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| United States Navy awards | |
|---|---|
| Name | United States Navy awards |
| Caption | Examples of United States Navy decorations and ribbons |
| Presented by | United States Department of the Navy |
| Established | 18th–21st centuries |
| Type | Military decorations, service ribbons, personal awards, unit awards |
| Eligibility | Members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, foreign military personnel (varies) |
| Status | Active |
United States Navy awards are the system of military decorations, medals, ribbons, badges, and unit citations issued to personnel of the United States Navy and associated services for valor, meritorious service, campaign participation, and professional achievement. The awards system interrelates with other American military award systems such as those of the United States Army, United States Air Force, United States Space Force, and United States Coast Guard, while reflecting historical precedents from the Continental Navy and naval practices dating to the American Revolutionary War. Recipients include sailors, Marines, and allied service members recognized for actions in conflicts like the War of 1812, Mexican–American War, American Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Global War on Terrorism.
The origins trace to individual commendations in the era of the Continental Congress and early Republic naval heroes such as John Paul Jones and awards patterned after European orders like the Order of the Bath. In the 19th century, awards such as the Medal of Honor—first authorized during the American Civil War—were adapted for naval service alongside campaign medals issued for the Mexican–American War and the Spanish–American War. In the 20th century, institutionalization occurred under the Department of the Navy and the United States Department of Defense with standardized regulations influenced by the Armed Forces Awards Manual and directives from the Secretary of the Navy. Post-World War II developments integrated decorations for joint operations with bodies like the Joint Chiefs of Staff and enabled exchange awards with allies such as the United Kingdom, France, and NATO members.
Awards fall into categories: personal decorations (valor and merit) including the Navy-specific versions of the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, and the Silver Star; service medals and campaign ribbons such as the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal; unit awards like the Navy Unit Commendation and the Presidential Unit Citation; and qualification badges such as the Surface Warfare Officer and Naval Aviator insignia. There are also non-combat recognitions including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and long-service awards like the Good Conduct Medal. Foreign and interservice decorations (for example, the Order of the British Empire or Legion of Merit) can be accepted under Department of Defense regulations.
Eligibility criteria are prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of Defense, and statute for awards like the Medal of Honor codified in federal law. Criteria distinguish between acts of valor in combat, meritorious non-combat service, campaign participation, and unit performance. Award boards, convened by commanders such as fleet admirals or heads of commands like U.S. Fleet Forces Command, evaluate nominations supported by operational reports, eyewitness statements, and command endorsements. Certain decorations have rank or service-time prerequisites; others, like combat valor awards, require corroboration through after-action reports and review by higher authorities including the Navy Personnel Command and, for the highest awards, the President of the United States.
Devices denote repeat awards, specific actions, or foreign service: oak leaf clusters and service stars indicate additional awards for many decorations, while the Navy uses gold and silver stars to denote subsequent awards. Valor distinctions are marked by the "V" device for combat heroism, and campaign participation may be shown with service stars, arrowheads, or combat action devices as authorized by the Secretary of the Navy. Regulations governing placement and precedence on uniforms are found in issuances from the Chief of Naval Operations and fashion guidance for dress uniforms reflects alignment with interservice standards set by the Department of Defense.
An explicit order of precedence determines display sequence for medals, ribbons, and badges, placing personal decorations like the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross highest, followed by other valor awards such as the Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star. Unit awards and campaign medals follow personal decorations, with qualification insignia and service badges worn separately. The precedence aligns with joint-service directives and is updated to reflect new awards or changes from bodies such as the Defense Department and adjudicated by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Historic recipients include naval and Marine figures like Chester W. Nimitz, William H. Halsey Jr., Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, John F. Kennedy (for PT-109), and enlisted heroes such as John Basilone and Vito Trause. High-profile awards include Medal of Honor citations for actions in World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War; post-9/11 recipients from operations in Iraq War and War in Afghanistan exemplify contemporary valor recognitions. Unit citations have honored vessels and squadrons including USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Arizona (BB-39), and various carrier air wings recognized during major campaigns like Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Administration is centralized within offices such as the Navy Personnel Command awards branch and adjudicated through command channels, with nominations recorded in personnel files and entered into systems administered by Defense Finance and Accounting Service for certain entitlements. Periodic review boards, legislative statutes, and executive directives from the Secretary of the Navy or President of the United States can upgrade or rescind awards. Procedures also address foreign awards, posthumous decorations, and retroactive recognitions guided by coordination with the National Archives and Records Administration for historical record verification.