Ribbon regulations

AWARDS: (The excerpts taken from sections of TARNG Reg 672-1, TANG 900-10, TSG Reg 672-1 1, September 1987, [Sect II, 1-8 through 29-5] are indicated by the retention of the regulation chapter and section number)

1-8 Who May Recommend. It is the responsibility and privilege of any individual having personal knowledge of an act, achievement or service believed to warrant the award of a decoration, to submit a formal recommendation into military command channels for consideration.

1-9 Time Limitations. Each recommendation for a State Military decoration must be entered administratively into channels within two years of the act, achievement or service to be honored.

1-10 Character of Service for Personal Decorations. A medal will not be awarded or presented to any individual whose entire service subsequent to the time of the distinguished act, achievement or service has not been honorable...

a. All awards made to individuals and units of the State Military Forces of Texas will be presented in a fitting ceremony with an appropriate air of formality and whenever possible, in the presence of formed troops.

b. The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor and the Lone Star Medal of Valor will be presented by the Governor of Texas or his representative.

c. The Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal and the Governor's Unit Citation will be presented by a general officer.

d. All other decorations, will be presented by the next higher level of command to which the individual to be decorated is assigned, with the exception of the Adjutant General's Individual Award, which may be presented by the Unit commander.

e. Certificates and letters, badges, tabs and special insignia will be presented by the unit commander, unless prescribed otherwise herein.

f. In the act of presentation, a decoration or the ribbon may be pinned on the clothing of the awardee, whether in uniform or civilian clothing, or on the next-of-kin in the case of a presentation following the recipient's death; however, this will not be construed as authority for any person other than the individual honored by the award to wear it. As an alternative to pinning the medal or ribbon, especially to next-of-kin, it may be handed to the recipient in an opened container.

The term "awards" is an all inclusive term covering any decoration, medal, badge, ribbon, or appurtenance bestowed upon an individual or unit. The term "ribbon" refers to any portion of the suspension ribbon of decorations or service medals instead of the medal and made in the form of a ribbon bar.

29-2. Authorization: AR 672-5-1 provides the authorization and qualifying criteria for the U.S. decorations, service medals, badges, unit awards and appurtenances worn on the Army uniform.

TARNG Reg 672-1; TANG Reg 900-10; TSG 672-5-1 provides the authorization, qualifying criteria and awarding authority for decorations, service medals, badges, unit awards, and appurtenances worn on the uniform of members of the Texas National Guard and the Texas State Guard.

b. Awards may be worn at the option of the wearer when not prohibited during normal duty hours and may also be worn on the appropriate uniforms when off duty. Personnel are encouraged to wear awards on the class A service, dress, and mess uniforms.

a. On any uniform other than authorized by this regulation. See Section 704, Title 18, United States Code, for penalty for unauthorized wear.

d. When wearing civilian clothing except for civilian awards, lapel buttons, or rosettes intended for wear with civilian clothing. Soldiers may wear miniature medals on formal civilian attire at formal social functions when wearing the Army uniform would be inappropriate or not authorized.

Members of the Texas State Guard are entitled to wear on their appropriate uniform all military decorations earned in any branch of federal service which are approved for wear by TSG Regulation 672-1 or by directive from the Commanding General.

ORDER OF PRECEDENCE (Worn above the left shirt/coat pocket). The order of precedence is from top right to lower left.

Unit Awards: (All unit awards, including foreign or those earned in other federal services which are worn on the left breast in other services, shall worn in a gold frame above the right shirt/coat pocket, top right to lower left).

29-5. The following list indicates the order of precedence by category when medals from two or more categories are worn at the same time.

Medal of Honor	Distinguished Service Cross	Air Force Cross
Navy Cross	Defense Dist. Service Medal	Dist.Service Medal
Silver Star	Defense Superior Service Medal	Legion of Merit
Dist. Flying Cross	Soldier's Medal	Navy & USMC Medal
Airman's Medal	Coast Guard Medal	Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart	Dept of Def. Meritorious Ser.	Meritorious Service
Air Medal	Joint Services Com Medal	Army Commendation Medal
Navy Com Medal	USAF Com Medal	USCG Com Medal
Joint Services Achievement	Army Achievement	Navy Achievement
AF Achievement	Sec. Treas/Trans. Com. For Achievement	CG Letter Achievement
Combat Action	Pres Unit Com(A)	Pres. Unit Com(N)Pres.
Valorous Unit Award (A)	Navy Unit Com	USAF Outstanding Unit Award
Organ. Excellence (AF)	CG Unit Com	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Com.	Superior Unit Award	Meritorious Unit Com (N)
Meritorious Unit Com (CG)	Efficiency (USN)	Medical Army
Gold Lifesaving	Silver Lifesaving	Combat Readiness USAF
Good Conduct (USA)	Good Conduct (USN)	Good Conduct (USMC)
Good Conduct (USAF)	Good Conduct (USCG)	Army Reserve Achievement
USCG Res Good Conduct	Naval Res. Merit Servic	Organized Res. USMC
Air Res. Merit.Service	USCG Honor Award	Outstanding Airman
Air Force Recognition	USN Expeditionary	USMC Expeditionary
China Service	American Defense	American Campaign
Asiatic Pacific Campaign	EAME Campaign	WW II Victory Medal
Occupational Service WWII	Humane Action Medal	National Defense
Korean Service	Antarctica Service	Arctic Service
Armed Forces Expeditionary	Vietnam Service	Humanitarian Service
POW Award	Army NCO Pro Development	Army Service
Army Overseas	Sea Service	USCG Sea Service
Fleet Marine	USCG Restricted Duty	Air Force Overseas
Air Force Overseas	Army Res Overseas	USAF Longevity Award
Armed Forces Reserve	Naval Reserve	USMC Reserve
USAF NCO OFF Academy Course	USAF Honor Guard	Small Arms Marksman (AF)
AF Training	Reserve Officers Association	National Order Vietnam
Military Merit Vietnam	Dist.Service Order Vietnam	Service Merit Vietnam
Gallantry Cross Vietnam	Pres. Unit Citation Korea	Pres. Unit Cit. Vietnam
United Nations Medal	United Nations Observer	U.N. Multinational Force
Rep. of Vietnam Campaign	Navy Expert Rifleman	Navy Expert Pistol
CG Expert Rifleman	CG Expert Pistol

* This list does not contain WWI medals and some of the WWII medals which most of the people now serving could not have earned. Only the most senior officers and enlisted personnel would have qualified for most of the WWII medals which are included. It also does not contain some of the less important Vietnam ribbons.

TEXAS STATE GUARD DECORATIONS: (Following all Federal, Foreign personal decorations, and Texas National Guard decorations).

The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is awarded to any member of the State Military Forces of Texas who, by voluntary act or acts, shall have distinguished himself/herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their life. The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice, so conspicuous as to have clearly distinguished the individual for gallantry and intrepidity above his/her comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be exacted, and each recommendation for this award will be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.

The Lone Star Medal of Valor is awarded to any member of the State Military Forces of Texas who distinguished himself/herself by specific acts of bravery or outstanding courage, or a closely related series of heroic acts performed within an exceptionally short period of time, which involved personal hazard and the voluntary risk of life and which resulted in an accomplishment so exceptional an outstanding as t clearly set the individual apart from his/her commanders or form other persons in similar circumstances. The required gallantry for award of this medal, while of lessor degree than that required for award of the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, must nevertheless be performed with marked distinction.

The Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to any member of the State Military Forces of Texas who, while serving in any capacity with the Texas Military Forces, shall have distinguished himself/herself by exceptionally outstanding achievement or service to the State of Texas in the performance of a duty of great responsibility. The Adjutant General has final approval and disapproval authority.

The Texas Outstanding Service Medal is awarded to any member of the State Military Forces of Texas serving in any capacity, whose performance has been such as to merit recognition for service performed in a superior and clearly outstanding manner.

The Texas Medal of Merit is awarded to any member of the State Military Forces of Texas who distinguish himself/herself by outstanding service, extraordinary achievement or act(s) of courage in behalf of the State of Texas or the United States.

(1) Meritorious achievement or meritorious service included that service rendered specifically on behalf of the State Military Force of Texas and/or the United States military forces. It also includes acts of courage which do not meet the requirements for award of a higher State of Texas decoration.

(2) Superior performance of normal duties does not, in itself, constitute automatic justification for an award of the Texas Medal of Merit. Awards will be restricted t the recognition of achievements and services which are clearly outstanding and unmistakably exceptional when compared to similar achievements of personnel of like rank and responsibilities. This service or achievement, although clearly outstanding, is of a lessor degree than that service or achievement required for a higher State of Texas decoration. Successful accomplishment of a predesignated number of tasks or functions is not a valid basis for an automatic award. However, unusual and extraordinary sustained performance may be used as a point of departure in justifying meritorious achievement or service.

(3) In instances where many individuals are affiliated with an exceptionally meritorious program, project or mission, the Texas Medal of Merit will be awarded only to those relatively few individuals whose contributions clearly stand out from the others and who have contributed most to the success of the program.

(4) The Texas Medal of Merit is awarded for act(s) of courage which involve personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life but which, although sufficient to clearly set the individual apart from his/her comrades or from other persons in similar circumstances, is of a lesser degree than required for the Lone Star Medal of Valor. When awarded for act(s) of courage, a bronze block letter "V" will be included.

The Adjutant General's Individual Award is awarded to any member of the State Military Forces of Texas who, while serving in any capacity with the State Military Forces of Texas, shall have distinguished himself/herself by meritorious achievement or outstanding service, when such action or duty is extremely noteworthy but of a lesser degree than that required for award of a higher State of Texas decoration.

The Governor's Unit Citation is awarded to units of the State Military Forces of Texas for extraordinary valor or meritorious achievement during non-Federalized periods of service. Only on rare occasions will a unit larger than a battalion or group qualify for the award.

(1) The Citation will be awarded for valor as a result of extraordinary courage. The unit must have performed with marked distinction under difficult and hazardous conditions during a single or successive operations covering a relatively brief period of time.

(2) The Citation will be awarded for meritorious service as a result of exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding service during an operation of short duration of a period of at least 12 continuous months. The unit must display such outstanding devotion and superior performance of exceptionally difficult tasks as to set it apart and above other units with similar missions.

The Texas State Guard Achievement Ribbon is awarded to any member of the Texas State Guard, who while serving in any capacity shall distinguish himself/herself by meritorious service or achievement but of a lesser degree than that required for the Adjutant General's Individual Award. However, the service or achievement shall be such that it clearly sets him/her above his peers and above what is to be normally expected. This award may also be awarded (with bronze block "V") for acts of heroism not meriting a higher award for valor. Subsequent awards will be indicated with acorn devices.

This award may be given to any member of the Texas State Guard by the Commanding General at any TSG function or activity for exceptional performance. This ribbon may be awarded by the Commanding General as a "pocket award" or through recommendation by unit commanders. -Subsequent awards will be indicated by oak leaf clusters.

For award to any member of the TSG who recruit five (5) or more members who remain in service for a period of six (6) months.

For award to members of the Texas State Guard upon successful completion of prescribed NCO Basic Course, NCO Advanced Course, approved university, college, ROTC, and other approved courses of study which clearly contribute to the professional development of the soldier. This ribbon may also be awarded for approved developmental courses provided by other military services, or Federal and State governmental agencies. After initial award, the subsequent awards will be indicated by a block numerical device.

AWARD CRITERIA: Approval of criteria for award for any of the above, other than NCO Basic Course and NCO Advanced Course, will be determined by awards board. But in no case shall the criteria be less than the requirements of the TSG NCO Advanced Courses. With the completion of five or more FEMA courses the ribbon may be worn in a gold frame.

For award to members of the Texas State Guard Officer Corps upon successful completion of prescribed Officer Academy Courses, approved university, college, ROTC, and other approved courses of study which clearly contribute to the officer's professional development. This ribbon may also be awarded for approved developmental courses provided by other military services, or Federal and State governmental agencies. This ribbon will be awarded to officers who have completed Federal or State Command and Staff training. This ribbon may be awarded to officers engaged in the TSG education and training program for course and program development and/or instructing in the program for a prescribed number of courses/hours. Subsequent awards will be indicated by a blocked numerical device.

AWARD CRITERIA: Approval of criteria for award, or equivalency criteria, for any of the above, other than Officer Academy Course, will be determined by an awards board. But in no case shall the requirements be less than the requirements of TSG Academy Courses.

Awarded to enlisted personnel upon certification of completion of the prescribed enlisted personnel basic training.

This ribbon is presented to any member of the Texas State Guard, who, upon certification by an authorized physical fitness certification officer, successfully completes the prescribed physical fitness program.

For meritorious achievement or service which is superior to that which is normally expected. The achievement or service must be such that it sets the unit above and apart from similar units.

AWARD CRITERIA: Individuals assigned or permanently attached to the unit when the citation was given shall be entitled to wear the ribbon as a permanent part of the uniform. Personnel subsequently attached or permanently assigned to the unit but was not present when the award was won, or assigned after the service or action which merited the award may wear the ribbon only while on assignment to the cited unit. This ribbon is to be worn above the right pocket after the Governor's Unit Citation.

This ribbon is for award to small and unnumbered units in recognition of achievement and service. This ribbon may be recommended by battalion commanders and higher headquarters.

AWARD CRITERIA: Persons assigned or temporally attached to the unit, and present for duty during the period for which the unit was cited and granted the award, are permanently awarded the Organizational Excellence Award Ribbon. Persons later assigned to the cited unit may wear the ribbon only while on assignment or attached to the unit. This ribbon is to be worn above the right pocket after the Meritorious Unit Award.

This ribbon is awarded to all current members of the SGAUS organization. It may only be worn while current membership is maintained. It will be worn last in the order of precedence of military ribbons and decorations. But a national organization takes precedence over those of a state.

This ribbon is authorized to all current members of the TSGA. It may only be worn while current membership is maintained. It will be worn last in the order of precedence of military decorations, campaign ribbons, qualification and service ribbons. It is worn after the national (SGAUS) association ribbon. Members may wear an hourglass device on the ribbon to indicate Life Membership status.

This ribbon is authorized by the Texas State Guard Association for award to members of the Texas Military Forces, retired or active, and current and former members of the TSGA, which have received the Juan Seguin Award for Valor. The Juan Seguin Award is awarded for distinguished achievement demonstrated by an act of valor which refelct favorably upon the individual and the Texas Military Forces. For Heroism; When the act resulted in the protection and preservation of a life (or lives) or the preservation of property; For Service: When the service demonstrated that the individual acted with courage, bravery and valor, by which the skills and training enhanced through the individual’s participation in the Texas Military Forces were utilized. It is given for a single action of the individual during the previous year.

This ribbon is authorized for members or associate member of the TSGA or a member or former member of the Texas Military Forces, who have received the Sam Houston Award. The Sam Houston Award is given for distinguished service or exceptional achievement in furthering the aims and goals of the Nation, State, Community, the Texas Military Forces, or the Texas State Guard Association. Such service must clearly be of a nature that it sets the person being considered far above what would normally be expected as a duty. The service must be conducted in the highest military standards of integrity, leadership, patriotism and professionalism.

This ribbon is authorized by the TSGA for award to members of the Texas Military Forces, active or retired, or a current or former member of the TSGA, for meritorious achievement in furthering the aims of the Texas Military Forces or the Texas State Guard Association. The meritorious achievement rendered is less exceptional than that required for the Houston Award, but exceeds that rendered for the Travis Award. The service must be such that it makes a distinctive and significant contribution to the TSGA, the Military Forces of Texas or the State of Texas. The achievement may by for acts of humanitarianism which promote human welfare through acts of generosity of time and self, and compassion for his/her fellow citizen.

This ribbon is authorized by the TSGA for award to members of the Texas Military Forces, active or retired, for meritorious service. However, the recipient of the Travis Award is not limited to members of the Military Forces of Texas or the TSGA. Such service must be above that above what is normally expected so as to distinguish this person above his peers. The award is given for acts which demonstrate loyalty and commitment to the organization’s mission, for leadership, or a single action by an individual which relates to the defense and security of the state during the previous three (3) years. The meritorious service rendered is less exceptional than that required for the Bowie Award, but exceeds that necessary for the Certificate of Achievement.