An Air Police Sergeant of the United States Air Force, wearing several award ribbons on his uniform
Awards of the American military were decorations used by the United States armed forces throughout the existence of the United States of America. The greatest number of awards was seen during the 20th century when the United States was involved in no less than four major wars.
American military personnel were issued military decorations in the form of badges, medals, and ribbons. Awards were displayed on most American military uniforms in the form of ribbon rows (three per row) worn on the left breast with any authorized badges worn directly above the ribbons. Camouflage uniforms did not display award ribbons, but could be worn with "subdued" badges to match the camouflage. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday", ENT: "Storm Front, Part II")
Badges of the American military
Aviator Badge
The Command Aviator Badge
The Aviator Badge was awarded to those members of the United States military who were qualified as pilots in fighter craft type airplanes. In 1947, Lieutenant General Rex Denning was a Command Aviator entitled to the Aviator Badge. The decoration was also held by John Christopher in 1969. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday", DS9: "Little Green Men")
Flight Officer Badge
Flight Officer Badge
(Naval version)
The Flight Officer Badge was issued to personnel who were qualified as military flight officers. In 1986, Commander Rogerson was a qualified Naval Flight Officer. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
Combat Infantryman Badge
The CIB (desert version)
The Combat Infantryman Badge was a decoration that existed during the 20th century. Known as the "CIB", it was held by some of Earth's most famous generals, such as Norman Schwarzkopf. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II")
Parachutist Badge
The Parachutist Badge
The Parachutist Badge was a decoration of the U.S. military issued in the 20th century for those military members who were qualified to perform parachute drops. General Norman Schwarzkopf was a recipient of this decoration. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II")
- The Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutist Badge are seen (barely visible) worn by Schwarzkopf on his desert camouflage shirt when the timestream is restored at the end of "Storm Front, Part II". Both of these awards were created during World War II.
Command-at-Sea Pin
The
Command-at-Sea Pin
The Command-at-Sea Pin was a decoration issued by the United States Navy to those officers who had qualified to serve as captains of a naval combat vessel. The pin was either worn above the right pocket, indicating an active assignment as captain of a ship, or below the left pocket showing inactive status. In 1986, Commander Rogerson of the USS Enterprise wore the Command-at-Sea Pin in the inactive location. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
Weapons Marksmanship Badge
Marine Corps Marksmanship Badge
Weapons Marksmanship Badges were issued by the United States Marine Corps for qualifying as a Marksman, Sharpshooter, or Expert on a particular firearm. Marksmanship badges were worn on the left pocket below award ribbons. In 2364, Q displayed three Marine Corps marksmanship badges when he impersonated a twentieth century Marine Corps captain. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")
Decorations of the American military
A 20th century Lieutenant General displaying several awards of the period
Air Force Cross
The Air Force Cross was a high award of the United States Air Force and was displayed as a light blue ribbon with red borders. It was awarded to both enlisted personnel and officers. In 1969, at least one member of the 498th Airbase Group had received the Air Force Cross. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")
Distinguished Service Medal
The Distinguished Service Medal was a high decoration of the United States military issued to officers who had performed service in a duty of great responsibility. In 1969, Lieutenant Colonel Fellini had received the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday").
- Fellini holding this medal would be extremely unusual in the real US military, since the decoration is normally awarded to generals who complete tours at a major command. For a lieutenant colonel to hold the Distinguished Service Medal would be practically unheard of.
Distinguished Flying Cross
The Distinguished Flying Cross was a high decoration awarded to military pilots and flight officers. As of 1986, this decoration was held by the Command Duty Officer of the USS Enterprise, Commander Rogerson. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
The Navy and Marine Corps Medal was the highest non-combat award of the United States Navy at the end of the 20th century. In 2364, when Q impersonated a Marine Corps Captain of the same era, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal was one of the decorations he displayed on his uniform. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit was a high ranking United States military decoration that was in existence during World War II. As of 1947, Lieutenant General Rex Denning had received this award. (DS9: "Little Green Men")
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal was an award for meritorious service first issued during World War II. In 1947, Lieutenant General Rex Denning, of the Army Air Corps, displayed the Bronze Star Medal as one his personal decorations (DS9: "Little Green Men").
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart was an award issued to all branches of the US armed forces. In 1947, General Rex Denning was a recipient of the Purple Heart. (DS9: "Little Green Men")
Air Medal
The Air Medal was a decoration of the United States Air Force awarded during the 20th century. The Air Medal was displayed as a blue and yellow ribbon and could be awarded to both officer and enlisted personnel. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")
Commendation Medals
Commendation Medals were mid-level decorations awarded to certain officers of the United States armed forces. Each branch of service had its own version of the Commendation Medal. In 1969, Lieutenant Colonel Fellini had received the Air Force Commendation Medal. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday") In 1986, Commander Rogerson of the USS Enterprise had been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with gold stars indicating multiple receipt of the decoration. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) In 2364, when Q impersonated a Marine Corps Captain, the Navy Commendation Medal was one of the ribbons seen on his uniform.
Achievement Medal
The Achivement Medal was a similar decoration to the Commendation Medal. As of 1986, Commander Rogerson of the USS Enterprise had received several Navy Achievement Medals. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
A Naval Commander in 1986 wearing several ribbons and badges
Good Conduct Medal
The Good Conduct Medal was an award for enlisted personnel and could also be worn by officers with prior enlisted service. In 1969, Lieutenant Colonel Fellini displayed the Air Force Good Conduct Medal on his uniform. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal, often known as the "NDSM", was a common military medal issued in the 1960s. It was held by at least one Air Force officer on duty at Omaha Air Base in 1969. The decoration was also held by the Command Duty Officer of the USS Enterprise (Commander Rogerson) in 1986. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday"; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
- The unnamed Air Force Captain is the only armed forces member seen wearing the National Defense Service Medal in "Tomorrow is Yesterday" when in reality the decoration should have been worn by every military member in the episode. This is since, as of 1969, the NDSM was automatically issued to anyone who was serving in the military due to the conflict in Vietnam.
American Defense Service Medal
The American Defense Service Medal was a decoration issued to personnel who had served in the US military between 1939 to 1941, prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor but during the initial years of World War II. As of 1947, Lieutenant General Rex Denning had received this decoration. (DS9: "Little Green Men")
Campaign Service Medals
Campaign service medals were issued by the United States armed forces to personnel who had served in various combat engagements. In 1969, an officer of Omaha Air Base had received one campaign medal. In 1986, the Command Duty Officer of the USS Enterprise had received two. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday"; Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
- The campaign medal worn by the unnamed Air Force captain is the Korean Service Medal, although the Korean War itself has never been mentioned in any Star Trek production. In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Commander Rogerson of the USS Enterprise wears both the Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Expeditionary Medal
Expeditionary medals were awards issued to military personnel for participating in special expeditionary campaigns. As of 1986, Commander Rogerson of the USS Enterprise had received the Navy Expeditionary Medal. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
World War II Victory Ribbon
The World War II Victory Ribbon was an award issued to any personnel of the US armed forces for service during World War II. In 1947, General Rex Denning was a recipient of the World War II Victory Ribbon. (DS9: "Little Green Men")
World War II Campaign Ribbons
World War II Campaign Ribbons were issued to any personnel of the US armed forces who had served in designated campaigns during World War II. In 1947, General Rex Denning was the recipient of at least two World War II Campaign Ribbons. (DS9: "Little Green Men") In 1969, Lieutenant Colonel Fellini of the Air Police wore one World War II campaign ribbon on his uniform. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")
- Fellini wears the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon but does not display the World War II Victory Ribbon or any other decorations from the Second World War.
Q wearing the uniform of a
Marine Corps Captain
Military Unit Commendations
Military Unit Commendations were decorations issued to military personnel who belonged to a unit which had performed some feat of excellence. As of 1986, Commander Rogerson of the USS Enterprise had received at least two Navy Unit Commendations. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) In 2364, when Q impersonated a Marine Corps captain, a Navy Unit Commendation was one of the decorations seen on Q's uniform. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")
Military Unit Awards
Military unit awards were low precedence level ribbons and were presented to personnel who were members of a military unit cited for a particular action. In 1969, at least two members of the US 498th Airbase Group had received an Air Force unit award. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday"
- Both Lieutenant Colonel Fellini and the Air Police Sergeant can be seen wearing the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, although it is unknown if they received this decoration while both serving in Omaha or separately at different commands.
The Navy "E" Ribbon was an award granted to personnel of a particular United States Navy ship which had performed a feat of excellence. As of 1986, Commander Rogerson of the USS Enterprise had received the Navy "E' Ribbon on at least two separate occasions.
- It is unclear if Rogerson received the Navy "E" Ribbon for his service on the Enterprise or at some other command.
Sea Service Ribbon
The Sea Service Ribbon was a United States Navy decoration awarded to those officers and enlisted personnel who had performed a seaward deployment on board a US Navy vessel. Multiple decorations of this ribbon were denoted by bronze service stars. As of 1986, Commander Rogerson of the USS Enterprise had received at least three awards of the Sea Service Ribbon. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
Marksmanship Ribbon
The Marksmanship Ribbon was a low-level award issued to naval personnel who had qualified to a level of proficiency on a small arms weapon. In 1986 the CDO of the USS Enterprise displayed the Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon on his uniform. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
International Military Awards
International military awards were occasionally awarded to members of the U.S. armed forces and were worn after all regular decorations. As of 1969, at least one Air Force officer on duty at Omaha Air Base had received an international military award. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday") In 1986, the CDO of the USS Enterprise (Commander Rogerson) had received an international unit citation. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) When Q impersonated a Marine Corps captain in 2364, one of the awards on his uniform was this same international award. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")
- The international ribbon seen worn by the unnamed Air Force captain is the United Nations Service Medal, awarded for service during the Korean War. Rogerson and Q are seen wearing the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citiation with Palm.
Presidential Unit Citations
Presidential unit citations were displayed as ribbons encased by gold frames. There were several different versions of this award from various nations of Earth, and the decoration could be held by both enlisted and officer personnel. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")
- The Air Force sergeant from "Tomorrow is Yesterday" appears to wear both the Vietnam and Korean Presidential Unit Citations, but does not display either of the service medals for participating in the Vietnam and Korean Wars.
Additional decorations
United States armed forces personnel were occasionally authorized additional decorations to include foreign awards, civilian medals, and state level decorations. In 1969, at least one member of the 498th Airbase Group had received such an additional decoration. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")
- The Air Force Sergeant from "Tomorrow is Yesterday" wears a yellow ribbon with brown stripes that is not an official award of the US military. The ribbon is somewhat similar to the China Service Medal, an award issued before World War II.
Appearances
American military awards have been seen in several Star Trek productions, most often on the uniforms of characters who are encountered by the regular Star Trek crews during time travel incidents. With the exception of the United States Coast Guard, each branch of the American military has had its awards appear in Star Trek. While most such awards are not mentioned by name in dialogue, they can typically be identified visually.
American military awards have appeared in the following productions:
- TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday" - Air Force
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home - Navy
- TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint" - Marine Corps
- DS9: "Little Green Men" - Army
- ENT: "Storm Front, Part II" - Army
Background
- The Star Trek wardrobe departments have generally kept to correctness with regards to order and precedence of awards shown on uniforms as well as not having characters wear military awards for conflicts in which they could not have served in.
- Q wearing a Marine Corps uniform in the 24th century was the only time that a character displayed United States armed forces awards in the "normal" time frame of Star Trek and not in an episode involving time travel. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")
- The latest American award seen on camera is the Combat Infantryman Badge visible in a restored timestream (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II") at a military briefing in the 1990s. However, the United States of America is said to have existed until at least the 2050s, possibly much later (well into the 2150s or perhaps even the 23rd and 24th centuries). This being the case, it is reasonable that there are numerous additional American military awards, from future wars and conflicts, which have never been seen or discussed.