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.

Inter-service

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

Army service

Certificate of Merit Medal

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

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

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

Army Wound Ribbon

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

Navy and Marine Corps service

Marine Corps Brevet Medal	Specially Meritorious Service Medal

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

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

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

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

Distinguished Marksman and Pistol Shot Ribbon	Distinguished Marksman Ribbon	Distinguished Pistol Shot Ribbon	Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Medals	Navy Expert Team Rifleman Medal

Coast Guard service

Transportation Distinguished Service Medal

Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award	Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation

Air Force service

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

Commander-in-chief: President of the United States
Secretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Joint Chiefs of Staff:
- Chairman
- Vice Chairman
United States Congress: Committees on Armed Services:
- Senate
- House
Active duty four-star officers
Highest ranking officers in history
National Security Act of 1947
Goldwater–Nichols Act

Organization

Service departments	Department of Defense (Secretary): Army (Secretary) Navy (Secretary) Air Force (Secretary) Department of Homeland Security (Secretary): Coast Guard

Branches	Army (Chief of Staff) Marine Corps (Commandant) Navy (Chief of Naval Operations) Air Force (Chief of Staff) Coast Guard (Commandant)

Other uniformed services	Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (Surgeon General) NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (Director)

Reserve components	Reserves: A MC N AF CG National Guard: A AF State defense forces

Civilian auxiliaries	Military Auxiliary Radio System Merchant Marine Civil Air Patrol Coast Guard Auxiliary

Unified Combatant Command	Northern Central European Pacific Southern Africa Special Operations Strategic Transportation

Structure

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

Operations and history

Current deployments
Conflicts
Wars
Timeline
History:
- A
- MC
- N
- AF
- CG
Colonial
World War II
Civil affairs
African Americans
Asian Americans
Pakistani Americans
Jewish Americans
Sikh Americans
Historiography:
- A: 1/2
- MC
- N
- AF
Art:
- A
- AF

Personnel

Training	MEPS ASVAB Recruit training: A MC N AF CG Officer candidate school: A MC N AF Warrant: A MC Service academies: A (prep) N (prep) AF (prep) CG Merchant Marine PHS Junior/Reserve Officers' Training Corps: A: MJC/SMC MC/N AF Medical Other education

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

Ranks	Enlisted: A MC N AF CG Warrant officers Officer: A MC N AF CG PHS NOAA

Other	Oath: Enlistment Office 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

Land	Individual weapons Crew-served weapons Vehicles (active)

Sea	All watercraft Ships: A N (active) AF CG MSC NOAA Weapons: N CG Aircraft: N CG NOAA Reactors

Air	Aircraft World War I active Aircraft designation Missiles Helicopter arms

Other	Electronics (designations) Flags: A MC N AF CG Ensign Jack Guidons Food WMDs: Nuclear Biological Chemical

Legend: A = Army; MC = Marine Corps; N = Navy; AF = Air Force; CG = Coast Guard; PHS = Public Health Service; NOAA = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; MSC = Military Sealift Command

Inter-service awards and decorations of the United States military

Federal military decorations	Medal of Honor Silver Star Medal Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Meritorious Service Medal Air Medal

Department level military decorations	Defense Distinguished Service Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Defense Meritorious Service Joint Service Commendation Joint Service Achievement Joint Meritorious Unit

Federal service medals	Prisoner of War National Defense Service Medal Antarctica Service Korean Service Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Southwest Asia Service Kosovo Campaign Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korea Defense Service Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Outstanding Volunteer Service Armed Forces Reserve

Awards and decorations of the United States Army

Decorations	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Medal Soldier's 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

Military awards of the United States Department of the Navy

Personal decorations	Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Navy and Marine Corps 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 Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Selected Marine Corps Reserve

Expeditionary medals	Navy Expeditionary Marine Corps Expeditionary

Service ribbon awards	Overseas Service Sea Service Arctic Service Navy Recruiting Service Marine Corps Recruiting Service Navy Recruit Training Service Marine Corps Drill Instructor Marine Corps Security Guard Marine Corps Combat Instructor Navy Ceremonial Duty Navy Reserve Sea Service

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

Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard

Decorations	Coast Guard Cross Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard 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

Awards and decorations of the United States Air Force

Decorations	Air Force Cross Air Force Distinguished Service Airman's Medal Aerial Achievement Air Force Commendation Air Force Achievement

Service medals	Air Force Combat Action Combat Readiness Good Conduct Air and Space Campaign Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal

Unit awards	Presidential Unit Citation Gallant Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Outstanding Unit Organizational Excellence

Service ribbons	Outstanding Airman of the Year Air Force Recognition Overseas Service Short Tour Overseas Service Long Tour Air Force Expeditionary Service Air Force Longevity Military Training Instructor Air Force Recruiter NCO PME Graduate Basic Training Honor Graduate Marksmanship Air Force Training