This guy once asked what ribbons I had and what they mean, I’ll explain them using the picture above. 
From top to right, the green one is the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon. The whole unit recives this when they’ve accomplish a great task. There is a higher one then this called the Presidental Unit Commendation which is when the President notices what you’ve done. We were good, but we weren’t that good.
The top middle red one is the Navy Good Conduct medal. If you’ve been in the service for three years without any big problems, you get this. This medal tells everyone that you worked hard to stay out of trouble because getting into trouble is sooooooooo easy.
Top far right is the National Defense Service Medal which everyone in every service gets for being in the military during a time of WAR. Now, see how some are ribbons and some are medals? Medals, in certian uniforms are worn as medals while ribbons are always just ribbons. Also, since we are a Department Of The Navy, our medals and ribbons are from the Navy. Unlike the Army and Air Force which have their own ribbons.
Bottom left with the brown is of course the Iraqi Campaign Medal which we all know we get from going to Iraq. hmm…its a bitter sweet medal. At least for a person like me.
Bottom middle, thats our Global War On Terrorism Medal (Service). Service because there is one for every service and one for Expeditionary which is when you got deployed because of the Global War. I know, I know, Iraq is the Global War and don’t ask me, because I didn’t make up the rules on these medals.
The final ribbon, which a bronze star to represent that I have two of them, is the Overseas Service Ribbon. Since I have been “overseas” twice, I get two and to show that, I have a little bronze star on it. Don’t confuse this with the real Bronze Star Medal. That is totally different and way above my league.
So there you have it. My ribbons as of today. Perhaps we’ll get one more, but it isn’t looking good, plus, I’m lazy so I don’t go above and beyond as much as I should. And if I do, I don’t get noticed. Fuck it. I’m happy with what I got and that is what really matters in the end. Adios!
April
on September 28, 2006 at 1:42 pm
Beautiful ribbons Luna.
Danny
on September 30, 2006 at 4:22 am
Nice. I’ve got one of those! heh, guess which one.. I’ll probably get that good conduct medal in the future since i’m a good little marine.
Lloyd Budd
on November 30, 2006 at 2:20 pm
Thanks for sharing this. I always had thought I was some encoded color bars. Can you have less tha a full row or do they always come in threes?
Luna
on November 30, 2006 at 2:31 pm
3 unless you become really stacked. Then you are allowed to to wear them in rows of 4. In the Marines, its hard to get ribbons and medals; unlike the other services were if you throw a gernade you get a ribbon. Sheesh…
Lloyd Budd
on December 1, 2006 at 3:58 am
So if you only have one you can’t wear it until you get another two?
Luna
on December 1, 2006 at 9:24 am
No, you wear it, centered, then when you get two, you wear them centered, then three. Then if you get four. You were the most ranking one on top centered, and the three below it. And so forth…
Chris
on February 14, 2008 at 8:01 am
Yeah Lloyd, like right now when you graduate from boot camp/ basic training you start off automatically with a National Defense ribbon (since its a time of war). So that one is placed on the left side of your chest (close to your heart), and centered above the button no the pocket and along the crease, if that makes any sense.