Coast Guard Commendation Medal — Military Decorations

Coast Guard Commendation Medal Medal and Ribbon Design Images

The Coast Guard Commendation Medal comes with a unique service ribbon, which is worn on the recipient's uniform in situations where the full medal is not worn. If you have earned this decoration, you can wear the service ribbon on your ribbon rack.
Design of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal

The U.S. Coast Guard awards a separate Coast Guard Commendation Medal, with a ribbon similar in design to that of its Navy and Marine Corps counterpart. It was initially established as the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon in 1947, it was redesignated as the Coast Guard Commendation Medal in 1959. Criteria for its award has paralleled that of the Navy and Marine Corps. The award differs from others in that it has the coast guard seal in the centre of the medal.

What is the Coast Guard Commendation Medal Decoration?

The ribbon itself is characterised by its myrtle green colour with two symmetrical white stripes flanked by edges of green.

The United States military sorts decorations into categories called Classes and Types. The Coast Guard Commendation Medal medal is classified as a Personal Decoration of the type Commendation Medal.

How Do You Earn the Coast Guard Commendation Medal?

The Coast Guard Commendation Medal is awarded to servicemen and women, except general officers, who, while serving alongside the Coast Guard distinguished themselves by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service.

The Coast Guard Commendation Medal is awarded to American and foreign military personnel in the grade of O-6 and below. Qualifying service for the award of the medal can be for distinctive meritorious achievement and service, acts of courage involving no voluntary risk of life, or sustained meritorious performance of duty. Approval of the award must be made by an officer in the grade of O-6 or higher.

Displaying the Coast Guard Commendation Medal

The Order of Precedence of the Coast Guard Commendation Medal is 30, and this precedence is used when placing the associated service ribbon on your uniform ribbon rack. You can see a full list of decorations in the order of precedence on the Decorations homepage.

Subsequent awards are denoted by the use of a bronze star and a “V” for valorous actions in direct contact with the enemy.

The Coast Guard Commendation Medal is placed after the Joint Service Commendation Medal and other Commendation Medals from the separate branches of the Armed Forces and before the Joint Service Achievement Medal.

Coast Guard Commendation Medal Associated Branches

Coast Guard

Coast Guard Commendation Medal Associated Branches

Coast Guard

Coast Guard Commendation Medal and the Stolen Valor Act

The Stolen Valor Act of 2013 is a federal law that makes it illegal for any person to falsely claim to be the recipient of certain military awards, "with the intention of obtaining money, property, or other tangible benefit by convincing another that he or she received the award".This decoration is covered by the Stolen Valor act. Fraudulently claiming to have received a Coast Guard Commendation Medal can result in punishment including a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both


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