served in the geographical land areas of any of the following nations: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and/or United Arab Emirates. Between January 17, 1991 and November 30, 1995, service members who performed duty "in support of" the Gulf War are eligible to receive the Southwest Asia Service Medal if duty was performed in either Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, or Jordan. The Southwest Asia Service Medal is authorized four campaigns of service, each denoted by a service star awarded with the medal. Authorized campaigns include: Defense of Saudi Arabia: August 2, 1990 to January 16, 1991; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait: January 17 to April 11, 1991; Cease-Fire Campaign: April 12, 1991 to November 30, 1995; Operation Provide Comfort: June 1, 1992 to November 30, 1995. Attachments: Bronze Star Device. Note: This service ribbon is issued by the military along with an accompanying medal. Check the appropriate Branch of Service category for purchase of its medal counterpart.

Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon Criteria: Awarded to any member of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps assigned to a Naval Afloat Command and who performs 90 or more consecutive days of a seaward deployment within a one-year period. After 1999, for those service members stationed on U.S. vessels home-ported in foreign ports (such as Yokosuka, Japan), the Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon is also authorized for one year of foreign duty and may be awarded simultaneously with the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon was established in May 1980 and retroactively authorized to August 1974. a) For Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska) homeported ships/deploying units or Fleet Marine Force (FMF) commands, 12-months accumulated sea duty or duty with FMF which includes at least one 90- consecutive day deployment. A standard 14-day waiver of the 12- month accumulated sea duty/duty with FMF is authorized as long as the 90-consecutive day deployment requirement is met. The 12-month accumulated sea duty requirement is waived for those Navy and Marine personnel who were called to sea duty or deployed for Operations DESERT SHIELD or DESERT STORM (during the period 2 Aug 90 - 31 Dec 91) to qualify for this initial award. This waiver does not affect second and subsequent awards of this ribbon. Second and subsequent awards will be earned for each additional 12-months of qualifying service in which a 90- consecutive day deployment occurs. Note: This service ribbon is one of the few awards issued by the military as a ribbon only. There is no accompanying medal.

Saudi Arabian Medal Ribbon for the Liberation of Kuwait Criteria: Awarded to members of the Coalition Forces who participated in Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait between the dates of January 17, 1991 and February 28, 1991. It is considered the rarer of the two versions of the medal, as it recognizes service in a relatively short period of time (only a few months) whereas the Kuwaiti version of the medal is granted for service over several years. For this reason, the Saudi Arabian Kuwait Liberation Medal is considered senior in precedence to the Kuwaiti version of the medal. Note: This service ribbon is issued by the military along with an accompanying medal. Check the appropriate Branch of Service category for purchase of its medal counterpart.

Navy Expert Pistol Medal Ribbon Criteria: Attainment of the minimum qualifying score for the expert level during prescribed shooting exercises on the 9 millimeter pistol. The U.S. Navy has issued two marksmanship ribbons: the Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon and Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, since 1920. The pistol ribbon is currently awarded for qualification on the 9 millimeter pistol, while the rifle ribbon is currently awarded for qualification on the M-16 automatic rifle. The Navy issues the marksmanship ribbon in three levels: that of Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert. The basic ribbon is awarded for the Marksman level while the specific Marksmanship Device is awarded for qualification as a Sharpshooter or Expert. Those receiving an Expert qualification receive the Marksmanship Medal, in addition to the Marksmanship Ribbon. Prior to 1959, the Navy also issued a ribbon known as the Distinguished Marksmanship Ribbon. This award was discontinued in 1960 and had been declared obsolete by 1965. Note: This service ribbon is issued by the military along with an accompanying medal. Check the appropriate Branch of Service category for purchase of its medal counterpart