Campaign streamer

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A campaign streamer (Military Battle Streamer) is a long streamer attached to the headpiece of a military flag, denoting participation of that military service in a particular battle/campaign/war (not to be confused with a tassel, which also hangs from a headpiece). It is typically in the colors of the ribbon worn on military uniforms by combatants who participated in that particular campaign. The United States Army established campaign streamers in 1928, The United States Marine Corps established campaign streamers in 1939, The United States Air Force established campaign streamers in 1956, The United States Coast Guard established campaign streamers in 1968, and finally The United States Navy established campaign streamers in 1971. These streamers are not just used on flags representing the entire service, but also on flags representing units of battalion size and up.

Many of the practices relative to streamers and their display are similar among the services. There are, however, differences, particularly regarding the number of streamers and use of embroidered devices. The Army carries a separate streamer for each important action in all wars in which that service has participated. Army streamers are embroidered with the name of the action commemorated. Currently, the Army allows more than 150 streamers, and the Air Force, employing the Army system, carries more than 60. Unlike the Army-Air Force practice, the Marines use one ribbon for each war, campaign, or theater of operations. Specific actions or battles are highlighted by bronze and silver stars embroidered on the ribbon. The Marine Corps shows more than 40 streamers, and the Coast Guard uses nearly 30, unadorned by either stars or lettering.

1 U.S. Navy Streamer Practice
2 Campaign streamers
3 See also
4 External articles

[edit] U.S. Navy Streamer Practice

The Navy's battle streamers, spanning the period from the Revolutionary War to Kosovo, number 32 (29 campaign, 3 citation). Like the Marine Corps, the Navy flies a single streamer for each campaign, war, or theater of operations, with embroidered stars used for individual battles and operations determined to be suitable for special recognition. Stars on the Navy streamers follow the practice initiated during the World War II period for ribbons and medals -- that is, a bronze star for each action, and a silver star in lieu of five bronze stars. The Navy applies stars to appropriate ribbons throughout its history, whereas the Marine Corps uses stars to commemorate service starting from 1900. The Presidential Unit Citation (US), Navy Unit Commendation, and Meritorious Unit Commendation streamers each carry a number rather than stars. This figure represents the number of times that the respective award has been conferred upon Navy units.

Generally, streamers are 3 feet (0.91 m) long and 2 3/4" wide. Where a medal has been awarded for a particular war or service, the coloring and design of the streamer are the same as the ribbon from which the medal is suspended. Conflicts and operations for which no medal was issued have ribbons specially designed for use as streamers.