An Arabic numeral device or numeral device sometimes called an "award numeral", is a

United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...

service device that may be authorized for wear on specific service ribbons and suspension ribbons of medals. Arabic numeral devices are bronze or gold in color and are inch in height.

Arabic numerals The ten Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) are the most commonly used symbols for writing numbers. The term often also implies a positional notation number with a decimal base, in particular when contrasted with Roman numera ...

are worn to denote award of a second or subsequent award for which a member has already received the initial decoration or award. The ribbon denotes the first award and numerals starting with the numeral 2 denote the total number of awards. The inch numerals are similar to the inch

Strike/Flight numerals A Strike/Flight Numeral is a Department of the Navy device that may be awarded for wear on the Air Medal to individuals serving in any capacity in the United States Armed Forces. A Strike/Flight Award is awarded to individuals for meritorious ach ...

worn by the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

and Marine Corps. U.S. military decorations and awards that may be authorized an Arabic Numeral device are as follows: *

Air Medal The Air Medal (AM) is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces. It was created in 1942 and is awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. Criteria The Air Medal was establi ...

Armed Forces Reserve Medal The Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, service medal of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1958. The medal recognizes service performed by members of the reserve com ...

(only in conjunction with the "M" device) * NCO Professional Development Ribbon (numerals indicate the level of the course graduated, not multiple decorations) * Army Overseas Service Ribbon * Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon * Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon * Multinational Force and Observers Medal With the exception of the Air Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal service ribbons and suspension ribbons, the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

is the only service branch to currently use numerals on other service ribbons, and the Navy on their

Recruiting Service Ribbon The Recruiting Service Ribbon is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces which is issued by every branch of service. The United States Army previously only had the Uniform Serv ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, some Naval Construction Battalions (

Seabees United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, form the U.S. Naval Construction Forces (NCF). The Seabee nickname is a heterograph of the initial letters "CB" from the words "Construction Battalion". Dependi ...

) were issued the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with numerals instead of

service star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period. T ...

s.The Institute of Heraldry, Uniformed Services ~ Army > Service Ribbons Accoutrements
, accessed 1 April 2012

References

External links

* {{Commons-inline United States military award devices

See also

References

External links