Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Name	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Caption	Ribbon of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Awarded by	United States Department of the Navy
Type	Service medal
Eligibility	Navy and Marine Corps personnel
For	Heroic or meritorious achievement or service
Status	Currently awarded
First award	1944
Higher	Bronze Star Medal
Same	Army Commendation Medal, Air and Space Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal
Lower	Joint Service Achievement Medal
Caption2	Medal with Combat "V" device

Contents

History
Criteria
Appearance
Recipients
Order of precedence
See also

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal is a mid-level military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Awarded by the Department of the Navy, it recognizes the achievements of both Navy and Marine Corps personnel. The medal occupies a significant place in the awards and decorations of the United States military and is often considered a key milestone in a service member's career.

History

The award was originally established as the Navy Commendation Ribbon by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 11 March 1944, during the intense final years of World War II. It was intended to recognize commendable service that fell just below the criteria for the Bronze Star Medal. In 1949, the decoration was renamed the Navy Commendation Medal, and in 1950, it was formally extended to include members of the Marine Corps, leading to its current title. Subsequent authorization for the award to be bestowed upon members of other U.S. military branches and allied foreign militaries was later established.

Criteria

The medal is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps who distinguish themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement or service. Acts worthy of the award must be accomplished while serving in any capacity with the Armed Forces and must be of a lesser degree than that required for the Bronze Star Medal. Qualifying service can include meritorious achievement in a combat or non-combat environment, often involving significant responsibility. The award may also be approved for acts of valor that do not meet the threshold for the Silver Star or Navy and Marine Corps Medal.

Appearance

The medal is a bronze hexagon, featuring an American bald eagle with spread wings, derived from the Great Seal, centered on a medium blue enameled pentagon. The reverse bears the inscriptions "FOR MILITARY" and "MERIT" within a laurel wreath. The ribbon is primarily myrtle green, with a central stripe of white flanked by thin stripes of blue, yellow, and red. Authorized devices include a bronze "V" for valor in combat, gold and silver stars for subsequent awards, and an oak leaf cluster for those serving with the Coast Guard or other services.

Recipients

Notable recipients include former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, astronaut and Senator John Glenn, and Medal of Honor recipient Marine Corps Sergeant Major John Basilone. The award has been presented for service in conflicts from World War II and the Korean War to the Global War on Terrorism and operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also frequently awarded to allied service members, such as those from the Royal Navy or Australian Defence Force, for joint achievements.

Order of precedence

Within the Navy and Marine Corps awards hierarchy, the medal is positioned below the Bronze Star Medal and above the Joint Service Achievement Medal. It is considered equivalent to the Army Commendation Medal, Air and Space Commendation Medal, and Coast Guard Commendation Medal. When worn with ribbons from other U.S. military services, it follows the Department of Defense prescribed order of precedence for personal decorations.