Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal — Military Decorations

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Medal and Ribbon Design Images

Design of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

On the obverse of the medal is a fouled anchor displayed in the center of a rectangular bronze medallion with clipped corners. There is a five-pointed star, with the point facing upwards, in each corner of the medal. This design was suggested by the flag of the Secretary of the Navy, under whose authority it was established. On the reverse of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, however, is blank for engraving the recipient’s name.

What is the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Decoration?

The ribbon is myrtle green. A stripe of Indian orange inside each edge distinguishes the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal from the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

The United States military sorts decorations into categories called Classes and Types. The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal medal is classified as a Personal Decoration of the type Achievement Medal.

How Do You Earn the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal?

The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal could not be approved by the commanding officers of ships, submarines, aviation squadron, or shore activities who held the rank of Commander (O-5). Awards for crewmembers had to be submitted to the Commodore or Air Wing Commander or the first appropriate O-6 in the chain of command for approval, who then signed the award and returned it. This led to a dramatically lower awarding rate when compared to similar size units in the Army or Air Force awarding their own achievement medals, especially considering that those services did not establish their respective achievement medals until the 1980s. Since 2002 the commanding officers of aviation squadrons and ships have had the authority to award NAMs without submission to higher authority. It is awarded to individuals, who in a non-combat situation exemplify true leadership and exceptional completion of duties above and beyond regular duties.

“The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal was originally established as a ribbon-only award by Secretary of the Navy John B. Connally on May 1, 1961. The current medal was authorized by the Secretary of the Navy on July 17, 1967. It may be awarded to members of the Armed Forces in the grades of 0-5 and below. The medal is awarded for meritorious service or achievement in either combat or noncombat, based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature, but which does not warrant a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. It may not be awarded for service involving participation in aerial flight after January 1, 1969.”

Displaying the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

The Order of Precedence of the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal is 33, 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.

It is to be worn after the Joint Service Achievement Medal and before other service achievement medals (besides Army). Additional awards are denoted by bronze stars.

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