Service ribbon

The Purple Heart's service ribbon (to scale)

A service ribbon, medal ribbon, or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal.^[1] Each country's government has its own rules on what ribbons can be worn in what circumstances, and in which order. This is usually defined in an official document and is called "the order of precedence" or "the order of wearing". In some countries (particularly in North America and Israel), some awards are "ribbon only", having no associated medal.

Design

According to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the U.S. military's standard size for a ribbon bar is 1 3/8 in (35mm) wide, 3/8 inches tall (9.525mm), with a thickness of 0.8mm.^[2]

The service ribbon for a specific medal is usually identical to the suspension ribbon on the medal. For example, the suspension and service ribbon for the U.S. government's Purple Heart medal is purple with a white vertical stripe at each end (see Photo).

However, there are some military awards that do not have a suspension ribbon, but have an authorized ribbon and unit award emblem. The Soviet Order of Victory is a badge that was worn on the military parade uniform. However, a ribbon bar representing the Order of Victory was worn on a military field uniform.

Colors

Ribbon bars come in a variety of colors. In the case of the U.S. military, it maintains a specific list of colors used on its ribbons, based on the Pantone Matching System and Federal Standard 595 color systems:

Colors used on U.S. military ribbons^[3]
Name^[3]	Color^[3]	RGB value^[3]
Air Force Yellow	______________	255,205,0
Apple Red	______________	213,0,50
Army Green (Uniform)	______________	40,71,52
Aspic Green	______________	191,184,0
Black	______________	0,0,0
Blue HQ	______________	183,201,211
Blue HX	______________	12,35,64
Blue Turquoise	______________	104,210,223
Bluebird	______________	123,175,212
Bottle Green	______________	17,87,64
Brick Red	______________	134,38,51
Brittany Blue	______________	163,199,210
Bronze	______________	139,111,78
Brown	______________	96,61,32
Buff	______________	185,151,91
Burnt Orange	______________	227,82,5
Cannes Blue	______________	123,175,212
Cardinal Red	______________	186,12,47
Chamois	______________	242,199,92
Cobalt Blue	______________	0,32,91
Corsaire Blue	______________	0,45,114
Crimson	______________	165,0,80
Dark Blue	______________	0,38,58
Eggshell	______________	221,203,164
Emerald	______________	100,167,11
Flag Blue	______________	4,30,66
Flame Red	______________	255,88,93
Forget-Me-Not Blue	______________	154,219,232
Garnet	______________	111,38,61
Gherkin Green	______________	74,119,41
Gold	______________	133,113,77
Gold Brown	______________	184,97,37
Golden Orange	______________	255,158,27
Golden Yellow	______________	255,205,0
Goldenlight	______________	255,198,88
Graphite Blue	______________	0,38,58
Grebe Gray	______________	84,88,90
Green	______________	33,87,50
Grotto Blue	______________	0,193,213
Imperial Blue	______________	0,61,165
Imperial Purple	______________	152,29,151
Irish Green	______________	0,132,61
Ivory	______________	255,255,255
Jasmine	______________	253,210,110
Khaki	______________	176,170,126
Lemon Yellow	______________	251,221,64
Light Blue	______________	91,127,149
Light Green	______________	146,172,160
MC Antique White	______________	233,223,151
Mahogany	______________	127,48,53
Marine Corps Scarlet	______________	228,0,43
Maroon	______________	87,41,50
Midnight Blue	______________	0,38,58
Mintleaf	______________	164,214,94
Mosstone Green	______________	122,154,1
Myrtle Green	______________	0,122,51
Natural	______________	202,199,167
Navy Blue #1	______________	4,30,66
Navy Blue #2	______________	4,30,66
Nugget Gold	______________	255,209,0
Old Blue	______________	162,170,173
Old China Blue	______________	123,175,212
Old Glory Blue	______________	1,33,105
Old Glory Red	______________	186,12,47
Old Gold	______________	132,117,78
Olive	______________	78,91,49
Olive Drab	______________	105,91,36
Orange	______________	252,76,2
Oriental Blue	______________	0,114,206
Oriole Orange	______________	229,114,0
Ostende Blue	______________	123,175,212
Paprica	______________	250,70,22
Parrot Blue	______________	136,219,223
Peacock Blue	______________	0,146,188
Primitive Green	______________	0,154,68
Prophet Green	______________	67,176,42
Purple	______________	95,37,159
Putty	______________	178,168,162
Rally Red	______________	111,38,61
River Blue	______________	0,111,98
Scarlet	______________	186,12,47
Silver Gray	______________	158,162,162
Smoke	______________	84,88,90
Soldier Red	______________	111,38,61
Spicebrown	______________	115,56,29
Spring Green	______________	197,232,108
Spruce Green	______________	0,76,69
Star Yellow	______________	253,218,36
Steel	______________	124,135,142
Tarragon Green	______________	137,144,100
Teal Blue	______________	0,62,81
Terra Cotta	______________	150,56,33
Toast	______________	155,90,26
Ultramarine Blue	______________	0,20,137
Victory Medal Blue #1	______________	0,75,135
Victory Medal Blue #2	______________	0,75,135
White	______________	255,255,255
Yale Blue	______________	0,114,206
Yellow	______________	255,199,44

Construction

There is a variety of constructions of service ribbons. In some countries, service ribbons are mounted on a "pin backing", which can be pushed through the fabric of a uniform and secured, with fasteners, on the inside edge. These ribbons can be individually secured and then lined up, or they can be all mounted on to a single fastener. After the Second World War, it was common for all ribbons to be mounted on a single metal bar and worn in a manner similar to a brooch. Other methods of wearing have included physically sewing each service ribbon onto the uniform garments.

Display

"Orders of wearing" define which ribbons may be worn on which types of uniform in which positions under which circumstances. For example, miniature medals on dinner dress, full medals on parade dress, ribbons on dress shirts, but no decorations on combat dress and working clothing. Some countries (such as Cuba) maintain a standard practice of wearing full service ribbons on combat utility clothing. Others strictly prohibit this. These regulations are generally similar to the regulations regarding display of rank insignia, and regulations regarding saluting of more senior ranks. The reasoning for such regulations is due to these displays enable opposing forces to easily identify persons of higher ranking, and therefore aiding them in choosing targets which will have a larger impact on the battlefield. In times of war, it is not uncommon for commanders and other high value individuals to wear no markings on their uniforms, and wear clothing and insignia of a lower ranking soldier.

Service medals and ribbons are generally worn in rows on the left side of the chest. In certain commemorative and/ or memorial circumstances, a relative may wear the medals or ribbons of a dead relative on the right side of the chest. Medals and ribbons not specifically mentioned in the "Order of wear" are also generally worn on the right side of the chest. Sequencing of the ribbons depends on each country's regulations. In the United States, for example, those with the highest status—typically awarded for heroism or distinguished service—are placed at the top of the display, while foreign decorations (when allowed) are last in the bottom rows. When medals are worn (typically on the left side of a shirt or jacket), ribbons with no corresponding medals are worn on the right side.

Collecting

The study, history and collection of ribbons, among other military decorations, is known as phaleristics (sometimes spelled faleristics by users of U.S. English).

Notable examples

Australia

Keith Payne, VC, OAM

His Excellency General The Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC

Denmark

Sir Hans Jesper Helsø former General and Chief of Defence.

Ecuador

Ecuadorian General of the Army Paco Moncayo

References

↑ U.S. Army Regulation 600-8-22, 2006, P. 72&73, 6--2 Service ribbons, a.
↑ Defense Logistics Agency (2015). "MIL-DTL-11589". Defense Logistics Agency.
1 2 3 4 "COLOR CONVERSION LIST-8/14/95". Archived from the original on January 12, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.

External links

Danish service ribbons

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[1] U.S. Army Regulation 600-8-22, 2006, P. 72&73, 6--2 Service ribbons, a.

[2] Defense Logistics Agency (2015). "MIL-DTL-11589". Defense Logistics Agency.

[ribcol-3] 1 2 3 4 "COLOR CONVERSION LIST-8/14/95". Archived from the original on January 12, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.