Plebe Ribbons

We have been reviewing the Plebe Parent Weekend pictures from 2013. Many of the Plebes have ribbons on their uniforms. What accomplishments have they achieved to get the ribbons?

The 2 blue ribbons are for marksmanship: qualifications for rifle and pistol, respectively. Devices on those ribbons signify Sharpshooter and Expert qualifications as well. The red and yellow ribbon I believe is the generic service ribbon, earned for being in the brigade, as I have never seen a midshipman without it, however I am not entirely sure. Others feel free to chime in and correct me.

Don't know for sure about USNA, but I would guess they are prior enlisted and are allowed to carry over certain ribbons they earned. I know that is the case with USMA

ETA: ^^^Sounds like FMBulldog has better info

Generally you'll see a red and yellow "National Defense Medal" in ribbon forum, and two black (blue) for pistol and rifle qualifications (provided they qualified).

Three ribbons
Left-my son said it was signing up in time of war (he told me they last time that was not given was forever ago
Middle-m16 qualifier -no bling means qualified, S means sharpshooter, E means expert
Right-pistol qualifier-(see bling from above)

Prior Enlisted have more ribbons that they wear from the fleet or corps.

The red, yellow, white, and blue striped ribbon that most midshipmen wear on their left is the National Defense Medal, awarded for joining the armed forces during a time of active combat operations.

The other two commonly worn are awards for Navy rifle and pistol marksmanship qualifications. Before the class of 2012 graduated, all midshipmen were also authorized to wear the Meritorious Unit Commendation Award, a green, yellow, white, and blue striped ribbon. Most officers in the fleet will not have the rifle (or even pistol) qualifications because ROTC often does not provide an opportunity to earn them.

Additionally, midshipmen are authorized to wear awards earned during summer training, such as jump wings or deterrent patrol pins. My submarine had even discussed whether we midshipmen were eligible for a "Battle E" award that the boat would likely win. (Didn't happen.)

You can always tell Prior since they have a few more rows on the fruit salad. Good for them and I always thought they were the best. NDM is for all current or past in time of war. Even I have one. If they go Marine they lose all those Navy Ribbons but they gain the silver dangles for rifle and pistol. Lt. once asked a member of my daughters company "what is that purple ribbon for?"' Was very embarrassed. Don't know if as a Marine they can wear MUC from the Naval Academy.

Vista123 said:

Three ribbons
Left-my son said it was signing up in time of war (he told me they last time that was not given was forever ago
Middle-m16 qualifier -no bling means qualified, S means sharpshooter, E means expert
Right-pistol qualifier-(see bling from above)

Prior Enlisted have more ribbons that they wear from the fleet or corps.

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Cadets and midshipmen are often in awe of ribbons and medals but eventually it's just another thing to worry about during inspections.

On a side note, some ribbons have corresponding medals. The National Defense Medal (the yellow and red ribbon) has a ribbon. The last time that wasn't given out was 2001. We used to call it our CNN campaign medal, because, as cadets, we watched the action on TV and got a medal for it....


The rifle and pistol ribbons are only ribbons for marksmen and sharpshooter, once they get to "expert" there is also a medal. Every medal has a ribbon, but not every ribbon has a medal. Some uniforms are only ribbons, and some are ribbons and medals. When service members where ribbons and medals, they remove the ribbons with associated medals and only wear the medal form. The medals are worn on their left breast and the ribbons (in mirror image of their usual wear) are worn on the right beast.

Some uniforms ONLY take medals, like the "dinner dress" (think tux). And when you get out, if you have under 20 years of service in the military, you may still wear those medals with a tux (even a civilian tux)...

General rule, if you earned the medal or ribbon, you wear it. There is some conversion issues between services however, but not many. Also, there are multiple versions of the same kind of ribbon.

If I was in the Coast Guard and I had a Coast Guard Commendation Medal, but I had also earned a Navy Commendation Medal, my Coast Guard version would have higher presidence. If the same were true, but I was in the Navy, my Navy medal would have higher presidence.

NDM has a corresponding medal for your shadow box, It is "I was breathing" during the period but it looks good with the other eight.

Some Navy terminology...

-"Identification Badges" are devices worn for serving in particular billets (i.e. Presidential, Vice Presidential, OSD, JCS, Combatant Command, Law Enforcement/Master-at-Arms).

-"Breast Insignia" includes Command-at-Sea, Command Ashore, Program Manager, Warfare Qualifications (i.e. SWO, Wings, Dolphins, SEAL, EOD, Craftmaster, Supply, Merchant Marine, etc.). These come in "large" (wear on working, service, and dress uniforms) and "miniature" (wear on dinner dress uniforms) sizes.

-"Awards" are normally comprised of medals and ribbons (at LITS explained). As applicable, Sailors have the option of wearing only their senior 3 ribbons or senior 5 medals. Therefore, just because a Sailor wears only 3 ribbons, isn't indicative of all of their awards/decorations -- this is more common with senior and flag officers. As for non-prior plebes, if they are only wearing 3, it is probably because they only have 3.

USNA has been awarded the MUC twice: Aug 96 - May 98 (primarily Classes of 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) and June 07 - Aug 08 (primarily Classes of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)

The NDM in the fleet we call it your McDonalds.

+

LineInTheSand said:

Generally you'll see a red and yellow "National Defense Medal" in ribbon forum, and two black (blue) for pistol and rifle qualifications (provided they qualified).

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I graduated in '79 from USNA and never was issued the "National Defense" ribbon. I never earned that ribbon in the 7.5 years I served after graduation, either.

I think our nation has to be engaged in a some kind of conflict in order to earn that ribbon. There were no wars or conflicts during my years in the Navy.

In fact, when we were Plebes, our class was the ONLY class that did not have the "National Defense" ribbon. The classes of '76, '77 & '78 had it because, when they were Plebes, the Vietnam War was still considered somewhat unresolved.

Memphis9489 said:

I graduated in '79 from USNA and never was issued the "National Defense" ribbon. I never earned that ribbon in the 7.5 years I served after graduation, either.

I think our nation has to be engaged in a some kind of conflict in order to earn that ribbon. There were no wars or conflicts during my years in the Navy.

In fact, when we were Plebes, our class was the ONLY class that did not have the "National Defense" ribbon. The classes of '76, '77 & '78 had it because, when they were Plebes, the Vietnam War was still considered somewhat unresolved.

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You missed out! Not just a ribbon, but a medal! I worked with a civilian in the Coast Guard would was kicked out after two years at the academy, but because he was there during... Desert Storm I think, he received veteran preferance in hiring. Amazing, eh?

NDSM Awarded:
1950 - 1954
1961 - 1974
9/11/01 - Present
If you were breathing you got one.

AF6872 said:

NDSM Awarded:
1950 - 1954
1961 - 1974
9/11/01 - Present
If you were breathing you got one.

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There's at least one other period between 74 and 01 as there are many on active duty who are currently wearing 2 NDSM's and I know they were not in the service in 74. I'm thinking Desert Storm/Shield time period likely.

My Wife just came back from our local grocery store whith our youngest. Some man noticed her USNA and MC sticker on the car. He came up to her and told her he was a MOH from Vietnam. He gave her a name and there ain't no such person. If he lived in our small town he would be in the front car of every parade. I will be looking for him every day and then call 911 until I go to jail.

NDSM was also 1990 to 1994. I think it was also included for those years.

For Navy, part of plebe summer was exposure to everything at the Academy. This included time at the shooting range where we were taught how to handle small arms and were given the opportunity to qualify pistol (.45) and rifle (M14). So the Marksmanship ribbons (Navy blue with green stripes) are often the first ribbons a midshipman earns. Depending on when a midshipman entered the Academy, he/she may have earned the National Defense Service Ribbon (27 June 1950 to 28 July 1954; 1 January 1961 to 14 August 1974; 2 August 1990 to 30 November 1995; and 12 September 2001 to a date to be determined). I believe prior enlisted service members must check with SECNAV but usually may wear the personal/unit awards previously earned. Also need to check for permission to wear awards from other services (such as a prior enlisted Army attending the Naval Academy). Personnel attached in a training status (such as summer cruise) to units which earn a unit or campaign award do not normally qualify (there are exceptions). Check SECNAV Instruction 1650.1H, Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual for all the rules and details about ribbons and medals. Go to navy.mil and check out the flag officer biographies. Always interesting to see a person's career sort of laid out on their uniform (personal awards, unit awards, campaign awards, etc). For a really interesting look at a chest full of awards, look at the current Naval Academy Superintendent, Vice Admiral Ted Carter. He has about 30 ribbons (many with multiple awards). Such is the life of a career naval aviator. As always … Go Navy, Beat Army!!