Medals and Decorations

Is there an army service ribbon medal?

The Army Service Ribbon is a ribbon-only award, not a medal. Here is who earns it for finishing initial entry training, and how to recognize one.

On this page
  1. The short answer
  2. What the Army Service Ribbon is
  3. Who receives it
  4. Other ribbon-only awards
  5. Why people think it has a medal
  6. How to recognize one
  7. Confirming an award
  8. Related reading

The short answer

No. The Army Service Ribbon is a ribbon-only award. It has no matching medal, and it is worn on the uniform as a ribbon. It is awarded for completing initial entry training.

What the Army Service Ribbon is

The Army Service Ribbon recognizes the completion of initial entry training. For enlisted soldiers, that generally means Basic Training and the Advanced Individual Training that follows for many occupations. Because it is a ribbon, it is worn in ribbon form and is not presented as a full-size medal.

Who receives it

Soldiers who complete initial entry training generally receive the Army Service Ribbon. The eligibility rules are set in Army regulation and have changed over time, so check the current rules for the period in question before deciding whether a particular soldier should have one.

Other ribbon-only awards

Several other US Army awards are ribbon-only. The Overseas Service Ribbon and the NCO Professional Development Ribbon are two common examples. Both are worn as ribbons, and neither has a matching medal.

Why people think it has a medal

Ribbons look like the ribbons of medals, and many people use “medal” for any award. Some awards do come with both a ribbon and a medal, which blurs the distinction. The Armed Forces Reserve Medal, for example, is a medal with a ribbon, so it is easy to mix up with a ribbon-only award.

How to recognize one

Look for a single ribbon or a ribbon bar, with no medal attached. If a ribbon has no medal beside it, it is probably a ribbon-only award. Ribbons on a uniform are arranged in a set order, and the Army Service Ribbon sits among the service ribbons in that order. Check the order against the uniform regulation before drawing conclusions about a bar.

Confirming an award

For a specific soldier, the service record is the best source. Request it from the National Personnel Records Center using Standard Form 180, and check the awards listed in the record.

The complete guide to medals and decorations

Military Decorations and Medals: A Collector's Guide
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