A unit citation is a formal, honorary mention by high authority of a military unit's specific and outstanding performance, notably in battle. Similar mentions can also be made for individual soldiers. Alternatively or concurrently, the unit can be awarded an honorary title, a mention on the flag or a decoration. In France, since 1916, the ''

fourragère The ''fourragère'' () is a military award, distinguishing military units as a whole, in the form of a braided cord. The award was first adopted by France, followed by other nations such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Luxembourg. Fo ...

'' (an ornamental colored cord) is worn on the uniform by the members of a unit which had received several citations. This tradition has since spread to other countries.

Unit citations by country

Australia

* Unit Citation for Gallantry Australian CoG Streamer

* Meritorious Unit Citation Australian MUC Streamer

* Group Bravery Citation - Civilian award

Belgium

Croix de guerre The ''Croix de Guerre'' (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awa ...

WWII version (also an individual award)

Canada

* Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation (combat zone) *

Canadian Forces' Unit Commendation The Canadian Forces' Unit Commendation (French: ) is an award given to military units for "a deed or activity considered beyond the demand of normal duty". Not only Canadian military units are eligible; Commonwealth and foreign units are also elig ...

(non-combat zone)

France

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon B ...

(also an individual award) NOLH Streamer

* Ordre de la Libération (also an individual award) *

Médaille militaire The ''Médaille militaire'' ( en, Military Medal) is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic ...

(also an individual award)

Luxembourg

* Luxembourg War Cross (also an individual award) Luxembourg Croix de guerre unit Citation strem

Netherlands

Military William Order The Military William Order, or often named Military Order of William ( Dutch: , abbreviation: MWO), is the oldest and highest honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is named after St. William of Gellone (755–814), the first Prince of O ...

(also an individual award)

South Korea

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation () is a military unit award of the government of South Korea that may be presented to South Korean military units, and foreign military units for outstanding performance in defense of the Republic o ...

South Vietnam

* Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation Streamer PUC Vietnam

* Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation (also an individual award) VGCP Streamer

Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation The Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ( vi, Dân-Vụ Bội-Tinh) also known as the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal or Civil Actions Medal, is a military decoration of the former South Vietnamese government (1955–75). The medal was created ...

(also an individual award) Streamer RVMUCCA

Philippines

Philippine Presidential Unit Citation The Philippine Presidential Unit citation BadgeThe AFP Adjutant General, ''Awards and Decorations Handbook'', 1997, OTAG, p. 65. is a unit decoration of the Republic of the Philippines. It has been awarded to certain units of the United States ...

* Barangay Presidential Unit Citation Badge * various single incident commemorative unit citations/badges.

Portugal

* War Cross (also an individual award)

United States

Military (In order of precedence) Other's (Alphabetical): * Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation (

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...

) *

Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Citation The Merchant Marine Gallant Ship Citation is an award of the United States Merchant Marine. The award is presented as a bronze plaque to vessels, with officers and crew being awarded a ribbon bar to denote the award. Both United States flagged v ...

(

United States Merchant Marine United States Merchant Marines are United States civilian mariners and U.S. civilian and federally owned merchant vessels. Both the civilian mariners and the merchant vessels are managed by a combination of the government and private sectors, an ...

) *

National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation The National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation (NIMUC) is an award of the National Intelligence Awards Program, for contributions to the United States Intelligence Community. It may be "...awarded for the collective performance of a unit or ...

(

United States Intelligence Community United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * United (2003 film), ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * United (2011 film) ...

) * NGA Meritorious Unit Award (

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense whose primary mission is collecting, analyzing, and distributing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) in support of natio ...

), and its predecessor the NIMA Meritorious Unit Award (

National Imagery and Mapping Agency The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense whose primary mission is collecting, analyzing, and distributing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) in support of natio ...

) *

NOAA Unit Citation Award The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (or "NOAA Corps"), one of the eight uniformed services of the United States, has the authority to issue various awards and commendations to its members. These inc ...

( NOAA Corps) * Public Health Service Commissioned Corps: ** 3 levels- PHS Presidential Unit Citation, PHS Outstanding Unit Citation, PHS Unit Commendation. ** Also the PHS Bicentennial Unit Commendation Award *

Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award The Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award was a U.S. government unit decoration which was established in 1994. The Presidential Unit Citation and Joint Meritorious Unit Award are considered senior to the Secretary of Transportatio ...

( Department of Transportation, also a pre-2003 award of the United States Coast Guard) * Unit Award for Excellence of Service (

United States Department of the Interior The United States Department of the Interior (DOI) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government headquartered at the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street NW in Washington, D.C. It is responsible for the m ...

) further, there are various unit awards of the National Guard and

state defense forces In the United States, state defense forces are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government. State defense forces are authorized by state and federal law and are under the command of the governor of each state. ...

Sources and references

*''Nouveau Petit Larousse Illustré'', 1951 (in French) Military awards and decorations {{mil-stub