Combat Action Ribbon

The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal decoration awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard (when operating under the control of the Navy) who, in the grade of Captain (or Colonel in the Marine Corps) and below, have actively participated in ground or surface combat.

Personnel who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge while a member of the United States Army may be authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon. The principal criterion is that the recipient must have participated in a bona fide ground or surface combat firefight or in an action during which he was under enemy fire and his performance while under fire was satisfactory.

Additional decorations of the Combat Action Ribbon are denoted by gold and silver award stars.

See also: Awards and decorations of the United States military