Mounted Medals
Order of precedence is the wearer's right to left, top to bottom
A maximum of four large medals will fit side by side on a holding bar. Seven will fit overlapped in a single row.
Breast Insignia (Wings and such) are placed 1/8 inch and centered above the medals
ONE ROW OF MEDALS: the holding bar will be centered with the upper edge of the bar on a line midway between the 1st and 2nd buttons.
Up to seven medals fit on one row.
TWO ROWS OF MEDALS: the senior ribbon bar will be positioned above. The junior bar of medals will be below the senior bar with only the medals showing.
Having two rows starts at eight medals total! Four medals per row. Place the most junior medals under the top row, which is the same height as a single row of medals.
THREE ROWS OF MEDALS: place the third row of medals on top of the middle (second) row so that its medallions cover the ribbon of the second row.
Having three rows starts at fifteen medals! Five medals per row. Start a new row on top of the original row height, but you'll have to reorder your medals with the highest seniority on top.
Female Blue Dress Medal Placement
A maximum of three large medals side by side fit on a women's holding bar. Five will fit overlapped in a single row.
Order of Precedence for Medals
United States (U.S.) Personal Decorations
a. Medal of Honor
b. Navy Cross
c. Defense Distinguished Service Medal
d. Distinguished Service Medal
e. Silver Star Medal
f. Defense Superior Service Medal
g. Legion of Merit
h. Distinguished Flying Cross
i. Navy and Marine Corps Medal
j. Bronze Star Medal
k. Purple Heart Medal
l. Defense Meritorious Service Medal
m. Meritorious Service Medal
n. Air Medal
o. Joint Service Commendation Medal
p. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
q. Joint Service Achievement Medal
r. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
s. Combat Action Ribbon (no medal authorized)
Navy Unit Awards
a. Presidential Unit Citation
b. Joint Meritorious Unit Award
c. Navy Unit Commendation
d. Meritorious Unit Commendation
e. Navy "E" Ribbon
U.S. Nonmilitary Personal Decorations (Listed below, not necessarily in order of precedence, are certain nonmilitary personal decorations worn after all unit awards.)
(1) Presidential Medal of Freedom
(2) National Security Medal
(3) National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal
(4) National Intelligence Medal of Achievement
(5) NASA Distinguished Service Medal
(6) NASA Flight Medal
(7) NASA Medal for Exceptional Bravery
(8) Congressional Space Medal of Honor
Campaign and Service Awards. (Listed in order of precedence and worn after all U.S. nonmilitary decorations.)
a. Prisoner of War Medal
b. Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
c. Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal (formerly the Organized Marine
Corps Reserve Medal)
d. Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
e. China Service Medal
f. American Defense Service Medal
g. American Campaign Medal
h. European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
i. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
j. World War II Victory Medal
k. Navy Occupation Service Medal
l. Medal for Humane Action
m. National Defense Service Medal
n. Korean Service Medal
o. Antarctica Service Medal
p. Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
q. Vietnam Service Medal
r. Southwest Asia Service Medal
s. Kosovo Campaign Medal
t. Afghanistan Campaign Medal
u. Iraq Campaign Medal
v. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
w. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
x. Korean Defense Service Medal
y. Armed Forces Service Medal
z. Humanitarian Service Medal
aa. Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
ab. Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (no medal authorized)
ac. Navy Arctic Service Ribbon (no medal authorized)
ad. Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (no medal authorized)
ae. Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon (no medal authorized)
af. Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon (no medal authorized)
ag. Marine Security Guard Ribbon (no medal authorized)
ah. Marine Corps Combat Instructor Ribbon (no medal authorized)
ai. Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon (no medal authorized)
aj. Armed Forces Reserve Medal
ak. Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon (no medal authorized)
Nonmilitary Service Awards. (Listed in order of precedence and worn
after all campaign and service awards)
a. Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Unit Citation
b. Merchant Marine Defense Bar
c. Merchant Marine Combat Bar
d. Merchant Marine War Zone Bars (worn in order earned)
(1) Atlantic War Zone
(2) Mediterranean-Middle East War Zone
(3) Pacific War Zone
e. Merchant Marine World War II Victory Medal
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f. Merchant Marine Korean Service Bar
g. Merchant Marine Vietnam Service