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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/awards & decs
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Question
Dear Mr. Powers --
I am currently a nurse in the Air Force Reserve and have been working with a recruiter for the past few months to transfer into the Navy Reserve in the same career field. Would I be eligible to wear my AF ribbons/medals (including my flight nurse wings) on a Navy uniform?
My father is convinced that would be no problem since I already earned the awards but I thought only "sister services" like Army-Air Force and Navy-USMC authorized wearing the other's medals. Here is a list of my awards & decs:
1. AF Outstanding Unit Award
2. Combat Readiness Medal
3. National Defense Service Medal
4. Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
5. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
6. Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
7. AF Longevity Service
8. Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 'M' Device
9. AF Training Ribbon
Thank you!
Jill
Hi Jill,
This is covered by the Navy Uniform Regulation, Chapter 5, Section 3.
Paragraph 5301.2 states:
"2. Awards From Other Services. Naval personnel who have received awards from other military services or departments of the United States Government, foreign governments, or other agencies, may wear such awards on the naval uniform only as described in this section."
The following is a list of "OTHER SERVICES" AWARDS, WHICH, IF AWARDED, MAY BE WORN ON THE NAVY UNIFORM. For precedence these awards may be worn directly following the Navy equivalent award.
MEDALS
Medal of Honor (Army & Air Force)
Distinguished Service Cross (Army)
Air Force Cross
Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
Distinguished Service (Air Force)
Distinguished Service Medal (Coast Guard)
Soldiers Medal (Army)
Airman's (Air Force)
Coast Guard Medal
Gold Lifesaving (Coast Guard)
Silver Lifesaving Medal (Coast Guard)
Air Force Aerial Achievement
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation
Coast Guard Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement
Army Achievement Medal
Coast Guard Achievement
Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Medal
Good Conduct (Army)
Good Conduct (Air Force)
Good Conduct (Coast Guard)
Good Conduct (Marine Corps)
Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal
Selected Marine Corps Reserve
Air Force Reserve Forces Meritorious Reserve Medal
Army of Occupation
Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
Army Reserve Components Achievement
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
RIBBONS
Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon (Army & Air Force)
Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon
Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon
Coast Guard Team Commendation Ribbon
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award Ribbon
Army Valorous Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon (Army)
Army Superior Unit Award
Air Force Overseas Ribbon (Long Tour)
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
Coast Guard "E" Ribbon
The following is a list of AWARDS WHICH ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR ON THE NAVY UNIFORM:
Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Air Force Combat Readiness Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
Air Force Overseas Ribbon (Short Tour)
Air Force Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
Air Force Training Ribbon
Air Force Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon
Air Force NCO Professional Military Educational
Graduate Ribbon
Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Coast Guard Expert Shot Medal
Coast Guard Commandant Letter of Commendation Ribbon
Coast Guard Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement
Coast Guard Restricted Duty Ribbon
Coast Guard Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation
Coast Guard Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement
Valorous Unit Award
All State issued awards
(Navy active duty and reserve personnel who qualify on a small arms qualification course with any other branch of the Armed Forces (including Coast Guard) may wear the appropriate Navy ribbon/medal corresponding to that service qualification designation. OPNAVINST 3591.1C provides information on qualification requirements.)
For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my U.S. Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com
Hope this helps!
Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com
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Answers by Expert:
Rod Powers
Expertise
Rod Powers is considered one of the premire experts about U.S. Military career information on the planet. He has more than 30,000 articles about U.S. Military career information on the About.com U.S. Military Careers Information website at: http://usmilitary.about.com. Additionally, he is the author of "ASVAB for Dummies," "ASVAB AFQT for Dummies," (available in Dec 2009), and "Veteran Benefits for Dummies," all published by Wiley Publishing. He is also the author of "Barrons' Guide to Officer Candidate School Tests," published by Barron's Educational Series.
Experience
Rod Powers is a retired Air Force first sergeant, with 23 years of active duty service, 11 of those years as an Air Force First Sergeant. He has helped thousands of military members, recruits, and military applicants since he took over the About.com U.S Military Careers Information site in 1999. He has a reputation for "telling it like it is," so questions may not be answered based on "what you want to hear," but will be answered based of the bast available information, concerning the service/situation.
Education/Credentials
Rod is a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officers Academy, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force First Sergeant Academy. He also holds an Associates Degree in Personnel Administration from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).
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