Unit Awards

The PUC, NUC, and MUC and What They Mean  

Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) Ribbon Synopsis:

Awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps for outstanding performance in action. This award may also be conferred upon units of Armed Forces of friendly foreign nations serving with the Armed Forces of the United States for outstanding performance in action, provided that such units shall meet the standards established for the Armed Forces of the United States. To justify citation, the unit must have clearly rendered itself conspicuous by action of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of a Navy Cross to an individual. The performance of duty in carrying out a mission under the ordinary hazards of war, or participation in extended periods of combat duty, or in a large number of combat missions does not itself justify the award, which is designated to recognize specific acts of heroism on the part of the unit acting as a team. An award will not be made to a unit for action of one or more of its component parts, unless such unit performed as a total team in a manner justifying the award. Click on unit logos above for eligibility.

Naval Unit Commendation (NUC) Ribbon Synopsis:

Awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps which has distinguished itself by outstanding heroism is action against the enemy, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation; or to any such unit which has distinguished itself by extremely meritorious service not involving combat but in support of military operations, rendering the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service. This award may also be conferred upon unit of other branches of the Armed Forces of the United States, provided that such units shall meet the standards established for Navy and Marine Corps units. To justify this award, the unit must have performed service as a unit of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of the Silver Star Medal or a Legion of Merit to an individual. Normal performance of duty or in a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the award. An award will not be made to a unit for actions of one or more of its component parts, unless such unit performed as a total team in a manner justifying the award. Click on unit logos above for eligibility.

Meritorious Unit Citation (MUC) Ribbon Synopsis:

Awarded by the Secretary of the Navy to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps which has distinguished itself, under combat or non-combat conditions, by either valorous or meritorious achievement which renders the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Navy Unit Commendation. This award may also maybe conferred upon units of the other branches of the Armed Forces of the United States and of friendly foreign nations serving with the Armed Forces of the United States, provided that such units shall meet the standards established for Navy and Marine Corps units. To justify this award, the service performed as a unit must be of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of the Bronze Star Medal, or achievement of like caliber in a non-combat situation, to an individual. Normal performance of duty or a large number of combat missions does not in itself justify the award. An award will not be made to a unit for actions of one or more of its component parts, unless such unit performed as a total team in a manner justifying the award. Click on unit logos above for eligibility.

Republic

Awarded to all personnel assigned or attached to the following units, during the period shown, are authorized to wear the ribbon bar, Gallantry Medal Color, with Palm and Gold Frame.

Headquarters, US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam AND SUBORDINATE COMMANDS IN DIRECT SUPPORT are eligible to participate in the award only during the period actually served ashore in the Republic of Vietnam

Combat Action Ribbon

Common questions about the Combat Action Ribbon and who rates it:

Reference:

(a). Letter, Dept of the Navy, Office of the Secretary, SUBJECT: Guidance to Administer the Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) IAW Public Law 106-65, dated 13 march 2000

(b). SECNAVINST 1650.1F, Dated 8 August 1991

1 Considering the dates prescribed in the legislation, the following combat periods, which were approved under prior direction, are approved to consider awarding of the CAR:

World War II 07 December 1941 through 14 April 1946

Korean War 27 June 1950 through 27 July 1954

2 Per reference (b) above, paragraph 14 (Page 2-20) of said reference states:

a. Eligibility Requirements

(1). Awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in the grade of captain/colonel and junior thereto, who have actively participated in ground or surface combat. Upon submission of evidence to their commanding officer, personnel who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB) or Combat Medical Badge (CMB) while a member of the US Army may be authorized to wear the CAR.

(2). The principal eligibility criterion is that the individual must have participated in a bona fide ground or surface combat fire fight or action during which he or she was under enemy fire AND his/her performance while under fire was satisfactory. The following amplifying remarks are furnished as guidance.

(a). Personnel in riverine and coastal operations, assaults, patrols, sweeps, ambushes, convoys, amphibious landings, and similar activities who have participated in fire fights are eligible.

(b). Personnel assigned to areas subjected to sustained mortar, missile, and artillery attacks actively participate in retaliatory or offensive actions are eligible.

(c). Personnel in clandestine or special operations such as reconnaissance and SEAL teams are eligible when the risk of enemy fire was great and was expected to be encountered.

(d). (Does not pertain to ground forces)

(e). Personnel eligible for the award of the Purple Heart WOULD NOT necessarily qualify for the CAR.

(f). (Does not pertain to ground forces)

b. Operations. An individual whose eligibility has been established in combat in any of the following listed operations, is authorized the award of the CAR. Only one award per operation is authorized. Subsequent awards will be indicated by the use of a Gold Star on the ribbon:

(1). Southeast Asia, from 1 March 1961 to 15 August 1973

(5). Operation FREQUENT WIND (Evacuation of Saigon), 29 and 30 April 1975

(Note: Other Operations do not pertain to the Vietnam Era)

Vietnam Service Medal

Common questions about the number of campaign stars for the Vietnam Service Medal:

List of Authorized Campaign Stars

Note: A Bronze Star, 3/16 – inch in diameter, is authorized to be worn on the suspension ribbon and ribbon bar of the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) for each of the following campaigns. A Silver Star, 3/16 – inch in diameter, is authorized for wear in place of five (5) Bronze Stars when a total of five (5) campaigns have been recognized.

Eligibility Requirements:

Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States serving at anytime between 03Jul1965 and 28Mar1973 in the area defined under the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM) for Vietnam.

Awarded to all members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air space thereof, between 03Jul1965 and 28Mar1973 and 29Apr75 thru 30April75, serving in direct support of operations in Vietnam.

Members qualified for the AFEM by reason of service between 01Jul1958 and 03Jul1965 (inclusive) in an area for which the Vietnam Service medal (VSM) was subsequently authorized shall remain qualified for that medal. Upon application, any such member may be awarded the VSM in lieu of the AFEM for such service. However, no person shall be entitled to both awards for service in an area for which the VSM has been authorized.

Campaign Stars are authorized for Ain-country personnel@ for periods as indicated below: