Navy and Marine Corps Medal — Military Decorations

Navy and Marine Corps Medal Medal and Ribbon Design Images

The Navy and Marine Corps 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 Navy and Marine Corps Medal

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal octagonal in shape and constructed using bronze. On the front is an eagle holding a fouled anchor over a globe. The word Heroism is engraved below the globe. On the reverse is space for the engraving of the recipients name.

What is the Navy and Marine Corps Medal Decoration?

The ribbon of the medal is three equal stripes of navy blue, old gold, and apple red.

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

How Do You Earn the Navy and Marine Corps Medal?

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the senior non-combat award for heroism, this award hinges on the actual level of personal "life threatening" risk experienced by the awardee. They must have displayed an act of heroism in order to save the lives of others.

Since the mid-20th century, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal has been awarded instead of the Silver or Gold Lifesaving Medal, for rescues at sea. This is most closely associated with the establishment of a plethora of decorations that are of higher prestige than the Lifesaving medal.

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal was first bestowed during World War II. Perhaps one of the most famous recipients was President John F. Kennedy, who was awarded the medal while serving as commanding officer of Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109 during World War II.

Displaying the Navy and Marine Corps Medal

The Order of Precedence of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal is 17, 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 considered of higher precedence than the Bronze Star, however, it is after the Distinguished Flying Cross. Additional awards of the medal are denoted by gold or silver 5/16 inch stars.

Navy and Marine Corps Medal Associated Branches

Navy

Marine Corps

Navy and Marine Corps Medal Associated Branches

Navy

Marine Corps

Navy and Marine Corps 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 Navy and Marine Corps Medal can result in punishment including a fine, imprisonment for not more than one year, or both


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