| 5⁄16 inch star | |
|---|---|
 5⁄16 Inch Star (gold) | |
| Type | Ribbon device |
| Awarded for | to denote a subsequent decoration. |
| Presented by | United States |
| Status | Currently in use |
 5⁄16 Inch Star (silver) | |
A 5⁄16 inch star (9.7mm) is a miniature gold or silver five-pointed star that is authorized by the United States Armed Forces as a ribbon device to denote subsequent awards for specific decorations of the Department of the Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A gold star indicates a second or subsequent decoration, while a silver star is worn in lieu of five gold stars.
A (5⁄16 inch) silver star is not to be confused with representing a Silver Star Medal (Silver Star).
5⁄16 inch star usage
5⁄16 inch stars are worn on a medal suspension and service ribbon with one point of the star pointing up. Up to five stars can be worn on a ribbon. There are no higher degrees of stars authorized after five silver stars. On miniature medals, a special star is worn on the medal's suspension ribbon in lieu of a star. If the number of authorized stars exceeds five, a second service ribbon is worn after the first service ribbon. The second service ribbon counts as one additional personal award, after which more stars may be added to the second ribbon. If future awards reduce the number of stars worn on the first ribbon due to gold stars being replaced by a silver star, the second service ribbon is removed and the appropriate number of star devices are placed on the first service ribbon. When bronze or gold stars or bronze oak leaf cluster attachments are worn in addition to a silver star or silver oak leaf attachment, the bronze or gold stars (bronze oak leaf clusters) are arranged symmetrically on the ribbon in relation to the centered silver device. For example: The first star (cluster) to the wearer's right of the centered silver device; the second to the wearer's left, etc.
Examples
The following are examples of the first through twenty-sixth awards of a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with the gold and silver 5⁄16 inch stars:
| First award | 
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| Second award | 
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| Third award | 
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| Fourth award | 
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| Fifth award | 
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| Sixth award | 
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| Seventh award | 
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| Eighth award | 
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| Ninth award | 
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| Tenth award | 
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| Eleventh award | 
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| Twelfth award | 
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| Thirteenth award | 
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| Fourteenth award |
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| Fifteenth award |
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| Sixteenth award | 
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| Seventeenth award |
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| Eighteenth award |
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| Nineteenth award |
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| Twentieth award |
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| Twenty-first award | 
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| Twenty-second award |
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| Twenty-third award |
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| Twenty-fourth award |
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| Twenty-fifth award |
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| Twenty-sixth award |
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Authorized decorations
5⁄16 inch stars are authorized for wear on the following United States Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration decorations (5⁄16 inch stars are not authorized for wear on non-decorations when a subsequent decoration is awarded to members of the seven uniformed services: the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The US Army and US Air Force use an oak leaf cluster to indicate a subsequent decoration (oak leaf clusters are also authorized for wear on some non-decorations); a bronze oak leaf cluster is equivalent to a gold star and a silver oak leaf cluster is equivalent to a silver star.
| Navy and Marine Corps personnel | Coast Guard personnel | Public Health Service personnel | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel | Army and Air Force personnel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy Cross | Coast Guard Cross | |||
| Navy or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal | Navy or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal | Navy, Coast Guard, or PHS Distinguished Service Medal | Navy, Coast Guard, or PHS Distinguished Service Medal; Commerce Gold Medal | Navy or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal |
| Silver Star Medal | Silver Star | Silver Star Medal | Silver Star Medal | |
| Commerce Silver Medal | ||||
| Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | |
| Distinguished Flying Cross | Distinguished Flying Cross | Distinguished Flying Cross | Distinguished Flying Cross | |
| Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal |
| Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | |
| Purple Heart Medal | Purple Heart Medal | Purple Heart | Purple Heart | |
| Commerce Bronze Medal | ||||
| Navy or Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal | Navy or Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal | Navy, Coast Guard, PHS, or NOAA Corps Meritorious Service Medal | Navy, Coast Guard, PHS, or NOAA Corps Meritorious Service Medal | Navy or Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal |
| Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal or NOAA Administrator's Award | NOAA Administrator's Award or Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal | |||
| Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal | Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal | |||
| Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Commendation Medal |
| Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Achievement Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Achievement Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Achievement Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Achievement Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Achievement Medal |
| Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | |
| Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon | Public Health Service Citation, Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon, and NOAA Director's Ribbon | NOAA Director's Ribbon, Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon, and Public Health Service Citation |
See also
- Awards and decorations of the United States military
- United States military award devices
- Oak leaf cluster
- Service, battle, or campaign star
References
- ^ "Department of Defense Manual 1348.33 Volume 3" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Department of Defense. 23 November 2010. pp. 16, 52–53. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- ^ "Medals and Awards Manual COMDTINST M1650.25D" (PDF). United States Coast Guard CG-612 Directives and Publications Division. May 2008. pp. 1–16. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- ^ "Commissioned Corps Instruction CC26.3.3 Wear of Ribbons and Medals" (PDF). Commissioned Corps Management Information System website. United States Public Health Service. 28 August 2008. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- "NOAA Corps Directives, Chapter 12 PART 6 - Insignia, Medals, and Ribbon Bars" (PDF). Commissioned Corps Personnel Center. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- "Department of Defense Manual 1348.33 Volume 3" (PDF). Department of Defense Technical Information Center. 20 June 2019 . pp. 11–13. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- Secretary of the Navy Instruction (SECNAVINST) 1650.1H, dated 22 August 2006, Subject: Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, paragraph 123.
- United States Navy Uniform Regulations Manual Archived 2018-09-02 at the Wayback Machine, art. 5316.2.d.
- "NOAA Corps Directives Chapter 12 Part 7-Awards" (PDF). Commissioned Corps Personnel Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- Army Regulation 600-8-22 Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
- Air Force Instruction 36-2803 Archived 2013-02-16 at the Wayback Machine
External links
- "Army Awards". Americal Division Veterans Association. 1995. Archived from the original on June 4, 2004. Retrieved 2015-12-16.