5312. RIBBONS

1. Manner of Wearing. Ribbons are worn on the service coat or jumper of dress blue and dress white, and on the shirt of Service Khaki, Summer White, Winter Blue, and Tropical White. Ribbons are not authorized on formal dress, dinner dress, or working uniforms. Wear up to three ribbons in a single row. When more than three ribbons are authorized, wear them in horizontal rows of three each. If ribbons are not in multiples of three, the top row contains the lesser number, and the center of this row sits over the center of the one below it. Wear ribbons without spaces between ribbons or rows of ribbons. Wear ribbons with the lower edge of the bottom row centered 1/4 inch above the left breast pocket and parallel to the deck. To prevent coat lapels from covering ribbons, ribbons may be aligned so the border to wearer's left is aligned with left side of pocket. Rows of ribbons where more than 50% of the ribbon is covered by the coat lapel may contain two ribbons each and be aligned with left border. On Full Dress uniforms, see Article 5313.

2. Placement on Ribbon Bar. Ribbons may be sewn to uniforms or arranged on a bar(s) and attached to uniforms. Ribbons shall not be impregnated with preservatives which change their appearance, or have any transparent covering.

3. Arrangement. Arrange ribbons in order of precedence in rows from top down, inboard to outboard, within rows. Wear either the three senior ribbons, or all ribbons if you have earned three or more.

4. No Symmetrical Color Designs. Display ribbons which have a symmetrical color design or have stars as part of the design, as follows:

a. American Campaign Service Medal. The dark blue stripe in the center is to the wearer's right.

b. Armed Forces Expeditionary Unit Medal. The blue stripe in the center is to the wearer's right.

c. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. The dark blue stripe in the center is to the wearer's right.

d. Combat Action Ribbon. The outermost blue stripe is to the wearer's right.

e. European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. The blue stripe in the center is to the wearer's right.

f. Korean Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon. The red portion of the circular device in the center is upper most, and the ribbon has a gold frame.

g. Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait). The black stripe is the uppermost.

h. Medal of Honor Ribbon. The star should form an M with the single ray of all stars pointing up.

i. Merchant Marine Combat Bar. The light blue stripe is uppermost.

j. Merchant Marine Mariner's Ribbon. The red stripe is to the wearer's right.

k. Navy and Marine Corps Ribbon. The blue stripe is to the wearer's right.

l. Navy Occupation Service Ribbon. The black stripe is to the wearer's right.

m. Philippine Defense Ribbon. The stars form a triangle, base down.

n. Philippine Liberation Ribbon. The blue stripe in the center is to the wearer's right.

o. Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon. The blue stripe is to the wearer's right, worn with gold frame.

p. Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon. The blue stripe is uppermost.

q. World War II Theater Ribbon. The blue stripe in the center is to the wearer's right.

6. Ribbons on Non-Military Uniforms. Personnel who earned service ribbons while a member of the Navy may wear the ribbons on non-military uniforms if the organization sponsoring the non-military uniform permits the custom.

7. Ribbons with Breast Insignia. When you wear ribbons with breast insignia, comply with Section 2 of this Chapter. See Figures 5-2-1 .

5313. RIBBONS WITH MEDALS

1. Manner of Wearing. Wear both large medals and ribbons that do not have corresponding large medals on Full Dress Uniforms. Center ribbons on the right breast in the same relative position as the holding bar of the lowest row of medals. Arrange ribbons in order of precedence in rows from top down and inboard to outboard. Wear either the senior ribbon or all ribbons. These ribbons include: Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy "E", Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Foreign Unit Awards, Marksmanship, Sharpshooter ribbons, etc. Personnel awarded only ribbons that do not have corresponding large medals shall wear the ribbons on the right side as mentioned above.

2. Do not wear ribbons on uniforms requiring miniature medals.

5314. LARGE MEDALS

1. Manner of Wearing. Large medals are worn on the service coat or jumper of Full Dress Blues and Full Dress White. When wearing more than one medal, suspend them from a holding bar that supports the medals' weight. Place the holding bar of the lowest row of medals in the same position as the lowest ribbon bar. The bars measure 4-1/8 inches wide, and each row of medals is 3-1/4 inches long from the top of the suspension ribbons to bottom of medals, so that bottom of medals dress in a horizontal line. Multiple rows of ribbons should be grouped with the same number of medals in each row, with the lesser number in the top row if necessary. You may wear a maximum of three medals side by side in a single row with no overlap. Arrange four or more medals (maximum of five in a single row) following the layout in Table 5-3-1. Overlapping shall be proportional and the inboard medal shall show in full. Mount the medals so they cover the suspension ribbons of the medals below.

2. Arrangement. Arrange medals in order of precedence in rows from top down, inboard to outboard, within rows. Service members possessing more than five medals may either wear the five senior medals or all of them.

3. Medal of Honor with Large Medals. When wearing either large or miniature medals, wear the Medal of Honor pendant on a suspension ribbon placed around the neck. When wearing this medal with the men's white service dress coat, place the ribbon outside the coat collar. Place the ribbon between the shirt and coat collar with all other coats.

4. Polishing Medals. Plating or polishing medals is prohibited except personnel assigned to Washington Ceremonial Guard.

5. Medals with Breast Insignia. When wearing large medals with breast insignia, comply with Section 2 of this Chapter. See Figures 5-3-1, 2, 3 and 4.

5315. MINIATURE MEDALS

1. Manner of Wearing. Wear miniature medals with all formal dress uniforms and dinner dress uniforms. Each row of miniatures is 2-1/4 inches long, from top of the suspension ribbons to bottom of medals, so the bottom of medals dress in a horizontal line. Position medals so they cover the suspension ribbons of the medals in the rows below. Male officers and CPO's, and E6 and below: on formal and dinner dress jackets, place the holding bar of the lowest row of miniature medals 3 inches below the notch, centered on the lapel, parallel to the deck (Figure 5-3-5). On blue and white service coats, center the holding bar 1/4 inch above the left breast pocket parallel to the deck (Figures 5-3-6 and 5-3-7). Female officers and CPO's and E6 and below: on formal dress or dinner dress jackets, place the holding bar in the same relative position as on the men's dinner dress jackets, down 1/3 the distance between the shoulder seam and coat hem (Figure 5-3-8). On blue and white coats, center the holding bar 1/4 inch above the left pocket flap parallel to the deck (Figure 5-3-9). E6 and Below: on jumper uniforms, men and women place the holding bar of the lowest ow of miniature medals 1/4 inch above the pocket parallel to the deck (Figure 5-3-10).

2. Arrangement. Wear up to five miniature medals in a row with no overlap. Arrange six or more miniature medals following the layout in Table 5-3-1.

a. Arrange medals in order of precedence in rows from top down, inboard to outboard, within rows. Those people possessing five or more medals may either wear the five senior medals or all of them. On the dinner dress jacket, center up to three miniature medals on the lapel. Position four or more miniatures starting at the inner edge of the lapel extending beyond the lapel on to the body of the jacket.

3. Medal of Honor with Miniature Medals. When wearing miniature medals, wear the Medal of Honor as described in article 5314.3.

4. Miniature Medals with Breast Insignia. When wearing miniature medals with breast insignia, comply with Chapter 5, Section 2.

Note: Text adapted from US Navy Uniform regulations (NAVPERS 1566.5G)