I was doing some research into the new “C” and “R” devices for several medals, and it led to a couple of questions that I can’t find definitive answers to in any of the various uniform manuals (or perhaps I’m just overlooking it). I apologize it it’s long-winded, but I want to be as clear as I can….

 

Suppose a Soldier was awarded the Army Commendation Medal twice but then switched services, let’s say to the Navy. According to NAVPERS15665I, he is allowed to wear the decoration, but (and I’m quoting) “only as described in this section.” (I’m assuming he would not have to wear the Navy equivalent in its place.)

 

So: Would he continue to wear an oak leaf cluster on the medal/ribbon to designate his second award, or would he wear a gold star instead since that is what the Navy uses for second and subsequent awards for its military decorations? My first inclination is to think the answer would be to switch to the stars, if only for consistency of appearance. However, a strict interpretation of the regulations would seem to indicate that he would keep the oak leaf clusters since gold stars are used for “for second and subsequent awards of any Navy Military Decoration”—and the ARCOM is not one of those.

 

It becomes more interesting when you add a medal common to all services into the mix. Let’s say our Soldier was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal twice in the Army and then joined the Navy. Would he switch to a star since this particular award IS specifically listed as a Navy Military Decoration for which gold stars are used for 2^nd and subsequent awards? Or would he keep the oak leaf cluster as an indication that he won the award in a different service?

 

Thanks for any input, especially if you can point me to a regulation that spells this stuff out!

The medals awarded by a given service are unique to that service, even if they look the same and are called the same thing. For example, there are Army, Navy and AF Bronze Star medals. They are called the same thing and look the same, but are distinctly different awards. Army and AF awards use an oak leaf, so multiple awards would always have oak leaves, even if worn on the uniform of a different service. If that service member received the Navy version of the award in addition to the Army or AF version, both oak leaves and stars would be worn on the same ribbon. Joint awards apply to all services and are always worn with oak leaves, even in the Navy

going from the Navy to Army you retain the service award by branch. For example you would wear both the navy achievement medal and the army achievement medal the order of which one is first depends on which service you are currently in. You would not change stars to oakleafs or vice versa.

Both guys above are correct...if you earned a second award in one service, you continue to wear that device. Similarly, if you were awarded one award in one branch of the service and then subsequent awards in other branches of the service (e.g. a Navy service member who earned a BSM from the Army; they would either wear an olc if awarded a second BSM from the Army, or a gold star if awarded a second BSM from the Navy and vice versa...not entirely uncommon with some if the individual augmentees returning from Iraq/Afghanistan during the heights of those conflicts).

 

For purely branch-specific awards, such as the ARCOM, you retain those olcs if you join a different branch of the service. Same goes if you were to have a NAM and then went into the Army...you'd retain the gold stars of the Navy on that award.

 

Hope that helps!

Dave

Thanks to everyone who posted, this is great stuff and I'm sure it's spot-on...but can anyone point to a specific regulation that spells it out, or maybe an ALARACT? I know I'm asking a lot...

 

Also, what happens is there is a letter device involved? I assume you would follow the centering/alignment rules of the current service, i.e., the Navy alternates between sides of the Letter while the Army puts them on one side and centers the whole shebang.

 

Again, I truly appreciate these helpful responses!!!

Both guys above are correct...if you earned a second award in one service, you continue to wear that device. Similarly, if you were awarded one award in one branch of the service and then subsequent awards in other branches of the service (e.g. a Navy service member who earned a BSM from the Army; they would either wear an olc if awarded a second BSM from the Army, or a gold star if awarded a second BSM from the Navy and vice versa...not entirely uncommon with some if the individual augmentees returning from Iraq/Afghanistan during the heights of those conflicts).

 

For purely branch-specific awards, such as the ARCOM, you retain those olcs if you join a different branch of the service. Same goes if you were to have a NAM and then went into the Army...you'd retain the gold stars of the Navy on that award.

 

Hope that helps!

Dave

 

I might have to quibble slightly with the highlighted part below. The Bronze Star was originally established as a multi-service award, and while the different manuals might use slightly different wording, its eligibility requirements etc. are set by Executive Order and U.S. Code. If you compare the eligibility for the BSM in all the manuals you will see it is the same. I think when you say "unique" you mean in relation to its provenance, i.e., the issuer, and therefore the provenance of the award dictates the type of device used to indicate subsequent awards.

The medals awarded by a given service are unique to that service, even if they look the same and are called the same thing. For example, there are Army, Navy and AF Bronze Star medals. They are called the same thing and look the same, but are distinctly different awards. Army and AF awards use an oak leaf, so multiple awards would always have oak leaves, even if worn on the uniform of a different service. If that service member received the Navy version of the award in addition to the Army or AF version, both oak leaves and stars would be worn on the same ribbon. Joint awards apply to all services and are always worn with oak leaves, even in the Navy

 

In actual policy and practice, the services applied very different award criteria to the BSM, the sea services being far more restrictive than the Army and AF. Likewise, the services had different criteria for the V device. The new policy changes that created the C and R devices also standardized the BSM. BSMs are not joint awards though. In fact, a Sailor cannot accept or wear an Army award, to include the BSM, unless the Navy concurs with the award. The Army and AF have an agreement in place that lets Army commanders give awards to AF personnel and vice versa without parent service approval

Thanks Kadet, you have been a huge help!

A better example for this discussion is the fairly common Meritorious Service Medal. The ribbon is the same for all services as is the criteria. As I read this, let's say an O-3 Army officer has two MSMs and ends up in the Navy and earning a third MSM - the ribbon would have one oak leaf cluster and one gold star. Right?

 

Or...if the Army O-3 has two MSMs, gets assigned to a Navy command that awards him a third MSM, does the ribbon have one oak leaf cluster for the Army second award and one gold star for the Navy issued third award?

 

Are there any examples out there?

An 03 in the Navy wouldn't typically receive an MSM. That said, if a soldier received two MSMs in the Army and one after transferring to the Navy he would wear the ribbon with an oak leaf and star. Like the BSM, MSMs are Service-specific awards. An Army MSM is different than a Navy MSM

I have a set of 5th AF General Orders awarding DFCs and Air Medals to Navy personnel of VP-11. If the individuals had previous awards from the Navy would they wear OLCs as it was "from the Army"? Also as a matter of supply anyone seen photo evidence of this being done because of availability perhaps?

I have 3 WW2 medal groups to Navy Air with Army Contract Air Medals. One awarded in Panama, one in Alaska and another in Australia. Probably availability.

W

On 7/12/2026 at 3:15 PM, patrol10ao said:

I have a set of 5th AF General Orders awarding DFCs and Air Medals to Navy personnel of VP-11. If the individuals had previous awards from the Navy would they wear OLCs as it was "from the Army"? Also as a matter of supply anyone seen photo evidence of this being done because of availability perhaps?

Yes, the Navy recipient would wear an olc to represent the Army award.