If you are a Guardian trying to figure out your ribbon rack, you are not alone. The Space Force is still one of the youngest branches in U.S. military history, and the ribbon order of precedence does not get nearly enough clear, practical coverage online. This guide breaks it all down: what ribbons Guardians wear, how they rank, what carries over from other branches, and how to build your rack correctly.
What Is the Order of Precedence and Why Does It Matter?
The order of precedence is the official ranking of military awards. It determines which ribbons sit where on your uniform, highest honour top right, moving left and down from there. Wear them in the wrong order, and you are out of regulation. It is not just a formality. Inspections happen. Promotions matter. Your rack needs to be right.
For Space Force Guardians, the governing document is SPFI 36-2903, the Space Force’s own dress and appearance instruction published in 2025. Before that, Guardians followed the Air Force’s DAFI 36-2903. The key takeaway: Space Force now has its own regulation, but the ribbon framework still runs in close parallel with the Air Force and the Department of the Air Force (DAF) award system.
SPFI 36-2903 is the regulation Guardians follow for dress and appearance
Space Force Ribbon Order of Precedence: The Full Breakdown
Because the Space Force was established in December 2019, it does not yet have a large library of branch-specific medals. Guardians wear a mix of Department of the Air Force awards, joint service awards, and campaign/service medals — all arranged by official precedence.
Here is how the categories stack, highest to lowest:
1. Personal Decorations (Highest Precedence)
These are the awards given for individual acts of valour, meritorious service, or distinguished achievement. They sit at the top of the rack. For Guardians, these include:
- Medal of Honor — the highest military decoration in the United States, awarded by the President for acts of valor at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty; worn first on every rack
- Air and Space Cross Medal— awarded for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; equivalent to the Army’s Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross
- Defense Distinguished Service Medal — awarded for exceptionally meritorious service to the U.S. government in a position of major national or international responsibility; a joint-service award presented by the Secretary of Defense.
- Air and Space Distinguished Service Medal — recognizes exceptionally meritorious service in a position of great responsibility within the Air and Space Forces; typically awarded at the senior officer level
- Silver Star Medal — the third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat against an armed enemy; awarded across all branches for gallantry in action
- Defense Superior Service Medal — recognizes superior meritorious service in a position of significant joint responsibility; one step below the Legion of Merit in the joint awards hierarchy
- Legion of Merit — awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services; one of the few U.S. military decorations also regularly awarded to foreign military personnel
- Distinguished Flying Cross — awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight; highly relevant for Guardians with aviation or space operations backgrounds
- Airman’s Medal — awarded for acts of heroism involving voluntary risk of life under conditions other than conflict with an armed enemy; the non-combat valor award for the Air and Space Forces
- Bronze Star Medal — one of the most commonly held decorations for Guardians with prior service or combat deployments; awarded for heroic or meritorious service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy
- Purple Heart — awarded to service members wounded or killed as a direct result of enemy action; one of the oldest and most recognized military decorations in American history
- Defense Meritorious Service Medal — the joint-service equivalent of the branch-level Meritorious Service Medal; awarded for non-combat meritorious achievement or service while assigned to a joint command
- Meritorious Service Medal — recognizes outstanding non-combat meritorious achievement or service; awarded for sustained performance that reflects great credit on the Air and Space Forces
- Air Medal — awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight; commonly held by Guardians with aviation or remotely piloted aircraft backgrounds
- Aerial Achievement Medal — awarded for sustained meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight; sits just below the Air Medal in precedence
- Joint Service Commendation Medal — awarded by a joint command for meritorious achievement or service; the joint-service equivalent of the branch-level commendation medals
- Air and Space Commendation Medal — one of the most commonly held Guardian decorations; awarded for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service that do not meet the threshold for a higher decoration
- Joint Service Achievement Medal — the joint-service counterpart to the Air and Space Achievement Medal; awarded by joint commands for meritorious achievement or service
- Air and Space Achievement Medal — the entry-level personal decoration for Guardians and Airmen; awarded for outstanding achievement or meritorious service below the level required for a Commendation Medal
- Air and Space Combat Action Medal— awarded to Guardians and Airmen who actively engage or are engaged by the enemy; recognizes direct participation in ground or air combat
2. Unit Awards
Unit awards recognize the collective achievement of a squadron, group, or wing. They sit below personal decorations.
- Presidential Unit Citation — the highest unit award; presented to units that displayed extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy, equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross for individuals
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award — awarded to joint units for meritorious achievement or service in joint military operations; the unit-level equivalent of the Joint Service Commendation Medal
- Gallant Unit Citation — awarded to Air and Space Forces units that displayed gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in support of military operations
- Meritorious Unit Award — recognizes units that have performed exceptionally meritorious service in support of military operations, at a level below that required for the Outstanding Unit Award
- Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award — the most prestigious Air and Space Forces unit award; recognizes units that performed exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding results in combat or a specific accomplishment
- Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award — awarded to unique, unnumbered organizations that perform functions normally carried out by numbered wings, groups, or squadrons, and do so with exceptional distinction
3. POW Medal
The Prisoner of War Medal is worn immediately after unit awards, before Good Conduct and campaign medals. It is awarded to any service member taken prisoner during an armed conflict.
The Combat Readiness Medal follows the POW Medal. It is awarded to Guardians and Airmen who maintain combat or mission readiness in primary wartime duties during a specified period.
3a. Good Conduct Medal
The U.S. Space Force Good Conduct Medal is the branch-specific good conduct award for Guardians. It is awarded for three years of continuous honorable and faithful service. This is a Space Force-only medal — Guardians do not wear the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. If you transferred from another branch, you may also wear your prior branch’s Good Conduct Medal, placed after the Space Force version.
4. Campaign and Service Medals
These are the medals tied to specific operations, conflicts, or periods of service. For Guardians, the full list includes joint and service medals earned across their career — including any earned during prior service in another branch.
- National Defense Service Medal — awarded for honorable active service during a defined period of national emergency; one of the most widely held medals across all branches
- Kosovo Campaign Medal — awarded for service in or around Kosovo in support of NATO operations during designated periods
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal — awarded for service in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Freedom’s Sentinel during designated campaign periods
- Iraq Campaign Medal — awarded for service in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation New Dawn during designated campaign periods
- Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal — awarded for service in designated areas in support of Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS/ISIL
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal — awarded to service members who deployed to designated areas in support of Global War on Terrorism operations after September 11, 2001
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal — awarded to service members who supported GWOT operations from a non-deployed, stateside or non-combat location
- Korean Defense Service Medal — awarded for service on the Korean Peninsula in defense of the Republic of Korea
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal — recognizes participation in U.S. military operations in areas where no specific campaign medal has been authorized
- Armed Forces Service Medal — awarded to service members who participate in significant military operations that do not involve armed conflict against an opposing foreign force
- Humanitarian Service Medal — awarded for direct participation in a significant military act or operation of a humanitarian nature
- Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal — awarded for outstanding volunteer service to the civilian community over a sustained period; a commonly overlooked ribbon that many Guardians qualify for.
- Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal — recognizes service members who conduct or support remote combat operations, including space-based and cyber effects; a growing and increasingly relevant mission area for Guardians.
- Air and Space Campaign Medal — awarded for participation in designated Air and Space Forces operations; a newer campaign medal relevant to Guardians supporting space-domain operations
- Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal — particularly relevant for Guardians; awarded to service members who directly support nuclear deterrence operations, a mission set central to the Space Force
5. Service Ribbons
These ribbons recognize service periods, overseas assignments, and special duties rather than specific achievements.
- Outstanding Airman of the Year Ribbon — awarded to Guardians and Airmen selected as outstanding performers through the annual 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year recognition program at the Air Force or Space Force level
- Air and Space Recognition Ribbon — awarded to Guardians and Airmen who receive non-portable awards for accomplishment and excellence during active duty service
- Air and Space Overseas Ribbon — Short Tour — awarded for completion of a short overseas tour of duty at a designated overseas location
- Air and Space Overseas Ribbon — Long Tour — awarded for completion of a long tour of duty at an overseas location as defined by Department of the Air Force regulations
- Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon — awarded to Guardians and Airmen who complete a standard contingency deployment of 45 consecutive days or 90 non-consecutive days in a deployed status
- Air and Space Longevity Service Award — awarded for every four years of creditable military service; one of the most commonly worn service ribbons on a Guardian’s rack
- Developmental Special Duty Ribbon — recognizes Guardians and Airmen who serve in approved special duty assignments outside their primary career field
- Air and Space Basic Military Training Instructor Ribbon — awarded to personnel who served as a military training instructor at Basic Military Training; carried over for Guardians who held this role before transferring
- Air and Space Recruiting Ribbon — awarded to personnel who served as an active duty or reserve recruiter; carried over for Guardians with prior recruiting duty
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal — awarded to reserve component Guardians who complete a total of ten years of honorable reserve service
- Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal — awarded to reserve component Guardians for outstanding meritorious service performed over an extended period while serving in the Air Reserve Forces
- USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon — awarded to non-commissioned officers who complete specified professional military education courses; a numerical device is added for each additional course completed
- Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon — awarded to enlisted members who graduate in the top 10 per cent of their Basic Military Training class
6. Training Ribbons (Lowest Precedence)
- Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon — awarded to Guardians and Airmen who qualify as an expert with an authorized small arms weapon; a bronze star device is added for each additional weapon qualification
- Air and Space Training Ribbon — every Guardian earns this upon completion of initial accession training; it sits at the very bottom of the rack above foreign awards
7. Foreign Military Awards
Worn last, after all U.S. awards. Placement follows specific guidance in SPFI 36-2903.
What Happens to Ribbons From a Previous Branch?
This is one of the most common questions Guardians have, especially those who transferred from the Air Force, Army, or Navy.
The answer: you keep them, but placement may change.
If you earned Army, Navy, or Marine Corps ribbons before transferring to the Space Force, you can still wear them on your Guardian uniform. However, they are placed after all Air and Space Forces awards in the order of precedence. The exact placement follows guidance in SPFI 36-2903 and is based on the joint service precedence framework.
One thing to note — the Air and Space Training Ribbon is not authorized to be worn on Marine Corps uniforms if you later serve there. Rules like this work in both directions depending on the receiving branch.
If you transferred from the Air Force, your transition is the smoothest — most Air Force ribbons carry directly over because the Space Force shares the Department of the Air Force award system.
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How to Wear Your Ribbon Rack as a Guardian
A few practical rules from SPFI 36-2903 that Guardians need to know:
Placement on the uniform: Ribbons are worn on the left chest of the Service Dress (Class A) uniform. The highest-precedence ribbon goes top right (from the wearer’s perspective), and the rack builds left and downward.
Badges and ribbons together: If you wear duty badges, the first badge is centered half an inch below the top of the welt pocket. Additional badges go above the first. The ribbon rack sits centered below the badges. Guardians can wear a maximum of two badges.
Miniature ribbons: On the Service Grey (Class B) uniform, miniature duty badges may be worn. Check SPFI 36-2903 for exact sizing and placement specifics.
Same-precedence ties: If two ribbons have equal precedence, the earlier award takes the higher position (top right), arranged by date received.
Foreign awards: Always worn last, after all U.S. decorations, regardless of how prestigious the foreign award is.
Thin Ribbons vs Standard Ribbons: Which Should Guardians Choose?
Your ribbons look better — and sit flatter — on a thin ribbon rack. Standard slide-on ribbons sit slightly proud of the chest and can shift around during wear. Thin ribbons mount as a single solid flat rack and lie completely flush against your uniform.
For Guardians who care about a clean, professional look on the Service Dress, thin ribbons are the better option. They are regulation-compliant across all branches, Space Force included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the Space Force have its own unique ribbons?
A: Yes. The U.S. Space Force Good Conduct Medal is a branch-specific award that Guardians earn separately from the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. The Space Force also shares most of its decorations with the Department of the Air Force award system, including the Air and Space Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, and Air and Space Commendation Medal.
Q: What regulation governs Space Force ribbon wear?
A: SPFI 36-2903, the Space Force Instruction for Dress and Appearance, published in August 2025. This replaced the previous system where Guardians followed the Air Force’s DAFI 36-2903.
Q: Can a Guardian wear ribbons earned in the Army or Navy?
A: Yes. Ribbons earned in a prior branch are still authorized for wear on the Guardian uniform. They are placed after all Air and Space Forces awards in the order of precedence, following joint service guidance.
Q: Where does the highest-precedence ribbon sit on the rack?
A: Top right from the wearer’s perspective. The rack builds to the left and then downward.
Q: Are thin ribbons authorized in the Space Force?
A: Yes. Thin ribbons are regulation-compliant in the Space Force as long as they follow the correct order of precedence and meet dimension requirements under SPFI 36-2903.
Q: What is the lowest-ranking ribbon a Guardian can earn?
A: The Air and Space Training Ribbon is the lowest-precedence U.S. award in the Space Force system, worn at the bottom of the rack above any foreign military awards.
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Sources: SPFI 36-2903 (Space Force Instruction, Dress and Appearance, 2025); Department of the Air Force awards and decorations framework; DAFMAN 36-2806.