Service star
Encyclopedia
A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration
which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medal
s, service medal
s, ribbon awards, and certain military badges
. Service stars are different from award stars, which are issued for multiple awards of meritorious and combat decorations.
The United States military issues bronze and silver service stars, with a silver service star issued in lieu of five bronze.
The United States Army
also occasionally issues award numerals
or oak leaf clusters, instead of service stars, to denote multiple awards of certain ribbon decorations. In addition to award numerals, the United States Army uses the same Gold award star
that is worn on many Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard decorations to denote the tenth and final award of the Army Sea Duty Ribbon. Bronze stars are also used to denote combat jumps on the Jump Wings.
Service stars issued for actions in which a United States Navy
vessel participated are also placed on campaign streamer
s, which are affixed to the U.S. Navy flag
. The regulations for this originated in 1942, which defined naval campaign areas and designated engagements. Participation in such engagements, by ships and by individuals, was then denoted by service stars. The United States Army
followed a very similar practice with ground campaigns and battle engagements.
A common point of confusion is to confuse bronze and silver service stars with the Silver Star
and Bronze Star
. The main difference between the two is that the Bronze and Silver Star Medals are individual decorations while service stars are worn on awards and are not individual decorations or medals.
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...
which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medal
Campaign medal
A campaign medal is a military decoration which is awarded to a member of the military who serves in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theater...
s, service medal
Service medal
A service medal is a military award generally of the lowest degree. A service medal is awarded to a member of the military who joins the military, or is already serving, during a designated time period...
s, ribbon awards, and certain military badges
Military badges of the United States
Military badges of the United States are awards authorized by the United States armed forces that signify rating, qualification, or accomplishment in several career fields, and also serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments. Personal recognition is granted to...
. Service stars are different from award stars, which are issued for multiple awards of meritorious and combat decorations.
The United States military issues bronze and silver service stars, with a silver service star issued in lieu of five bronze.
- Use as a Campaign star: For instance, six campaigns, served on a campaign medal, would be annotated by one silver and one bronze service star. In some situations (e.g., the Southwest Asia Service MedalSouthwest Asia Service MedalThe Southwest Asia Service Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by order of President George H.W. Bush on March 12, 1991. The award is intended to recognize those military service members who performed duty during the years of the Persian Gulf War...
, which is a campaign medal/ribbon), each recipient is entitled to at least one campaign star. Thus, a Southwest Asia Service Medal without at least one bronze star would be inappropriate. - Use as a Service star: For instance, three awards of a Sea Service RibbonSea Service RibbonA Sea Service Ribbon is an award of the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and the United States Army which recognizes those service members who have performed military duty while stationed on a vessel at sea....
would be annotated by the ribbon with two bronze service stars. In some situations, service stars are only issued after the second award of a decoration.
The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
also occasionally issues award numerals
Award numerals
Award numerals are decorations of the United States military which are attachments to certain ribbons and awards. Award numerals denote repeated decorations of the same award and appear as arabic numerals on a medal or ribbon. Award numerals are very similar to the Strike/Flight numerals of the...
or oak leaf clusters, instead of service stars, to denote multiple awards of certain ribbon decorations. In addition to award numerals, the United States Army uses the same Gold award star
Award star
An award star is a decoration issued to personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in lieu of multiple awards of the same award. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose in the United States Army and United States Air Force...
that is worn on many Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard decorations to denote the tenth and final award of the Army Sea Duty Ribbon. Bronze stars are also used to denote combat jumps on the Jump Wings.
Service stars issued for actions in which a United States Navy
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...
vessel participated are also placed on campaign streamer
Campaign streamer
Campaign streamers are decorations attached to military flags to recognize particular achievements or events of a military unit or service. Attached to the headpiece of the assigned flag, the streamer often is an inscribed ribbon with the name and date denoting participation in a particular battle,...
s, which are affixed to the U.S. Navy flag
Flag of the United States Navy
The flag of the United States Navy consists of the Seal of the Department of the Navy in the center, above a yellow scroll inscribed "United States Navy" in dark blue letters, against a dark blue background....
. The regulations for this originated in 1942, which defined naval campaign areas and designated engagements. Participation in such engagements, by ships and by individuals, was then denoted by service stars. The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
followed a very similar practice with ground campaigns and battle engagements.
A common point of confusion is to confuse bronze and silver service stars with the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
and Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
. The main difference between the two is that the Bronze and Silver Star Medals are individual decorations while service stars are worn on awards and are not individual decorations or medals.