The Marine Corps ribbon order of precedence decides where every ribbon sits on your uniform, from the Medal of Honor down to your most recent training ribbon. Marines meet this system at every uniform inspection, meritorious board, and ceremony. Because the Marine Corps falls under the Department of the Navy, its rules share a lot with the Navy’s, though a few details are uniquely Marine Corps. This guide walks through where the official order comes from, how the categories work, the exact sequence of senior decorations, and how to gently check your own rack, one step at a time.
Quick Answer: Marine Corps ribbons follow a strict order of precedence, set by the Secretary of the Navy and detailed in the Marine Corps Awards Manual. You wear your highest award closest to your heart, on your left chest, with unit awards worn separately on the right. SECNAV M-1650.1 and MCO 1650.19 establish each award, while Marine Corps Uniform Regulations (MCO 1020.34) govern how you wear them.
What Is the Marine Corps Ribbon Order of Precedence?
Order of precedence is the official ranking of every award a Marine can earn. A senior award always sits above, and to the wearer’s right of, a junior one. The Medal of Honor outranks everything else in the Department of the Navy. When you earn a new award, it takes its assigned place, and everything below it simply shifts down.
This order matters for more than appearance. Inspectors compare your rack to the regulation, and a board often reads your rack before you say a word. Getting it right is a quiet way of showing you take your record seriously.
Which Publications Set the Marine Corps Order of Precedence?
A few official publications share the job:
- SECNAV M-1650.1 (Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual) lists the criteria for each personal decoration and its place in the precedence chart. The Navy and Marine Corps share this manual, since both fall under the Department of the Navy.
- MCO 1650.19 (Marine Corps Individual Decorations and Awards Manual) adds Marine Corps-specific guidance on top of the shared manual.
- Marine Corps Uniform Regulations (MCO 1020.34) govern how you wear each award on every uniform, including placement and spacing.
Together, these publications tell you what you’ve earned and exactly where it goes. Veterans and active-duty Marines can both verify their record. Marine Online (MOL) holds your official service record if you’re currently serving, and your DD-214 lists your awards if you’ve since separated or retired.
How Does the Marine Corps Group Awards by Category?
The Marine Corps ranks whole categories first, then ranks the awards inside each one. The categories run in this order:
- Personal military decorations, ending with the Combat Action Ribbon
- Unit awards, such as the Presidential Unit Citation and Navy Unit Commendation
- The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
- Campaign and service medals
- Service and training ribbons
- Foreign decorations and awards
- Marksmanship awards, which sit at the very end of the rack
Because the Marine Corps and Navy share the same governing manual, this category structure closely matches the one in our companion guide on the Navy ribbon order of precedence. A few Marine Corps-specific ribbons, like the Marine Corps Security Guard Ribbon and the Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon, slot into the service ribbons category.
What Is the Order of the Top Marine Corps Decorations?
Within personal decorations, the senior awards run in this sequence:
- Medal of Honor
- Navy Cross
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal
- Navy Distinguished Service Medal
- Silver Star Medal
- Defense Superior Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Navy and Marine Corps Medal
- Bronze Star Medal
- Purple Heart
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal
- Navy and Marine Corps Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Medal
- Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
- Joint Service Achievement Medal
- Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
The Combat Action Ribbon closes out the personal decorations category. After it come unit awards, then the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, then campaign and service medals like the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals. Service and training ribbons follow, including the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Marine Corps-specific ribbons like the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.
You’ll find every one of these, already arranged in this order, on our Marine Corps ribbons catalog.
Personal Decorations and Unit Awards Belong on Different Sides
Personal decorations and unit awards don’t share the same spot on your uniform. Your personal decorations, like the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal or the Combat Action Ribbon, sit on your left chest. Unit awards, like the Presidential Unit Citation or the Navy Unit Commendation, sit separately on your right chest.
Both groups still follow their own internal order of precedence. But if your record includes both types, you’ll need two separate ribbon sets, not one combined rack. It’s an easy detail to overlook, and it’s one we’re always glad to help you sort out before you order.
How Do You Wear Marine Corps Ribbons Correctly?
Marine Corps Uniform Regulations set a few key rules:
- Wear ribbons in horizontal rows of three, centered above the left breast pocket.
- Place your senior ribbon at the top, on the wearer’s right (the viewer’s left).
- Center an incomplete top row of one or two ribbons over the row beneath it.
- Add devices, like gold and silver stars, exactly as your orders authorize. A gold star marks a second award of the same decoration. Five gold stars convert to a single silver star. A bronze letter “V” marks an award for valor.
- Keep unit awards on the right chest, arranged by their own precedence.
- Never reorder ribbons for looks. Precedence always controls placement, gently and consistently, for every Marine.
How Do You Check Your Own Marine Corps Rack, Step by Step?
Whenever you earn a new award or prepare for an inspection, this five-step check can help:
- Pull your record. Log in to Marine Online if you’re on active duty. Veterans can check their DD-214.
- List every award. Include unit awards, the Good Conduct Medal, campaign medals, and training ribbons.
- Match your list to the current chart. Compare it against the precedence list above, or against our Marine Corps ribbons page.
- Verify your devices. Confirm your gold stars, silver stars, and Combat “V” devices against your official orders.
- Rebuild the rack. Mount everything in rows of three with the senior award on top, or let our rack builder sequence it for you automatically.
Build Your Marine Corps Rack the Easy Way
You don’t need to memorize the full chart. Our Build Your Rack tool already holds the current Marine Corps ribbon order of precedence for every award. Select your ribbons, add your devices, and we mount your rack thin, aligned, and ready to wear.
Build Your Marine Corps Ribbon Rack now →
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Super Thin Ribbons is a U.S.-based company, headquartered at 1602 Loop 11, Wichita Falls, Texas 76306. You can reach our team directly at 940-851-6220 or sales@superthinribbons.com. We design, build, and ship every rack from our Texas facility, using Institute of Heraldry-approved materials, for Marines, veterans, and their families across the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest Marine Corps ribbon or award?
The Medal of Honor holds the top spot in the order of precedence. The Navy Cross follows as the second-highest award for combat valor.
Where does the Combat Action Ribbon rank?
The Combat Action Ribbon closes out the personal decorations category. It follows the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and comes before all unit awards.
Do personal decorations and unit awards go in the same place?
No. Personal decorations sit on your left chest. Unit awards, like the Presidential Unit Citation, sit separately on your right chest.
What regulation governs Marine Corps ribbon order?
SECNAV M-1650.1 and MCO 1650.19 establish the awards and their places in the chart. Marine Corps Uniform Regulations (MCO 1020.34) set the wear and placement rules.
How many ribbons do Marines wear per row?
Marines wear ribbons in rows of three, centered above the left breast pocket, with the senior ribbon at the top.
What does a gold star mean on a Marine Corps ribbon?
A gold star marks a second award of the same personal decoration. Five gold stars convert to one silver star.
Where do marksmanship awards rank?
Marksmanship awards sit at the very end of the rack, after service and training ribbons and foreign decorations.
To every Marine, veteran, and retiree checking your rack today: thank you for your service. We’re honored to help you wear it correctly, in the order it deserves.