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The U.S. Military offers its military personnel medals for conduct both in terms of service as well as conduct above and beyond the call of duty (i.e. meritorious service).
The most famous of course is the medal of honor, a large gold medal on a wide blue ribbon worn about the neck. The full size medal ribbon has white stars emblazoned at intervals. There is only a smaller uniform ribbon consisting of the same light blue background with white stars. There is no minature medal available so the wearer must choose between wearing the full sized drape or the smaller "board" ribbon.
All other medals consist of the full size version which is approximately 1.5 inch wide by 3 to 5 inches long ribbon connected to a medal device such a 1.5-2 inch piece of metal (gold, silver, or bronze usually); a minature version of the full-sized medal (usually a 1/2 inch wide by 2 inch long ribbon attached to a metal device...for instance the Air Medal is the shape of a multi-point star, with the raised image of a screaming eagle looking heavenward); and a ribbon only device which is designed to fit on a ribbon "board" a means to cluster ribbons in rows of four across over the left uniform jacket pocket.
Ribbons on the ribbon board are worn on the jacket, the minatures are worn on "mess dress" as party of a formal tuxedo style uniform, and the full sized medals (with the exception of the medal of honor) are rarely worn. i
However, some full size medals (i.e. foreign awards and the medal of honor) have no minatures or perhaps no ribbon, therefore the receipient must decide whether it is appropriate to wear or not wear the full sized medal. For instance medal of honor receipients on occassion do not wear the full sized medal with mess dress, feeling the occassion would make them feel like they were boasting. Most without the medal would deny this feeling, since "The Medal" requires due respect and few deny such. The Medal of Honor is granted by decree of Congress and its formal title is The Congressional Medal of Honor. It is said that a medal of honor receipient may wear the medal out of uniform as well, and is automatically granted (and announced) access (except under very special circumstances) to the Senate or House floors.
The decorations have a precedence and this shows their importance as well as the order they are displayed on the uniform...top left to bottom right in rows.
Below we list the decorations and link to ribbons (taken from the U.S. Air Force list). The decorations are listed in their prescedence. Note that there is usually a Navy or Army equivalent decoration...for instance the Navy has the Navy Cross, the Army has the Army Cross, etc.
There are specific criteria for the award of medals, awards, and ribbons. For instance a campaign medal or ribbon is awarded for service during wartime conditions...i.e. serving in the Gulf War would yield a campaign ribbon, marching into Kuwait City would have yielded the Kuwait Liberation Medal from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Legion of Merit is a medal awarded by bravery in the face of combat, and heroic actions beyond the call of duty can result in any of the medals from the Medal of Honor through the Bronze Star Medal depending on the conditions and actions of the individual during the particular event. The Purple Heart is awarded for wounds received in battle. A number of medals are awarded for meritorious service and skills display either during combat or in life saving situations. For instance, a helicopter pilot hovering over a flood area picking up people off the roof of a house about to be swept down river might be nominated for the Air Medal. A Navy pilot risking his own life to continue to provide air cover for another downed pilot might be awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry and risking his life above and beyond the call of duty. An Air Force pilot, upon a crash at the conclusion of a combat mission, might be awarded the Silver Star or Bronze Star for pulling crew out of a burning aircraft.
The Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded for incredible gallantry in face of danger, usually in combat conditions. Many if not most awards of this medal are made posthumously, to a soldier fallen while performing their deed of heroism.
It is clear, however, that the first three or four rows of medals shown above are for heroic actions, with Meritorious Service awards being on the gray line between heroism and heroic devotion to duty. These first four rows of medals shown above are not given out without some excellent reason for doing so, and it should be assumed that the individual awarded has been brought to the attention of their superiors well above the majority of those serving. Therefore if not heroic, at least pretty damned impressive and above the rest of the individuals in uniform.
Occupation and service medals are awarded simply by service. That is, if you were part of the Berlin Airlift (90 consecutive days), you received the Army of Occupation Award with the Berlin Airlift device (a small aircraft). NATO service should mean the reciept of the NATO medal.
Other ribbons and medals are awarded for specific skills. For instance the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon is awarded to Air Force personnel who demonstrate consistent qualification as expert marksman. The Army and Marines use a separate device which is hung below the ribbon board to signify this accomplishment.
All decorations may be adorned with a special set of devices:
Other devices not shown in the chart above are also worn. The pilot's wings, astronaut wings, missilier's missile, missile operations, space command missile badges, Combat Infantry Badge (CIB), parachute qualification and command derivitaves of each are worn below or above depending on presedence or space available (its hard to fit a 3 inch high missile badge above the ribbon board.
In the Air Force, an aircrew officer (not a pilot, navigator or observer) will have a standard air force eagle (eagle clutching with wreath above) superimposed over the pilot's shield area, whereas a flight surgeon has the medical insignia of a snake coiled about a staff superimposed. Enlisted aircrew members have a circular air force eagle emblem similar to the enlisted military insignia worn on the collar.
As mentioned, the pilot wings, astronaut wings, etc. may also have two other classes...for instance a senior pilot and master pilot have a Star above the wings, and a wreath encirlcing the star respectively.
Other services allow the wearing of "qualification" devices--badges that signify unique qualifications. For instance, different levels of marksmanship are displayed in a marksman's badge on the Army and Marine uniforms, with a hanging bar configuration.
Also, there are unique badges for expertise worn by officers, or shoulder patches for enlisted personnel. An example would be for Intelligence, a globe with key superimposed.
