Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard are military medals and ribbons of the United States Coast Guard which are currently issued under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security.
Prior to 2002, such awards were issued by the Secretary of Transportation and Coast Guard personnel were eligible to receive a variety of Department of Transportation (DOT) civilian decorations. Since transferring to the Department of Homeland Security, the issuance of DOT awards has been discontinued in the Coast Guard, although such awards may still be seen on active duty Coast Guard uniforms.
Coast Guard military awards are similar to U.S. Navy awards (often with nearly identical ribbons save for an additional white stripe) and Coast Guard personnel are eligible to receive all inter-service awards and decorations, authorized foreign awards and international decorations.
The current active awards and decorations of the U.S. Coast Guard are as follows:[1]
Coast Guard Cross | Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal | Coast Guard Medal | Coast Guard Commendation Medal | Coast Guard Achievement Medal |
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Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal | Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal | Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal |
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Gold Lifesaving Medal | Silver Lifesaving Medal |
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Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation | DHS Outstanding Unit Award | Coast Guard Unit Commendation | Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation | Meritorious Team Commendation | Coast Guard "E" Ribbon |
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Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon | Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon | Enlisted Person of the Year Ribbon | Special Operations Service Ribbon | Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon |
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Restricted Duty Ribbon | Coast Guard Overseas Service Ribbon | Coast Guard Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon | Coast Guard Recruiting Service Ribbon |
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Coast Guard Distinguished Marksman Award/Badge | Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot Award/Badge | Coast Guard Rifleman Excellence-In-Competition Award/Badge (Rifleman EIC Badges earned at national matches have the word "NATIONAL" etched at their base.) |
Coast Guard Pistol Shot Excellence-In-Competition Award/Badge (Pistol Shot EIC Badges earned at national matches have the word "NATIONAL" etched at their base.) |
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President's Hundred Tab |
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Enlisted Only |
Coast Guard Expert Rifleman Medal | Coast Guard Expert Pistol Shot Medal |
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Coast Guard Rifle Sharpshooter Ribbon | Coast Guard Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon | Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon | Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon |
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The following is the ribbon order of precedence authorized for wear by the U.S. Coast Guard. The list contains awards and decorations for the departments of Defense (including Army, Navy and Air Force), Homeland Security and Transportation: