If you’ve ever paused while arranging your ribbons and wondered, “Is this really the right order?” — you’re in good company. Even Airmen and Guardians with many years of service take a moment to double-check, because the U.S. Air Force ribbon order of precedence is detailed, and it’s meant to be followed carefully, not memorized perfectly on the first try.
This order is laid out in Department of the Air Force regulation DAFI 36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program, and it’s the same standard every rack is measured against, from a first-term Airman’s very first ribbon to a senior NCO’s full career display.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the order of precedence together, and then take a closer, gentler look at a spot that understandably confuses many people: where the “Achievement” awards belong. It’s a small detail, but getting it right is one more way to honor the career it represents.
What “Order of Precedence” Means
Order of precedence is simply the official sequence every U.S. military decoration, medal, and ribbon is worn in, from the Medal of Honor at the top, down through service and campaign medals. Ribbons are arranged top to bottom, left to right, in this exact sequence, regardless of when each one was earned.
For the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, this sequence is set by the Secretary of the Air Force and maintained by the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC). Whether you’re building your very first rack or refreshing one after a promotion, the same respectful standard applies to everyone.
The U.S. Air Force Order of Precedence (Top Tiers)
Here is how the upper portion of the precedence chart reads, from highest to most senior-junior:
- Medal of Honor
- Air Force Cross
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
- Silver Star Medal
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Airman’s Medal
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Medal
- Aerial Achievement Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Air and Space Commendation Medal
- Joint Service Achievement Medal
- Air and Space Achievement Medal
- Air and Space Combat Action Medal
From there, the order continues gracefully through unit awards (such as the Air and Space Meritorious Unit Award), the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, and campaign and service medals like the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism ribbons.
For your convenience, we keep our full Air Force ribbons page listed in this same official order, so you’re always welcome to scroll through it at your own pace as a quiet reference.
Where the Achievement Awards Belong
This is the part we’re happy to slow down and explain clearly, because it’s a genuinely easy point to mix up even for those who know their career well. Two different medals include the word “Achievement,” and they sit in very different places on the chart.
Aerial Achievement Medal — Rank #15
The Aerial Achievement Medal holds a senior position, ranking just below the Air Medal and above every commendation medal. It honors sustained superior airmanship during aerial flight, and it is earned primarily by aircrew. Because the name is so similar to the medal below, it’s often placed lower than it should be a very understandable mix-up, and one we’re glad to help clear up.
Air and Space Achievement Medal — Rank #19
The Air and Space Achievement Medal — still fondly known by its earlier name, the Air Force Achievement Medal (AFAM) — is the medal most people have in mind when they think of an “achievement medal.” It’s placed after both the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Air and Space Commendation Medal, and just after the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
This medal recognizes outstanding achievement or meritorious service, often earned early in a career by enlisted members, junior NCOs, and company-grade officers. It’s one of the most widely earned ribbons in the Air Force, and it’s worn with just as much pride as any other; placing it correctly is simply a quiet way of showing that same pride and care.
A Gentle Side-by-Side Comparison
| Medal | Precedence Rank | Typically Earned By | Recognizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Achievement Medal | #15 (above all commendation medals) | Aircrew | Sustained achievement during aerial flight |
| Joint Service Achievement Medal | #18 | Junior enlisted and company-grade officers on joint assignments | Achievement or meritorious service in a joint-duty role |
| Air and Space Achievement Medal (formerly AFAM) | #19 | Junior enlisted and company-grade officers, Air Force/Space Force | Outstanding achievement or meritorious service |
If your career also includes an Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard achievement medal from a joint assignment, those are welcome at the same tier as well; each one is listed, in its proper place, in our Air Force ribbons page.
Why This Small Detail Is Worth the Care
Your rack tells a quiet story about your service, and a little extra care in how it’s arranged is simply a way of honoring that story. Precedence can feel like a lot to hold in mind all at once, especially with a long and accomplished career’s worth of ribbons — and that’s completely understandable. It’s also exactly why we’re here to help.
We’re Happy to Help You Get It Right
At Super Thin Ribbons, we build every rack to exact military precedence, with correct ribbon dimensions and mounting, and a low-profile design trusted by active-duty Airmen, Guardians, veterans, and retirees across the United States. Simply select the ribbons you’ve earned, and our Build Your Rack tool will gently arrange them into the correct order of precedence for you.
Build Your Ribbon Rack now with our easiest rack builder →
Every order is thoughtfully designed, built, and shipped from our facility in Wichita Falls, Texas, using Institute of Heraldry–approved materials, with genuine respect for the career each rack represents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the correct order of precedence for Air Force ribbons?
It’s the official sequence set by the Department of the Air Force under DAFI 36-2803, beginning with the Medal of Honor and continuing through valor awards, meritorious and achievement medals, unit awards, and campaign and service medals. Our Air Force ribbons page lists every ribbon in this same order, for easy reference.
Which ranks higher: the Air Force Commendation Medal or the Achievement Medal?
The Commendation Medal (now the Air and Space Commendation Medal) sits slightly higher. The Air and Space Achievement Medal (formerly the Air Force Achievement Medal) is placed just after it, along with the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
What’s the difference between the Aerial Achievement Medal and the Air Force Achievement Medal?
They’re two distinct honors that simply share a similar name. The Aerial Achievement Medal recognizes aircrew for sustained achievement in flight and holds a senior position above the commendation medals. The Air and Space Achievement Medal (AFAM) is a separate award, recognizing outstanding achievement or meritorious service, typically earned earlier in a career.
Do Space Force members follow the same order of precedence?
Yes, with warmth and consistency, the Space Force follows the same Department of the Air Force precedence structure, which is why several awards, such as the Air and Space Achievement Medal and Air and Space Commendation Medal, carry the “Air and Space” designation.
Where can I find a ribbon rack that’s already arranged correctly?
At SuperthinRibbons, the Build Your Rack tool is here whenever you’re ready; simply choose the ribbons you’ve earned, and we’ll arrange them to regulation precedence for you, ready to mount onto your uniform.
To every Airman, Guardian, veteran, and retiree, thank you, sincerely, for your service. Your ribbons tell the story of a career we’re honored to help you display, in the order it deserves.