Chapter 28, Army Regulation 670-1
(Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia)
1 September 1992
This chapter covers the decorations, medals, badges, unit awards and appurtenances, both U.S. and foreign, that are authorized for wear on the Army uniforms. The term "awards" is an all inclusive term covering any decoration, medal, badge, ribbon, or appurtenance bestowed on an individual or unit. The term is used throughout this chapter. The term "ribbon" is an all inclusive term used throughout this chapter covering that portion of the suspension ribbon of a service medal or decoration worn instead of the service medal or decoration and made in the form of a ribbon bar, 1 3/8 inches long by 3/8 inches wide. Also included are the service and training ribbons.
AR 600-8-22 provides the authorization and qualifying criteria for the U.S. decorations, service medals, badges, unit awards, and appurtenances worn on the Army uniform.
(2) Ceremonial and social occasions.
c. Awards may be worn by all soldiers on the class B uniform at the wearer's option during duty hours and when off duty.
b. By officers when suspended from rank or command.
c. By enlisted personnel while serving a sentence of confinement.
d. When wearing civilian clothing except for civilian awards, lapel buttons, or rosettes intended for wear with civilian clothing. Soldiers may wear miniature medals on formal civilian attire at formal social functions when wearing the Army uniform would be inappropriate or not authorized.
The following lists indicate the order of precedence by category when medals from two or more categories are worn at the same time:
b. U.S. unit awards.
c. U.S. nonmilitary decorations.
d. Good Conduct Medal.
e. U.S. campaign and service medals.
f. U.S. service and training ribbons.
g. U.S. Merchant Marine awards.
h. Foreign military decorations.
i. Foreign unit awards.
j. Non-U.S. service awards.
k. State awards for ARNG soldiers.
The following lists indicate the order of precedence within each category, when two or more medals from each category are worn at the same time:
b. U. S. unit awards. A unit award is given to an operating unit and worn by members of that unit who participated in the cited action. Some unit awards are also authorized for temporary wear by other personnel while actually serving in the cited unit. Listed below in their order of precedence are the U.S. unit awards authorized for wear on the Army uniform:
c. U.S. nonmilitary decorations. Listed below in their order of precedence are the U.S. nonmilitary decorations authorized for wear on the Army uniform. Other U.S. nonmilitary (Federal agencies) decorations may be worn based on date of receipt. If more than one decoration is awarded by the same agency, the decorations will be worn in the order of precedence as established by the awarding agency. U.S. nonmilitary decorations which duplicate recognition for service or an act for which a military decoration has been awarded will not be worn. Awards given by a jurisdiction inferior to the Federal Government are not authorized for wear on the Army uniform except as specified below.
d. Good Conduct Medal. Good Conduct Medals from the other Services will follow the Army Good Conduct Medal. The Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal will immediately follow, in order of precedence, the Army Good Conduct Medal and/or the Good Conduct Medals from the other U.S. Services.
e. U.S. Service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons. Listed below in their order of precedence are the U.S. Service medals and service and training ribbons authorized for wear. Service medals and ribbons awarded by the other U.S. Services may also be worn on the Army uniform except the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon and Air Force and Navy marksmanship ribbons. Service and training ribbons awarded by other U.S. Services will be worn after U.S. Army service and training ribbons and before foreign awards.
f. U.S. Merchant Marine awards. Listed below in their order of precedence are the U.S. Merchant Marine awards authorized for wear on the Army uniform.
g. U.S. Non-military unit awards. The Public Health Service Unit Award is authorized for wear on the Army uniform.
h. Foreign military decorations. Personnel who have been specifically authorized by law to accept decorations from foreign governments may wear them in the order of their receipt after all U.S. decorations, Good Conduct Medal, campaign and service medals, and service and training ribbons. See AR 600-8-22 for procedures to apply for authority to accept and wear foreign decorations. No foreign decorations may be worn on the uniform unless at least one US decoration or service medal is worn at the same time. Foreign awards which do not conform to the standard U.S. size ribbon bar or medal will not be worn.
i. Foreign unit awards. The following foreign unit awards, listed in their order of precedence, are authorized for wear on the Army uniform when at least one U.S. decoration or service medal or ribbon is worn at the same time:
j. Non-U.S. service medals and ribbons. The following non-U.S. service awards, listed in their order of precedence, are authorized for wear on the Army uniform when at least one U.S. decoration or service medal or ribbon is worn at the same time. No other foreign service medal may be worn unless the wearer was awarded such medal while a bona fide member of the armed forces of a friendly foreign nation.
k. ARNG Personnel are authorized to wear State/Territory awards under applicable State/Territory law and regulation when assigned to the ARNG under the command and control of the governor under provisions of title 32, USC and State/Territory code to include the following personnel statuses authorized under title 32, USC: Active Guard Reserve (AGR), Active Duty Special Work (ADSW), attached to Active/USAR unit for training, annual training, and inactive duty training (weekend drill). Such awards will be worn in State order of precedence after Federal and Foreign awards. Soldiers on active Federal Service under provision of Title 10, USC are authorized to accept but not wear State/Territory awards.
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