Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia

are transferred from these units are not authorized to wear the shoulder cord. Personnel in an attached or TDY status
with these units, or the State small arms readiness training teams, are not authorized to wear the shoulder cord.
Chapter 29
Wear of Decorations, Service Medals, Badges, Unit Awards, and Appurtenances
29–1. General
This chapter covers the decorations, medals, badges, unit awards and appurtenances, both U.S. and foreign, authorized
for wear on Army uniforms. The term “awards” is an all-inclusive term covering any decoration, medal, badge, ribbon,
or appurtenance bestowed on an individual or unit. The term “awards” is used throughout this chapter. The term
“ribbon” is an all-inclusive term covering that portion of the suspension ribbon of a service medal or decoration that is
worn instead of the service medal or decoration. The ribbon is made in the form of a ribbon bar, 1 3 ⁄8 inches long by 3 ⁄8
inches wide. The term “ribbon” is used throughout this chapter, and it includes service and training ribbons.
29–2. Authorization
a. Commanders may require the wear of awards on the following occasions.
(1) Parades, reviews, inspections, and funerals.
(2) Ceremonial and social occasions.
b. Awards are worn at the option of the wearer when not prohibited during normal duty hours. Personnel also may
wear awards on appropriate uniforms when off duty (see para 29–4, below). Personnel are encouraged to wear
authorized awards on the service, dress, and mess uniforms.
c. Soldiers may wear awards on the class B uniform during duty hours and when off duty, at their option.
29–4. When wear of awards is prohibited
The wear of awards is prohibited in the following circumstances.
a. On any uniform other than those authorized in this regulation. (See section 704, title 18, United States Code (18
USC 704) for the penalty for unauthorized wear of the uniform.)
b. When serving a sentence of confinement.
c. 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 the
wear of the Army uniform is inappropriate or not authorized.
29–5. Order of precedence by category of medal
The following list indicates the order of precedence by category when medals from two or more categories are worn at
the same time.
a. U.S. military decorations.
b. U.S. unit awards.
c. U.S. non-military decorations.
d. U.S. service (campaign) medals, and service and training ribbons.
e. U.S. Merchant Marine awards.
f. U.S. non-military unit awards.
g. Foreign military decorations.
h. Foreign unit awards.
i. Non-U.S. service awards.
j. State awards for ARNG soldiers.
29–6. Order of precedence within categories of medals
The following lists indicate the order of precedence within each category, when two or more medals from each
category are worn at the same time.
a. U.S. military decorations. A decoration is an award given to an individual as a distinctively designed mark of
honor denoting heroism, or meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. U.S. military decorations authorized for
wear on Army uniforms are listed below in order of precedence.
(1) Medal of Honor (Army, Navy, Air Force).
(2) Distinguished Service Cross.
(3) Navy Cross.
(4) Air Force Cross.
(5) Defense Distinguished Service Medal.
266 AR 670–1 3 February 2005