The Navy "E" Ribbon or Battle Efficiency Ribbon (informally the Battle "E" ribbon) was authorized on March 31, 1976, by

Secretary of the Navy The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense. By law, the se ...

J. William Middendorf as a unit award for battle efficiency competition. The

service ribbon A medal ribbon, service ribbon or ribbon bar is a small ribbon, mounted on a small metal bar equipped with an attaching device, which is generally issued for wear in place of a medal when it is not appropriate to wear the actual medal. Each co ...

replaced the "E" patch previously sewn on the right sleeve of the enlisted naval

uniform A uniform is a variety of clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are most often worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, se ...

for rates/pay grades E-1 through E-6.

History

The Navy "E" Ribbon was designed by AZ3 Cynthia L. Crider in 1973. Her design and recommendation were approved by the Secretary of the Navy after 3 years, and the ribbon was subsequently created by the Department of the Army, which has the final approval for the design and colors of all ribbons and medals in the U.S. military. Serving with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 88 (VAW-88), a Naval Air Reserve

E-2 Hawkeye The Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is an American all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. This twin-turboprop aircraft was designed and developed during the late 1950s and early 1960s by the Grumman Aircraft ...

squadron at

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, CA, Petty Officer Crider designed the ribbon after her squadron won the “E” award for the second time in a row, but with the new uniform change could not wear anything on their uniforms to show they had been awarded the Navy 'E' two consecutive times.

Award criteria

The Navy "E" Ribbon denotes the wearer was on permanent duty aboard a

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

ship or in a unit that won a