| inch star | |
| Presenter: | United States |
| Type: | Ribbon device |
| Awarded For: | to denote a subsequent decoration. |
| Status: | Currently in use |
A inch star (9.7mm) is a miniature gold or silver five-pointed star that is authorized by the United States Armed Forces as a ribbon device to denote subsequent awards for specific decorations of the Department of the Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.[1] [2] [3] [4] A gold star indicates a second or subsequent decoration, while a silver star is worn in lieu of five gold stars.
A (inch) silver star is not to be confused with representing a Silver Star Medal (Silver Star).[5]
inch stars are worn on a medal suspension and service ribbon with one point of the star pointing up. Up to five stars can be worn on a ribbon. There are no higher degrees of stars authorized after five silver stars. On miniature medals, a special star is worn on the medal's suspension ribbon in lieu of a star.[6] If the number of authorized stars exceeds five, a second service ribbon is worn after the first service ribbon. The second service ribbon counts as one additional personal award, after which more stars may be added to the second ribbon. If future awards reduce the number of stars worn on the first ribbon due to gold stars being replaced by a silver star, the second service ribbon is removed and the appropriate number of star devices are placed on the first service ribbon. When bronze or gold stars or bronze oak leaf cluster attachments are worn in addition to a silver star or silver oak leaf attachment, the bronze or gold stars (bronze oak leaf clusters) are arranged symmetrically on the ribbon in relation to the centered silver device. For example: The first star (cluster) to the wearer's right of the centered silver device; the second to the wearer's left, etc.[7]
The following are examples of the first through twenty-sixth awards of a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with the gold and silver inch stars:
| First award | ||
| Second award | ||
| Third award | ||
| Fourth award | ||
| Fifth award | ||
| Sixth award | ||
| Seventh award | ||
| Eighth award | ||
| Ninth award | ||
| Tenth award | ||
| Eleventh award | ||
| Twelfth award | ||
| Thirteenth award | ||
| Fourteenth award | ||
| Fifteenth award | ||
| Sixteenth award | ||
| Seventeenth award | ||
| Eighteenth award | ||
| Nineteenth award | ||
| Twentieth award | ||
| Twenty-first award | ||
| Twenty-second award | ||
| Twenty-third award | ||
| Twenty-fourth award | ||
| Twenty-fifth award | ||
| Twenty-sixth award |
inch stars are authorized for wear on the following United States Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration decorations (inch stars are not authorized for wear on non-decorations when a subsequent decoration is awarded to members of the seven uniformed services: the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The US Army and US Air Force use an oak leaf cluster to indicate a subsequent decoration (oak leaf clusters are also authorized for wear on some non-decorations); a bronze oak leaf cluster is equivalent to a gold star and a silver oak leaf cluster is equivalent to a silver star.
| Navy and Marine Corps personnel | Coast Guard personnel | Public Health Service personnel | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel[8] | Army and Air Force personnel[9] [10] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal | Navy or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal | Navy, Coast Guard, or PHS Distinguished Service Medal | Navy or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal | ||
| Silver Star | Silver Star Medal | Silver Star Medal | |||
| Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | Legion of Merit | |||
| Distinguished Flying Cross | Distinguished Flying Cross | Distinguished Flying Cross | |||
| Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal | ||
| Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | Bronze Star Medal | |||
| Purple Heart Medal | Purple Heart | Purple Heart | |||
| Navy or Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal | Navy, Coast Guard, PHS, or NOAA Corps Meritorious Service Medal | Navy or Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal | |||
| NOAA Administrator's Award or Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal | |||||
| Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal | Public Health Service Outstanding Service Medal | ||||
| Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Commendation Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Commendation Medal | ||
| Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Achievement Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Achievement Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Achievement Medal | Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Achievement Medal | ||
| Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | Combat Action Ribbon | |||
| Public Health Service Citation, Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon, and NOAA Director's Ribbon | NOAA Director's Ribbon, Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon, and Public Health Service Citation |