Obsolete military awards of the United States

Obsolete military awards of the United States are United States military awards which have been officially removed from U.S. military award precedence charts and are listed as "Obsolete Military Decorations" in military award publications and instructions.

Typically, the U.S. military will declare a decoration obsolete twenty to thirty years after its last issuance to an active duty member of the military or, in the case of medals designed for members of the reserve forces, a drilling reservist attending annual training. Medals for valor (such as the Medal of Honor and Silver Star) are rarely declared obsolete regardless of the amount of time which has passed since the last issuance. This is since such medals could be reinstated, on very short notice, in the event of an armed conflict in which the United States armed forces would be called to service.

Although United States service medals of the World Wars have also been declared obsolete by the U.S. military, many may still be found in various charts, publications, and instructions. This is since a large number of veterans still display such medals as retirement awards or through functions and ceremonies with various veteran groups such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

The following decorations have been declared obsolete with most such decorations indicating service in military operations prior to 1935.

## Revolutionary War

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Badge of Military Merit | Fidelity Medallion

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## Inter-service

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The National Match Team ("Dogs of War") Medal

Medal for Humane Action | Korean Service Medal

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## Army service

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Certificate of Merit Medal

Civil War Campaign Medal | Indian Campaign Medal | Spanish Campaign Medal | Spanish War Service Medal

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Army of Cuban Occupation Medal | Army of Cuban Pacification Medal | Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal

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Philippine Campaign Medal | Philippine Congressional Medal | China Campaign Medal | Mexican Service Medal | Mexican Border Service Medal

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Army Wound Ribbon

Army Marksmanship Prize Medals (multiple versions)  | Army Team Marksmanship Medals (1st version)  | Army Distinguished Aerial Gunner/Bomber Medals | Army Team Marksmanship Medals (2nd version)  | Army Distinguished Automatic Rifleman Medal

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## Navy and Marine Corps service

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Marine Corps Brevet Medal | Specially Meritorious Service Medal

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Civil War Campaign Medal | Spanish Campaign Medal | Philippine Campaign Medal | Mexican Service Medal | West Indies Campaign Medal

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China Relief Expedition Medal | China Service Medal | Yangtze Service Medal | Dominican Campaign Medal | Cuban Pacification Medal

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Nicaraguan Campaign Medal | Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal | Haitian Campaign Medal (1917 & 1921) | Naval Reserve Medal

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Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon | Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon | Reserve Special Commendation Ribbon

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Distinguished Marksman and Pistol Shot Ribbon | Distinguished Marksman Ribbon | Distinguished Pistol Shot Ribbon | Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Medals (1st version) | Navy Expert Team Rifleman Medal

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## Coast Guard service

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Transportation Distinguished Service Medal

Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award | Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation

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## Air Force service

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Air Force Recruiter Ribbon | Air Force Military Training Instructor Ribbon

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Air Force Gold & Silver Elementary Excellence-In-Competition Medals | Air Force Gold National Excellence-In-Competition Medals

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## See also

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* Awards and decorations of the United States military
* Obsolete badges of the United States military

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United States Armed Forces

Legend
A = Army
MC = Marine Corps
N = Navy
AF = Air Force
SF = Space Force
CG = Coast Guard

Leadership|

* President of the United States
* Secretary of Defense
* Deputy Secretary of Defense
* Secretary of Homeland Security
* Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
* Joint Chiefs of Staff
* Chairman
* Vice Chairman
* Committees on Armed Services
* Senate
* House
* Active duty four-star officers
* Active duty three-star officers
* United States military seniority
* National Security Act of 1947
* Goldwater–Nichols Act

Components|

| Military departments|

* Department of Defense
* Secretary
* Department of the Army
* Secretary
* Department of the Navy
* Secretary
* Department of the Air Force
* Secretary
* Department of Homeland Security
* Secretary

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Service branches
and heads|

* Chief of Staff of the United States Army
* Commandant of the Marine Corps
* Chief of Naval Operations
* Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
* Chief of Space Operations
* Commandant of the Coast Guard

Reserve components|

* Reserves:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* CG
* National Guard:
* A
* AF

Civilian auxiliaries|

* Military Auxiliary Radio System
* Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary
* Merchant Marine
* Civil Air Patrol
* Coast Guard Auxiliary

Unified combatant
command|

* Africa
* Central
* European
* Indo-Pacific
* Northern
* Southern
* Space
* Cyber
* Special Operations
* Strategic
* Transportation

Structure|

* United States Code
* Title 10
* Title 14
* Title 32
* Title 50
* The Pentagon
* Installations
* Units:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG
* Logistics
* Media
* Unit mottoes

Operations
and history|

* Budget
* Current deployments
* Conflicts
* Wars
* Civil affairs

History|

* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG

Timeline|

* Colonial
* World War II

Demographics|

* African Americans
* Asian Americans
* Buddhist Americans
* Jewish Americans
* Muslim Americans
* Sikh Americans
* Hispanic Americans
* Civil War
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Marine Corps
* Navy
* Academy

History centers|

* Army Center of Military History
* Marine Corps History Division
* Naval History and Heritage Command
* Air Force Historical Research Agency

War artists|

* Army Art Program
* Air Force Art Program

Personnel|

| Training|

* Service academies:
* A (prep)
* MC/N (prep)
* AF/SF (prep)
* CG
* Merchant Marine
* ROTC
* A
* MC/N
* AF/SF
* Officer candidate/training school:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF/SF
* Warrant officer:
* A
* MEPS
* ASVAB
* The Basic School (MC)
* Enlisted recruit training:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF/SF
* CG
* Other education

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Uniforms|

* Uniforms:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG
* Awards & decorations:
* Inter-service
* A
* MC/N
* AF/SF
* CG
* Foreign
* International
* Devices
* Badges:
* Identification
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG

Ranks|

* Officer:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG
* Warrant officers
* Enlisted:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG

Other|

* Oath:
* Enlistment
* Officer
* Creeds & Codes:
* Code of Conduct
* NCO
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* CG
* Service numbers:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* CG
* Military Occupational Specialty/Rating/Air Force Specialty Code
* Pay
* Uniform Code of Military Justice
* Judge Advocate General's Corps
* Military Health System/Tricare
* Separation
* Veterans Affairs
* Conscription
* Chiefs of Chaplains:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* CG

Equipment|

* A (Designations)
* MC:
* vehicles
* weapons
* other
* N
* AF
* CG

| Land|

* Individual weapons
* Crew-served weapons
* Vehicles (active)

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Sea|

* All watercraft
* Ships:
* A
* N
* active
* future
* AF
* CG
* MSC
* Weapons:
* N
* Reactors

Air|

* Aircraft
* World War I
* active
* future
* Aircraft designation
* Helicopter arms

Other|

* WWII equipment
* Nuclear football
* Electronics (designations)
* Flags:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG
* Ensign
* Jack
* Guidons
* Food
* WMDs:
* Nuclear
* Biological
* Chemical

* Category
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG
* Navboxes
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG

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Joint awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces

Joint military decorations|

* Defense Distinguished Service
* Homeland Security Distinguished Service
* Defense Superior Service
* Defense Meritorious Service
* Joint Service Commendation
* Joint Service Achievement
* Joint Meritorious Unit

Joint
service medals|

* Prisoner of War
* National Defense Service
* Antarctica Service
* Korean Service
* Armed Forces Expeditionary
* Vietnam Service
* Southwest Asia Service
* Kosovo Campaign
* Afghanistan Campaign
* Iraq Campaign
* Inherent Resolve Campaign
* Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
* Global War on Terrorism Service
* Korea Defense Service
* Armed Forces Service
* Humanitarian Service
* Outstanding Volunteer Service
* Armed Forces Reserve

* v
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Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Army

Decorations|

* Medal of Honor
* Distinguished Service Cross
* Distinguished Service Medal
* Silver Star
* Legion of Merit
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Soldier's Medal
* Bronze Star
* Purple Heart
* Meritorious Service
* Air Medal
* Army Commendation
* Army Achievement

Good conduct|

* Army Good Conduct
* Reserve Achievement

Unit awards|

* Presidential Unit Citation
* Valorous Unit
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Superior Unit

Service ribbons|

* Sea Duty
* NCO Professional Development
* Army Service
* Overseas Service
* Reserve Overseas Training
* Army Recruiting Ribbon

Defunct|

* Certificate of Merit

* v
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Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Navy

Personal decorations|

* Medal of Honor
* Navy Cross
* Navy Distinguished Service
* Silver Star
* Legion of Merit
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Navy and Marine Corps Medal
* Bronze Star
* Purple Heart
* Meritorious Service
* Air Medal
* Navy and Marine Corps Commendation
* Navy and Marine Corps Achievement
* Combat Action

Unit awards|

* Presidential Unit Citation
* Navy Unit Commendation
* Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Navy "E" Ribbon

Good Conduct medals|

* Navy Good Conduct
* Marine Corps Good Conduct
* Selected Marine Corps Reserve

Expeditionary medals|

* Navy Expeditionary
* Marine Corps Expeditionary

Service ribbon awards|

* Sea Service
* Naval Reserve Sea Service
* Arctic Service
* Antarctica Service
* Overseas Service
* Navy Recruiting Service
* Marine Corps Recruiting Service
* Navy Accession Training Service Ribbon
* Marine Corps Drill Instructor
* Marine Corps Security Guard
* Marine Corps Combat Instructor
* Navy Ceremonial Duty
* Navy Basic Military Training Honor Graduate

Marksmanship|

* Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
* Navy Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon
* Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon
* Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
* Navy Sharpshooter Pistol Shot Ribbon
* Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon

* v
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Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard

Decorations|

* Medal of Honor
* Coast Guard Cross
* Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
* Silver Star
* Legion of Merit
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Coast Guard Medal
* Bronze Star
* Purple Heart
* Meritorious Service
* Air Medal
* Commendation Medal
* Achievement Medal
* Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon

Lifesaving Medals|

* Gold Lifesaving Medal
* Silver Lifesaving Medal

Unit Awards|

* Presidential Unit Citation
* Coast Guard Unit Commendation
* Meritorious Unit Commendation
* Meritorious Team Commendation
* Coast Guard "E" Ribbon

Conduct Medals|

* Good Conduct Medal
* Reserve Good Conduct Medal

Service Awards|

* Combat Action Ribbon
* Enlisted Person of the Year Ribbon
* Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
* Special Operations Service Ribbon
* Sea Service Ribbon
* Restricted Duty Ribbon
* Overseas Service Ribbon
* Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon
* Recruiting Service Ribbon

Marksmanship|

* Distinguished Marksman Medal
* Distinguished Pistol Shot Medal
* Silver Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Medal
* Silver Pistol Excellence-in-Competition Medal
* Bronze Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Medal
* Bronze Pistol Excellence-in-Competition Medal
* Expert Rifle Medal
* Expert Pistol Medal
* Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon
* Sharpshooter Pistol Ribbon
* Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon
* Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon

* v
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Awards and decorations of the United States Department of the Air Force

Decorations|

* Medal of Honor
* Air Force Cross
* Distinguished Service
* Silver Star Medal
* Legion of Merit
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Airman's Medal
* Bronze Star Medal
* Purple Heart
* Meritorious Service Medal
* Air Medal
* Aerial Achievement
* Air and Space Commendation
* Air and Space Achievement

Unit awards|

* Presidential Unit Citation
* Gallant Unit Citation
* Meritorious Unit
* Air and Space Outstanding Unit
* Air and Space Organizational Excellence

Service medals|

* Combat Action Medal
* Combat Readiness
* Air Force Good Conduct
* Space Force Good Conduct
*  Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal
* Air and Space Campaign
* Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal

Service ribbons|

* Outstanding Airman of the Year
* Air and Space Recognition
* Overseas Service Short Tour
* Overseas Service Long Tour
* Air and Space Expeditionary Service
* Air and Space Longevity
* Developmental Special Duty
* NCO PME Graduate
* Basic Training Honor Graduate
* Marksmanship
* Air and Space Training

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Military badges of the United States

* Army
* Marine Corps
* Navy
* Air Force
* Space Force
* Coast Guard
* Identification
* Obsolete

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