There are lots of different military awards, and they can be split into a few categories based on what they celebrate. Here’s a breakdown to make it easy:
Personal Decorations: Given for standout actions or general heroism. Examples include the Medal of Honor or the Distinguished Service Cross.
Service Medals and Ribbons: Awarded for serving during a specific period or campaign, like the National Defense Service Medal or campaign ribbons from overseas service.
Unit Awards: Recognize achievements of entire units that work together under challenging conditions, such as the Presidential Unit Citation.
Marksmanship Awards: Awarded for hitting a certain level of skill with weapons during training or competitions.
Foreign Awards: Sometimes, military personnel can receive awards from allied nations, often for working together during joint operations or missions.
Each of these categories gives you a glimpse into the kind of effort, teamwork, or bravery that gets recognized in military circles. Knowing which is which helps when you see a service member’s uniform or read about medals in the news.
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