Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award — Military Decorations

Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award Medal and Ribbon Design Images

The Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award 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 Distinguished Pistol Shot Award

Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award is a golden badge with a target at the center. Above the insignia's are inscribed "Distinguished" while below it will inscribe "Pistol Shot". The golden Pistol device may be attached on a Marksmanship Ribbon.

What is the Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award Decoration?

In 1884, the United States Secretary of War authorized the establishment of the "distinguished class" of marksman. In 1887, the Secretary authorized the first Distinguished Marksman Badge to recognize the shooters who achieved distinguished class of marksman with the rifle, carbine, revolver, or any combination of the three. This continued until the establishment of the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge in 1903. The Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge are considered the U.S. armed forces' highest awards for pistol marksmanship until 1962 when the Civillian Marksmanship Program established the Distinguished International Shooter Badge. U.S Coast Guardsmen must earn at least 30 leg points to reach "distinguished status" and be awarded one of the distinguished marksmanship badges. Leg points accumulate throughout a competitor's lifetime until "distinguished status" is attained.

The United States military sorts decorations into categories called Classes and Types. The Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award medal is classified as a Marksmanship Award of the type Pistol Marksmanship Award.

How Do You Earn the Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award?

The Distinguished Pistol Shot Award is awarded when 30 leg points are accumulated throughout a competitor's lifetime until "distinguished status" is attained.

Displaying the Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award

The Order of Precedence of the Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award is 139, 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.

The Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award is authorized to be worn with military uniform.

Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award Associated Branches

Coast Guard

Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award Associated Branches

Coast Guard

Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award 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 Distinguished Pistol Shot Award can result in punishment including a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both


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