Navy Expeditionary Medal
Encyclopedia
The Navy Expeditionary Medal is an award of the United States Navy
which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy. The medal will be awarded to the officers and enlisted men of the Navy and Marine Corps who shall have actually landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition, or operated under circumstances which, after full consideration, shall be deemed to merit special recognition and for which service no campaign medal has been awarded.
The Navy Expeditionary Medal is retroactively authorized to February 12, 1874. The medal is one of the few Navy awards which is not bestowed to the United States Marine Corps
, as Marine Corps personnel are eligible for the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
. In addition, since 1961, some Navy commands permit service members to choose between the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
for participation in certain operations. Both awards may not be bestowed simultaneously for the same action.
Additional awards of the Navy Expeditionary Medal are denoted by service stars. The Wake Island Device
is authorized for those service members who were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal through the defense of Wake Island
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
which was first created in August 1936 by General Orders of the Department of the Navy. The medal will be awarded to the officers and enlisted men of the Navy and Marine Corps who shall have actually landed on foreign territory and engaged in operations against armed opposition, or operated under circumstances which, after full consideration, shall be deemed to merit special recognition and for which service no campaign medal has been awarded.
The Navy Expeditionary Medal is retroactively authorized to February 12, 1874. The medal is one of the few Navy awards which is not bestowed to the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, as Marine Corps personnel are eligible for the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
The Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal is a decoration of the United States Marine Corps which was first created on 8 May 1919. Originally known as the Marine Corps Expeditionary Ribbon, a full-sized medal was authorized in July 1921 by Presidential Order of Warren G. Harding...
. In addition, since 1961, some Navy commands permit service members to choose between the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
for participation in certain operations. Both awards may not be bestowed simultaneously for the same action.
Additional awards of the Navy Expeditionary Medal are denoted by service stars. The Wake Island Device
Wake Island Device
The Wake Island Device is an award of the United States military which is presented as a campaign clasp to both the Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medals....
is authorized for those service members who were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal through the defense of Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
.