Awards and decorations of the National Guard are presented to members of the United States National Guard and sometimes to members of the state defense forces in addition to regular United States military decorations. Each of the state governments of the United States maintains a series of military decorations for issuance to members of the National Guard, with such awards presented under the authority of the various state adjutants general.
Those National Guard soldiers and airmen who subsequently serve in the active or reserve federal forces of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or United States Air Force (i.e., as active duty or reserve members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard) may not continue to wear and display such decorations on a military uniform, unless such activation is under Title 32 status. Active duty regulations allow federal soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines to accept but not to wear state awards.
Most states authorize the wear of other states' awards if a soldier or airman has earned awards from a state or territory to which he or she is not presently assigned. The order of precedence is typically the presently assigned state, followed by awards from the District of Columbia, then other states by their order of admission.
The following is a list of National Guard decorations, as issued by each of the fifty United States; Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
Alabama National Guard State Awards:
Arizona National Guard State Awards:
Arizona Medal of Valor
Arizona Adjutant General's Medal
Arizona Distinguished Service Medal
Arizona Meritorious Service Medal
Arizona Exceptionally Long Service Medal
Arizona Long Service Medal
Arizona Service Ribbon
Arizona Military Academy Ribbon (OCS)
Arizona Military Academy Ribbon (NCO) (No longer awarded)
Arizona Southwest Asia Service Support Ribbon
Arizona State Active Duty Service Ribbon
Arizona Re-enlistment Ribbon
Arizona Community Service Ribbon
Arizona Initial Active Duty for Training Ribbon (No longer awarded)
Arizona Recruiting Ribbon
Arizona Honor Attendance Ribbon (No Longer Awarded)
Arkansas National Guard State Awards:
Arkansas Medal of Honor
Arkansas Military Medal
Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal
Arkansas Exceptional Service Medal
Arkansas Commendation Medal
Arkansas Federal Service Ribbon
Arkansas Service Ribbon
Arkansas Emergency Service Ribbon
Arkansas Homeland Defense Ribbon
Arkansas Recruiting Ribbon
California National Guard State Awards:
California Medal of Valor
California Military Cross
Order of California
CA Legion of Merit.
California Medal of Merit
California Commendation Medal
CA Achievement Medal
California Good Conduct Medal
California Service Medal
California Enlisted Trainers Excellence Ribbon
California Enlisted Excellence Ribbon
California Recruiting Achievement Ribbon
California National Guard Federal Service Ribbon
California State Service Ribbon
California Senior Enlisted Leadership Ribbon
California Counterdrug Service Ribbon
California Drill Attendance Ribbon
California Memorial Medal
California Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation
California Commanding General's Meritorious Unit Citation
Colorado National Guard State Awards:
Colorado Meritorious Conduct Medal
Colorado Meritorious Service Medal
Colorado Soldier/Airman of the Year Award
Colorado Commendation Ribbon
Colorado Achievement Ribbon
Colorado NCO Command Tour Ribbon
Colorado Active Service Medal
Colorado Long Service Medal
Colorado TAG Outstanding Unit Citation
Colorado State Emergency Service Ribbon
Colorado State Foreign Deployment Service Ribbon
Colorado State Mobilization Support Ribbon
Colorado Recruiting Ribbon
Connecticut National Guard State Awards:
Connecticut Medal of Valor
Connecticut Medal of Merit
Connecticut Mobilization Service Ribbon (Formerly the Connecticut Desert Storm Campaign Ribbon)
Connecticut Veteran Wartime Service Medal
Connecticut Long Service Ribbon
Connecticut Emergency Service Ribbon
Connecticut Selected Reserve Force Medal
Connecticut Outstanding Unit Award
Delaware National Guard State Awards:
Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross - Awarded for heroism, praiseworthy execution of duties over a period of time, or outstanding achievement which impacts the greater good of the State and its inhabitants.
Delaware Distinguished Service Medal - Awarded for praiseworthy execution of duties not to the extent of the DECSC or outstanding achievement of a single or specific act or accomplishment separate and distinct from regularly assigned duties for the greater good of the Delaware National Guard.
Delaware Medal for Military Merit - Awarded for meritorious service or outstanding achievement over a period of time not to the extent of the DECSC or DEDSM. Usually based on permanent change of assignment, completed period of service, or retirement. Awarded for every 10 years of honorable service. Recognizes a single, specific act or accomplishment separate from regularly assigned duties. To recognize proficiency in military studies, it is awarded to members who complete a military course of 80 hours or more and who are designated as "honor" or "distinguished honor" graduates.
Delaware National Guard Medal - Awarded to any member of the DENG who has been called to federal mobilization by the President of the United States.
Delaware National Defense Service Ribbon - Awarded to all members serving honorably in the DENG during the period 1 AUG 1990 to 31 AUG 1991, dates inclusive and 11 SEP 2001 to a date to be determined.
Delaware Medal for Service in Aid to Civil Authority - Awarded to any person serving in the DENG who has been called upon by the Governor to assist the civil authorities in the preservation of law and order.
Delaware Recruiting Ribbon - Awarded to individuals who have excelled in the field of recruiting in the DENG, and for those who are responsible for enlisting or appointing five individuals in the DENG.
Delaware Physical Fitness Ribbon - Awarded to all DENG members who distinguish themselves by scoring 250-300 points on the Army Physical Fitness Test.
Delaware National Guard Governor's Meritorious Unit Award - Awarded to those units which distinguish themselves by outstanding achievement above that of other similar units in the DENG. Unit must report an average assigned strength of over 90% per year, maintain not less than 90% paid drill attendance during the qualifying year, achieve a satisfactory rating on the General Inspection with no unsatisfactory ratings in any sub-areas, and attain the training level objective prescribed for the qualifying year.
Delaware National Guard Unit Strength Award - Awarded to those units which achieve and maintain 95% strength during the designated year, maintain not less than 80% paid drill attendance, and a re-enlistment rate of 75% for the period.
Subsequent Awards: Gold Star - The gold star represents subsequent entitlements for the Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross and the Delaware National Guard Medal. The gold star is 3/16" in diameter and will be affixed to the ribbon of the medal. Bronze Numerals - The bronze numeral represents subsequent entitlements of the Delaware Distinguished Service Medal, Delaware Medal for Military Merit, Delaware National Defense Service Ribbon, Delaware Medal for Service in Aid to Civil Authority, Delaware Recruiting Ribbon, and the Delaware Physical Fitness Ribbon. The bronze numeral is 3/16" in diameter and will be affixed to the ribbon of the medal.
District of Columbia National Guard District Awards:
District of Columbia Distinguished Service Medal
District of Columbia Meritorious Service Medal
District of Columbia Commendation Medal
District of Columbia Achievement Medal
District of Columbia Homeland Defense Medal (ribbon has three red stars in the center.
District of Columbia NCO Commendation Ribbon
District of Columbia Enlisted Excellence Ribbon
District of Columbia Long and Faithful Service Medal (one medal for three years, recognition for five years and additional five-year increments noted with Roman Numerals up to 45 years)
District of Columbia Emergency Service Ribbon (Deactivated)
District of Columbia Recognition Ribbon
District of Columbia Special Award Ribbon
District of Columbia Recruiting and Retention Ribbon (Deactivated)
District of Columbia Community Service Ribbon
District of Columbia Ceremonial/Drill Team/Color Guard Ribbon
District of Columbia Active Duty Ribbon (Deactivated)
District of Columbia Attendance Ribbon
District of Columbia Commanding General's Outstanding Unit Award
Florida National Guard State Awards:
Georgia National Guard State Awards:
Georgia Distinctive Service Medal
Georgia Oglethorpe Distinguished Service Medal
Georgia Medal for Valor
Georgia Injury Medal (approved but not issued)
Georgia Superior Service Medal (approved but not issued)
Georgia Meritorious Service Medal
Georgia DoD Commendation Medal (approved but not issued)
Georgia Commendation Medal
Georgia Distinguished Foreign Service Medal
Georgia Selected Reserve Force Ribbon
Georgia Special Operations Ribbon
Georgia Olympic Ribbon
Georgia Humanitarian Service Ribbon
Georgia Service Medal
Georgia Active Duty Ribbon
Georgia Counter Narcotics/Drug Support Service Ribbon
Georgia Recruiting
Georgia Distinguished Unit Ribbon
Guam Cross of Valor
Distinguished Service Medal of Guam
Guam Commendation Medal
Organizational Medal
Faithful Service Medal of Guam
Recruiting bar
Counter Drug Service
Operation Desert Storm Meritorious Service Medal
Hawaii National Guard State Awards:
Hawaii Medal of Honor
Hawaii Medal for Valor
Hawaii Distinguished Service Order
Hawaii Medal for Merit
Hawaii Commendation Medal
Hawaii Service Medal (type 2)
Hawaii State Active Duty Ribbon
Hawaii 1968 Federal Service Ribbon
Hawaii Active Duty Basic Training Ribbon
Hawaii Hurricane Iniki Ribbon
Hawaii Operation Kokua Ribbon
Hawaii Recruiting Ribbon
Idaho National Guard State Awards:
Idaho Cross
Idaho Distinguished Service Medal
Idaho Meritorious Service Medal
Idaho Emergency Service Ribbon
Idaho Army National Guard Recruiting Ribbon
Idaho Air National Guard Recruiting Ribbon
Idaho Reenlistment Ribbon
Idaho State Service Ribbon
Idaho Basic Training Ribbon
Idaho Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation
Idaho Adjutant General's Excellence Award
Awards and decorations of the Illinois National Guard:
