Military medals are powerful symbols of service, sacrifice, and achievement. Full-size medals – the larger, official versions – are normally reserved for formal ceremonies, parades, and official military functions, while miniature medals (about half the size) are commonly worn with evening dress and at social occasions. Both represent the same awards and honors. The choice of […]
The National Defense Service Medal (NDSM) is a U.S. military service award established by President Eisenhower in 1953 to honor all honorable service during designated national emergencies. It has been issued for four major conflict periods – Korea, Vietnam, the 1990–91 Gulf War, and the post-9/11 war on terror – to millions of service members. […]
Military balls, dining-ins, formal dinners, and ceremonial events often require service members to wear a mess dress uniform. One of the most common questions is what medals to wear to mess dress. The answer depends on your branch of service, but there is one rule that applies almost everywhere: miniature medals are the standard choice […]
