Earned, Not Decor..!!!
Military Awards is your resource for understanding U.S. military awards, decorations, medals, ribbons, and honors. Whether you’re researching a specific medal, learning about award eligibility requirements, identifying military decorations, or exploring the traditions behind military recognition, this category provides clear and easy-to-understand information.
Military awards recognize service, achievement, valor, sacrifice, leadership, and dedication across all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. From the Medal of Honor and Purple Heart to Good Conduct Medals and campaign awards, each decoration has a unique purpose, history, and place in the military awards system.
Within this category, you’ll find guides covering military medals, award eligibility rules, military honors and traditions, ribbon identification, medal collecting, display ideas, and resources for veterans and their families. Whether you’re a service member, veteran, family member, collector, historian, or simply interested in military history, these articles are designed to help you better understand the meaning and significance of military awards and decorations.
Explore our growing collection of articles to learn how military awards are earned, what they represent, and why they continue to hold an important place in honoring military service and sacrifice.
Eligibility, History, and Significance The Korean Service Medal (KSM) is a U.S. campaign medal awarded to members of the Armed Forces who served in the Korean War. Established during the conflict, it recognizes military personnel who participated in operations in the Korean theater between June 27, 1950, and July 27, 1954. The medal honors the … Read more
The Hourglass Device is a military ribbon device awarded with the Armed Forces Reserve Medal to recognize extended honorable service in the Reserve Components of the U.S. Armed Forces. Different hourglass colors represent specific service milestones, allowing Reserve members to display decades of dedicated service on a single ribbon. What Does the Hourglass Device Represent? … Read more
The “R” Device recognizes service members whose direct, hands-on actions from a remote location significantly contributed to combat operations. As warfare has evolved, many military personnel influence the battlefield without being physically present. The R Device acknowledges these important contributions. What Does the R Device Mean? The “R” stands for Remote. It recognizes direct operational … Read more
The “C” Device is a military ribbon device that identifies awards earned under combat conditions. It distinguishes meritorious service performed while exposed to combat but does not signify heroism. What Does the C Device Mean? The “C” stands for Combat. It indicates the recipient performed exceptionally while serving in combat conditions where hostile action was … Read more
The Silver Service Star is a military ribbon device that represents participation in five designated military campaigns or operations. It replaces five Bronze Service Stars, making military ribbon racks easier to read while accurately displaying campaign participation. The Silver Service Star should never be confused with the Silver Star Medal, one of the nation’s highest … Read more
The Bronze Service Star, often called a campaign star, is a small bronze device worn on certain U.S. military ribbons and medals to represent participation in designated military campaigns or operations. It should not be confused with the Bronze Star Medal, which is a separate decoration awarded for heroism or meritorious service. Campaign stars provide … Read more
Manufacturer marks are one of the most valuable clues when identifying and authenticating U.S. military medals. These markings can reveal who produced the medal, help estimate when it was manufactured, and support research into its authenticity. While not every medal carries a visible mark, understanding manufacturer markings is an important skill for collectors, historians, veterans, … Read more
Whether you’re a collector, veteran, historian, or family member researching a loved one’s service, understanding the difference between original and reproduction military medals is essential. While many reproduction medals are legally manufactured for replacement, display, and ceremonial purposes, they do not carry the same historical significance or collector value as authentic government-issued awards. Learning to … Read more
GWOT-SM The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-SM) recognizes U.S. military personnel who supported the Global War on Terrorism through service on active duty. Unlike campaign medals awarded for deployment to combat zones, this medal honors those who contributed to the overall mission from locations around the world, including within the United States. Established … Read more
The Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM) recognizes members of the United States Armed Forces who served in direct support of military operations within Afghanistan. Established in 2004, the medal honors service members who deployed to one of the longest military conflicts in U.S. history and participated in combat, security, counterterrorism, and stability operations. The Afghanistan Campaign … Read more