Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal — Military Decorations

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Medal and Ribbon Design Images

Design of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

An independent Navy Commendation Ribbon was established in November 1943. The design mimics that of the US Army. The only difference is the ribbon. On the obverse is an American bald eagle with wings spread horizontally, grasping three crossed arrows. On the eagle’s breast is a shield paly of thirteen pieces and a chief. The reverse bears a panel for naming between the words “FOR MILITARY” above and “MERIT” below, all placed above a laurel sprig.

What is the Navy and Marine Corps 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 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal medal is classified as a Personal Decoration of the type Commendation Medal.

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

In contrast to the Army and the Air Force, in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal has historically considered its commendation medal to be a higher level and less frequently awarded decoration. Outside of those instances where it has been awarded for combat action with a Combat V device, it has typically been reserved for Department Head level officers at the O-4 level, senior Navy Chief Petty Officers (CPO) and senior Marine Corps Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCO) at the E-8 and E-9 level as an "end of tour" award in a given command/organization/unit, and, following a full career, as a retirement award for enlisted personnel between pay grades E-6 and E-9. For more junior personnel, it has occasionally been awarded as an "impact award" for a significant contribution of service, to include those instances of combat service where it has included the Combat V device.

Displaying the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

The Order of Precedence of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal is 28, 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 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal is placed after the Joint Service Commendation Medal and before the Commendation Medals of other branches (besides Army) or the Joint Service Achievement Medal.

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