If you’re a member of the U.S. military and serve in flight status, you will likely need at some point, flight suit name tags for your uniform. If you are a member of the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, and you wear a flight suit, we can help you get the flight suit name tags that you need.

USAMM’s flight suit name tags are high-quality embossed flight suit name tags that are designed with care and approved by the U.S. Navy. Each name patch is built to your specifications while making it easy to follow the correct regulations and guidelines set by the military.

USAMM’s leather name tag builder will help you build a customized flight suit name tag online in just a matter of minutes. Our builder uses a simple interface to let you customize your leather name tags with your name, rank, status, and select from a wide selection of insignias we have in our database. Creating the perfect flight suit name tag has never been simpler.

We use top quality leather available in black and dark brown. Affix these beautiful two by four-inch name patches to your military or civilian pilot uniforms. Hook-and-loop backing makes it easy to add and remove your flight suit name tags to any jacket or flight suit. Also, all flight suit name tags ship the same or next business day, guaranteed.

Hook-and-loop backing makes it easy to attach your flight suit name tags to your flight helmet, uniform jacket, helmet bag or just about on anything that has hook-and-loop backing. And it is probably a good idea to order several because it is always good to have a backup or two.

According to the Navy human resources, all flight suit logos (except rank insignia) will be affixed with hook and pile fasteners. For sage green flight suits the hook and pile shall be green or black. For tan flight suits the hook and pile shall be tan. The pile shall be attached to the flight suit using a matching thread, while all logos will have pile material affixed in the color of the outer edge of the logo. All hook and pile material will be cut to the shape of the logo to be affixed.

Required nametags will be centered on the left breast above the slash pocket and below the shoulder seam. Flight suit name tags will be black or brown leather or cloth embroidered in squadron colors, and two inches by four inches in size, centered in the top field will be the aircrew designation insignia (i.e., pilot, NFO, aircrew, EAWS, etc.). The name in block letter will occupy the lower field and will include a minimum first name or initial and last name. The use of name accents is authorized. Where appropriate, billet title (i.e., CO, XO, CAG, etc.) is optional.

On the flight jacket, rank will be indicated on the nametag. Required flight suit name tags will be centered on the left breast above the slash pocket and below the shoulder seam. Name tags for sage green jackets or vest will be black or brown leather or cloth embroidered in squadron colors, and two inches by four inches in size. Name tags for tan jackets will be brown leather or matching tan cloth embroidered in squadron colors and two inches by four inches in size. Centered in the top field will be the aircrew designation insignia (i.e., pilot, NFO, aircrew, EAWS, etc.). The name block letter will occupy the lower field and will include a minimum first name or initial and last name. The use of name accents is authorized. Where appropriate, billet title (i.e., CO, XO, CAG, etc.) is optional. Patches may be affixed to the CWU-36/P Summer weight jacket either by hook and pile or directly to the jacket at the discretion of the individual, subject to commanding officer guidance. Patches will not be affixed to the Multi-Climate Shell jacket. In all cases, patches will be in conservative and will be reflective of naval aviation professionalism.

The CWU-45/P Winter Flyers Jacket, CWU-36/P Summer Flyers Jacket, Multi-Climate Fleece Jacket, Climate Fleece Vest, and the Multi-Climate Shell Jacket may be worn with flight suits, but are not authorized for wear off base. Sage Green or tan jackets may be worn with green or tan flight suits. The vest may only be worn with either the green or tan flight suit. Sage green jackets may also be worn with working uniforms in the immediate area of requirement if issued by the command. Sage green jackets are not authorized with any service uniform (with ribbons). The jacket will be worn with the zipper zipped at least 3/4 of the way. Jacket will be maintained in a clean and serviceable condition.

Naval aviators, pilots, flight officers, undergraduate pilots, NFOs, and flight surgeons, aerospace experimental psychologists, and aerospace physiologists may wear the brown leather flight jacket with flight suits, service khaki and Navy blue coveralls. Eligible enlisted air crewmen, E7 - E9, are authorized to wear the leather flight jacket with flight suits, service Khaki and Navy Blue Coveralls.

Eligible enlisted aircrewmen E6 and below are authorized to wear the leather flight jacket with flight suits, service uniform and Navy blue coveralls. Only direct point to point transit is appropriate when the flight jacket is worn to and from work with working uniforms (excluding Navy blue coveralls, which may be worn in immediate working spaces only). Close zipper at least 3/4 of the way when worn.

Over the left breast, in black or brown, not larger than two inches by four inches, leather flight suit name tags are worn. Centered in the top field will be the aircrew designation insignia (i.e., pilot, NFO aircrew EAWS, etc.). The name in block letters will occupy the lower field and will include a minimum first name or initial and last name. The use of name accents is authorized. Where appropriate, billet title (i.e., CO, XO, CAG, etc.) is optional. 

All branches of the U.S. military forces have military dress uniforms. Uniforms, generally speaking, are a source of pride and they represent the discipline, professionalism, and uniformity of each service member and their respective branch.

For formal and ceremonial events, military dress uniforms are worn in accordance with regulations that provide a baseline standard for all to follow. USAMM put together this list of military dress uniforms as a reference.

Army Military Dress Uniforms

The Army Dress Blues are the appropriate uniform to wear for both enlisted soldiers and officers on national holidays, memorial services, nuptials, weddings, and specific military ceremonial events like a military ball or dining-in.

The Army’s military dress uniforms are based on the Army’s cavalry heritage and uniforms from the 1800s. They are highly regarded in the Army’s ranks.

The Army’s military dress uniforms consist of:

• White dress shirt with long sleeves
• Black necktie (or bow ties); black necktie for ladies
• Blue Army coat
• For women, blue skirt or pants
• Beret, although it is not necessary for evening events
• The Army blue coat will include unit awards, battle and skill badges, full-sized medals, and ribbons, identifying badge, branch and regimental insignia, service hash marks, and applicable overseas service bars
• Officers and enlisted soldiers (corporal and higher) wear Army blue trousers with a single, 1.5-inch, gold braid and generals wear two braids spaced 0.5 inches apart

Navy Military Dress Uniforms

Like the Army, the Navy’s military dress uniforms are worn to formal occasions like weddings, funerals, balls, and galas. Ribbons are changed to full-sized medals over the left breast pocket when wearing military dress uniforms. Ribbons that do not have a medal equivalent are worn over the right breast pocket.

Like the Army, officers are allowed to carry swords or cutlasses as are chief petty officers. However, the Navy has many combinations of military dress uniforms called dinner dress that can also be worn.

Evening military dress uniforms include:

• Dinner attire in blue and white, accessorized without ribbons with small medals and badges; black bow tie and a formal shirt worn with blue; women can wear appropriate skirts or bottoms
• Dinner dress blue/white jacket consisting of a short jacket with three buttons on either side that is worn open with a black bow tie and cummerbund (women wear neck tabs in place of bow ties); male officers display rank stripes on the sleeves of the blue jacket and shoulder boards on the white jacket while female officers wear sleeve stripes
• Formal dress is identical to dinner dress blue jacket military dress uniforms except that officers wear a white waistcoat with gold buttons in place of the cummerbund, a white bow tie; these Navy military dress uniforms are almost always worn by officers and chief petty officers
• Petty officer first class or below enlisted sailors may choose to wear a dinner dress jacket.

Air Force Military Dress Uniforms

The U.S. Air Force follows similar rules to that of the Navy and Army when it comes to black tie attire. For formal or semi-formal events, the Air Force military dress uniforms are worn.

Men are required to wear a dark blue mess jacket and mess dress trousers. Women in the Air Force have the choice of donning evening-length, coordinating-colored skirts or mess dress trousers. Cummerbunds are in satin Air Force blue and mean wear a satin blue bow tie; women wear a tab.

The Air Force’s mess dress uniforms:

• have mini medals above the left breast pocket along with miniature wings or a specialty badges.
• does not include hats or name tags.
• for enlisted personnel include the same-sized rank insignia they wear on their service jackets.
• include shoulder boards for commissioned officers and colonels and below have their rank insignia in raised threading bordered by two silver stripes that are similar to a sleeve braid.
• for generals are similar and their shoulder boards are covered nearly entirely by the silver metallic braid and silver stars in raised metallic thread are worn commensurate to the general’s rank.

Marine Corps Military Dress Uniforms

There are common threads woven in the flag of the United States and the military dress uniforms of the Marine Corps. According to the Marine Corps, the military dress uniforms are sewn from the ideals America stands for and the resolve that Marines fight with; it is the only uniform in the U.S. military designated to include the red, white, and blue colors of the American flag.

The distinctive dress blue uniform Marines wear represents the values Marines live, and has origins dating back to the American Revolution. Dress blues are worn for many events, including ceremonies with foreign officials, visits with U.S. civil officials, and formal social functions attended in an official capacity. Wherever Marines wear this uniform, they do so proudly, standing united as the moral fiber that forms the fabric of our Nation.

The promotion corporal is a momentous one for all enlisted Marines, as it means they have been trusted to serve as noncommissioned officers, a designation that allows them to add the "Blood Stripe" to their uniform. Traditionally, officers, staff noncommissioned officers, and noncommissioned officers of the Marine Corps have worn this scarlet red stripe on their dress blue trousers to commemorate the courage and tenacious fighting of the men who fought in the Battle of Chapultepec in 1847. Today, the blood stripe symbolizes honor and the nation's gratitude for all fallen Marines.

There are many variations of Marine Corps military dress uniforms including the blue dress uniform (which includes uniform variants A. B, C, and D), the blue-white dress uniform, the red dress uniform, the evening dress uniform (which includes A or B options), and finally the senior noncommissioned officer evening dress uniforms.

U.S. Space Force Military Dress Uniforms

The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is the sixth and newest branch of the U.S. armed forces. USSF branched out from the U.S. Air Force a few years ago much like how the Army Air Corps became the U.S. Air Force in 1947.  

Initially, Guardians of USSF wore Air Force uniforms, but that has since changed. In 2021, USSF released its new military dress uniforms and it was met with mixed results. Some likened the uniforms to something out of a low-budget science-fiction TV show, while others thought the uniforms were progressive and reflected the unique mission of USSF. Whatever your feelings, the collars, ranks, insignia are all new and unique.

Testing and force feedback will continue on this uniform through 2025. The design has been adopted but field testing will surely bring in necessary improvements and changes.

Coast Guard Military Dress Uniforms

Although not part of the Department of Defense unless they are mobilized to serve under U.S. Navy control, we are including the Coast Guard in this post.

The Coast Guard’s military dress uniforms are similar to their service dress blue alpha uniform which consists of a blue, four-pocket, single-breasted jacket with matching pants, tie, white shirt and combination cap. The full-dress blue includes full-size medals, white gloves, and a sword for officers. Name tags are not worn.

The full-dress whites are the same as the service dress whites with the same appurtenances as the full dress blues.

Dinner dress uniforms (blue and white) are the same as full dress blue and white except that miniature medals and badges are worn rather than full-size and a black bow tie is worn instead of a blue necktie.

On the surface, it makes sense for someone to make a comparison like Navy SEALs vs Marines. To the unindoctrinated, these are two of the most popular and formidable military forces in the world, so naturally it would seem like a good comparison to make. However, while the two have much in common, the two forces could not be more different.

The Marine Corps is a branch of service that is a part of the Department of the Navy. While it is a part of the Navy, the Marines are their own branch. Because they are smaller, they can have exceptionally rigid standards because there are less bodies needed to fill the needs of the Corps. Marines want smart but rugged men and women.

The Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, and Land) special warfare sailors must also be smart and rugged, but their training is at a much different and higher level than that of Marines. For example, the dropout rate of Marine Corps boot camp examined in a recent study commissioned by the Marine Corps found that female recruits dropped out of training at a 13 percent rate. Male recruits dropped out at a 21 percent.

Compared to Navy SEALs, Navy SEALs vs Marines, the SEALs dropout rate is more than 85 percent.

1. Navy SEALs vs Marines (2 Different Branches)
Both the SEALs and Marines are a part of the Department of the Navy, they are both from two different branches of service. A Marine, cannot become a Navy SEAL. There is no process for that. Now, that is not to say that Marines cannot leave the Marine Corps and become Navy SEALs. That has happened, but there is no direct pipeline for a Marine to join the SEALs. Each is in their own branch of service.

Marine Corps training can certainly help a SEAL candidate because the Marine will have the experiences of Marine Corps training to fall back upon. Physically, mentally, emotionally, a SEAL candidate who served in the Corps might have an edge over others in the class.

Similarly, a SEAL cannot become a Marine. There is no process stream for that action. If a SEAL wanted to become a Marine they would have to complete their term with the Navy and then apply to become a Marine. And here’s the kicker, if accepted, despite all of the badass training that the SEAL completed, they would still have to attend and successfully complete all Marine Corps training, including boot camp. The Marines have policies that stipulate that all Marines must go through their basic enlisted or officer training.

Navy SEALs vs Marines? In this case, the SEALs are more highly trained and if a SEAL went to the Marine Corps, it would be considered by most as a step backwards, but one of the great things about the Marine Corps is that they have high standards. If a Navy SEAL wanted to earn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor (EGA), they would have to do it like everyone else and earn it. Just because they are Navy SEALs, does not give them the right to wear the EGA. That probably might not make sense to many, but it definitely makes sense to us. That’s why they’re the few and the proud.

2. Navy SEALs vs Marines (Training is different)
While Marine Corps boot camp is the most challenging initial military training of all the branches, it is also the longest. However, it is initial military training. It is a place where civilians are taught to wear a uniform, how to perform military customs and courtesies, how to walk and talk like a Marine. Civilians are transformed at boot camp. They learn to use weapons and they themselves, become weapons. But we cannot lose sight of the fact that it is, basic training. Yes, it is hard. Yes, it is the hardest boot camp out of all of the services, but it is nowhere near as hard as the training that Navy SEALs endure. Navy SEALs vs Marines? SEAL training is much harder than Marine Corp boot camp; by a lot.

Navy SEAL candidates endure a grueling program that most would agree is the toughest training in any branch of service. SEAL classes have an 85 percent dropout rate and the training to become a SEAL lasts for about a year compared to three months of Marine boot camp. Not to mention, SEAL candidates must attend Navy basic training first before they attend SEAL training.

SEALs then are trained at HALO (high altitude low opening parachuting), HAHO (high altitude high opening parachuting), SCUBA and all sorts of other rigorous schools. SEAL training is far harder and far more technical.

3. Navy SEALs vs Marines (Operator vs Rifleman)
Third, SEALs become special operators upon completion of six months of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Training and roughly four months of high-paced advanced tactical training known as SEAL Qualification Training (SQT). While some may attend additional training opportunities, most will join a SEAL team and start platoon training not long thereafter.

Things are different for Marines. Upon completion of boot camp, recruits become Marines and some will work as aircraft mechanics, others might work in personnel, and others might serve as supply personnel. The point is that not all Marines become part of a tactical force. And even if they did, they would be basic infantrymen.

SEALs specialize in combat arms trades. They will all have specialties and some will become snipers, explosive experts, medical, and other related specialties. Some of the teams specialize in counterterrorism and direct action, so there are not a lot of desk jobs for SEALs.

The two are very different in this regard. While it is true that every Marine is a rifleman, not every Marine is a special operator. Yes, some Marines go on to become Force Recon Marines which are basically special operators, but those are a select few. In the case of SEALs, every SEAL is an operator.

Navy SEALs vs Marines? Well, much depends on what you want to do. If you just want to serve, but you want a difficult challenge and you want to earn something, then the Marines are for you. Earning the EGA will make you a part of one of the oldest military families in the world.

If you are looking for the ultimate physical, mental and emotional challenge, then the Navy SEALs are it.

There are 4 types of veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. U.S. Code, Title 38, Part 1, Chapter 1, § 101 defines a veteran as a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

The 4 types of veterans are federally protected veterans (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces Service Medal veterans), retired veterans (which includes those who have served at least 20 years and those who are medically retired), combat veterans (which are individuals who have usually earned a combat action award), and war veterans (which are individuals who deployed to a war zone). While there are other types of veterans, like disabled veterans, there are only 4 types of veterans and other veteran classes fill into one of the 4 types of veterans that were aforementioned.

What most civilians do not understand is that a combat veteran and a war veteran can be two very different people and represent two different experiences. A soldier who deployed to Iraq, for example, might have spent his entire tour within a base and never heard a shot fired in anger. They were in a war zone, but combat conditions never came upon them.

Similarly, another soldier could have deployed to Iraq, but because of their military specialty or location, they were engaged in combat by the enemy on a daily basis. When talking about the 4 types of veterans, it is important to understand the difference between combat veterans and war veterans.

It is also important to note when discussing the 4 types of veterans that “veteran” usually means a person who served in “active” service. According to U.S. Code Title 38, the term “active military, naval, air, or space service” includes:  (A) active duty; (B) any period of active duty for training during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty; and (C) any period of inactive duty training during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from an injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty; or from an acute myocardial infarction, a cardiac arrest, or a cerebrovascular accident occurring during such training.

Title 38 further defines the term “active duty” to mean (A) full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active duty for training; (B) full-time duty (other than for training purposes) as a commissioned officer of the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service on or after July 29, 1945, or before that date under circumstances affording entitlement to “full military benefits” or at any time, for the purposes of chapter 13 of this title; (C) full-time duty as a commissioned officer in the commissioned officer corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or its predecessor organization the Coast and Geodetic Survey on or after July 29, 1945 , or before that date while on transfer to one of the Armed Forces, or while, in time of war or national emergency declared by the President, assigned to duty on a project for one of the Armed Forces in an area determined by the Secretary of Defense to be of immediate military hazard, or in the Philippine Islands on December 7, 1941 , and continuously in such islands thereafter, or at any time, for the purposes of chapter 13 of this title; (D) service as a cadet at the United States Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard Academy, or as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy; and (E) authorized travel to or from such duty or service.

The term “Armed Forces” means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components thereof. Title 38 describes the term “Reserve” to mean a member of a reserve component of one of the Armed Forces. The term “reserve component” means, with respect to the Armed Forces, the (A) the Army Reserve; (B) the Navy Reserve; (C) the Marine Corps Reserve; (D) the Air Force Reserve; (E) the Space Force Reserve; (F) the Coast Guard Reserve; (G) the Army National Guard of the United States; and (H) the Air National Guard of the United States. Did you catch that? The code says Space Force Reserve, yet one does not exist. Maybe it is in the works.

Does that mean that National Guardsmen and Reservists are not one of the 4 types of veterans? It depends. In order to be one of the 4 types of veterans, a reserve or Guard component member must have served on active duty either prior to their service in the reserve or Guard, or they must have been mobilized and served on active duty as a Guard or Reserve member. If an individual has served only in the reserve or National Guard, and has never been on active duty (active duty for training does not count), then he or she is not a veteran.

The term “active duty for training” means (A) full-time duty in the Armed Forces performed by Reserves for training purposes; (B) full-time duty for training purposes performed as a commissioned officer of the Reserve Corps 1 of the Public Health Service on or after July 29, 1945, or before that date under circumstances affording entitlement to “full military benefits,” or at any time, for the purposes of Chapter 13 of this title; (C) in the case of members of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard of any state, full-time duty under section 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505 of title 32, or the prior corresponding provisions of law; (D) duty performed by a member of a Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program when ordered to such duty for the purpose of training or a practice cruise under Chapter 103 of Title 10 for a period of not less than four weeks and which must be completed by the member before the member is commissioned; and (E) authorized travel to or from such duty. The term does not include duty performed as a temporary member of the Coast Guard Reserve. Inactive duty does not qualify a reserve or National Guard member to be a veteran.

The term “inactive duty training” means (A) duty (other than full-time duty) prescribed for Reserves (including commissioned officers of the Reserve Corps 1 of the Public Health Service) by the Secretary concerned under section 206 of title 37 or any other provision of law; (B) special additional duties authorized for Reserves (including commissioned officers of the Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service) by an authority designated by the Secretary concerned and performed by them on a voluntary basis in connection with the prescribed training or maintenance activities of the units to which they are assigned; and (C) training (other than active duty for training) by a member of, or applicant for membership (as defined in section 8140(g) of title 5) in, the Senior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps prescribed under chapter 103 of Title 10.

In the case of a member of the Army National Guard or Air National Guard of any state, such term means duty (other than full-time duty) under sections 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505 of title 32, or the prior corresponding provisions of law. Such term does not include work or study performed in connection with correspondence courses, attendance at an educational institution in an inactive status, or duty performed as a temporary member of the Coast Guard Reserve.

To recap, there are 4 types of veterans. In order to be consider one of these 4 types of veterans a service member must have served on active duty as defined above. Reserve and National Guard members can be considered veterans if they have served on active duty as defined above. If they have performed only reserve or National Guard duty and they have never served on active duty, then they are not considered veterans.

If you’re trying to figure out what are the top 10 military medals then look no further. We’ve assembled a straight-forward list that will tell you what are the top 10 military medals.

1. Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that may be awarded by the U.S. government. It is presented by the president of the United States, in the name of Congress, and is conferred only upon members of the U.S. armed forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. The recipient must have been engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

There are three distinct versions (one for the Army, one for the Air Force, and one for the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard).

2. Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, and Air Force Cross
Coming in at number two on our list of “what are the top 10 military medals” is the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). It is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the U.S. Army (and previously, the Army Air Forces). It is awarded for extraordinary heroism while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Distinguished Service Cross is equivalent to the Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy) and the Air Force Cross (Air Force).

Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the second highest military decoration that may be awarded to a member of the United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, (and to members of the Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy). It is awarded for extraordinary heroism while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Actions that merit the Navy Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Navy Cross is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army) and the Air Force Cross (Air Force).

Air Force Cross
The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that may be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. It is awarded for extraordinary heroism while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Actions that merit the Air Force Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Air Force Cross is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army) and the Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy).

3. Silver Star
Ranked as number three in our list of “what are the top 10 military medals” is the Silver Star. It is the third-highest military combat decoration that can be awarded to a member of the U.S. armed forces. It is awarded for gallantry in action while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

Actions that merit the Silver Star must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the meet Medal of Honor or a Service Cross (Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Air Force Cross).

4. Defense Distinguished Service Medal
The number four award on our list of “what are the top 10 military medals” is the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. It is presented to any member of the U.S. Armed Forces, while serving with the Department of Defense, who distinguishes themselves with exceptional performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States. Created in 1970, the medal is typically awarded to senior officers such as the chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief and vice chiefs of the military services and other personnel whose duties bring them in direct and frequent contact with the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense or other senior government officials.

5. Legion of Merit
Number five on USAMM’s “what are the top 10 military medals” list is the Legion of Merit. The first U.S. decoration created specifically for citizens of other nations, was established in 1942.

It is conferred on officers and enlisted members of the armed forces of the United States and on nationals of other countries who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. The Legion of Merit may be awarded for combat or noncombat services.

6. Distinguished Flying Cross
We are about half way through our “what are the top 10 military medals list.” The Distinguished Flying Cross is next. It was authorized in 1926 and was awarded first to Capt. Charles A. Lindbergh, of the U.S. Army Corps Reserve, for his solo flight of 3,600 miles across the Atlantic in 1927.

This medal is awarded to any officer or enlisted person of the armed forces of the United States for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. Both heroism and achievement must be entirely distinctive, involving operations that are not routine.

7. Soldier’s Medal
The Soldier’s Medal was established in 1926.  This medal is number seven on USAMM’s “what are the top 10 military medals” list. The Soldier’s Medal is awarded to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States or of a friendly foreign nation who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, including reserve component Soldiers not serving in a duty status at the time of the heroic act, distinguished themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy.

8. Navy and Marine Corps Medal
The number eight medal on the “what are the top 10 military medals” list is the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. It is the highest non-combat decoration awarded for heroism by the Navy to members of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The medal was established in 1942. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the equivalent of the Army's Soldier's Medal, Air and Space Forces' Airman's Medal, and the Coast Guard Medal.

9. Airman’s Medal
This decoration was established in 1960 and it is awarded to any member of the United States Air Force who has distinguished themselves by a heroic act, usually at the voluntary risk of his or her life but not involving actual combat. The saving of a life or the success of the voluntary heroic act is not essential.

10. Bronze Star
The Bronze Star Medal is an award presented to U.S. armed forces personnel for bravery, acts of merit or meritorious service. Originally created in February 1944, this award is only presented for service in combat conditions. Meaning, it can be presented for valor, but also for meritorious service during a war.

Now that you’ve read this, you should be able to answer the question what are the top 10 military medals?

These days the marketplace is flooded with multiple companies trying to sell you military swag according to their tastes and preferences. There shouldn’t be a one size fits all approach when it comes to military swag. Maybe you don’t like some of their designs or some of the things those other military swag companies are saying.

Military swag is something personal. Sure, military service is about uniformity and standards, but how you show that military pride is deeply personal and unique. Let’s face it. You spent time in the ranks, dressing like everyone else, talking like everyone else, and executing like everyone else. There’s no need for uniformity when it comes to military swag. Military swag should never be about doing it how everyone else is doing it.

At USAMM, we have the most awesome military swag tools and products, hands down. We’re going to say that again. Our military swag is second to no one. Most other companies simply tell you to pick a color or a size and that’s it.

USAMM can customize anything with text and other artwork in our military-centric database. Want a t-shirt with a pic of your old platoon? We can do that. Want some custom t-shirts made for your unit’s reunion? We can do that and you can provide the logo by uploading it for us. Customized mugs or water bottles for a dining in? You bet. We can do it. The combinations are endless. Choose from our extensive graphic collection, or upload your own artwork. You can even add an image of your ribbon or medal rack to anything in our military swag collection.

To do that, here’s a pro tip from our printers: click on the ADD RACK icon, create your rack or choose an already saved one on the Rack Builder, then click the orange ADD RACK TO USWAG BUILDER button. Now you can see your medal or ribbon rack on your selected product. Use the EZ Rack Builder to build your racks and simply add them to your military swag item. All items get full color prints so your ribbon or medal rack will come out beautifully.

There are so many products to put your rack on. We have shirts, flasks, water bottles, tumblers, coasters, steins, key chains, canvas displays, dog tags, bottle openers, tank tops and golf balls, just to name a few items. Our team of experienced printers carefully place, print, and inspect every military swag item before shipping it to your front door. And all of these are made in the U.S.A.

If you don’t like the idea of having a medal or ribbon rack on any of the aforementioned items, then consider putting something you provide on one of these items. Are you having a unit golf outing. Placing a unit emblem on a golf ball or even a polo shirt would make an outing perfect. Hosting a 5K run or some other physical outdoor event? Consider putting something on our tank tops, available in men’s and women’s style. Have a VIP visiting your unit? You can order one of our customized tumblers and give the VIP a nice gift that has their name and your unit’s logo and motto on it.

Our military swag also makes great gifts for those who are going to PCS, retire, or get promoted. Our items can be full customized to mark any occasion and our military swag makes a great memento that people can actually use. Plaques, shadowboxes, and other types of traditional awards are awesome, don’t get us wrong, but a stein emblazoned with a unit logo, the unit motto, and the recipient’s name, rank and dates of service is something that they can use at their next duty assignment or proudly use if they are retiring.

But if you do like plaques, our high-quality blank canvases are customizable and professionally hand-stretched over wooden 1.5” stretcher bars. The canvas is back stapled for a classic gallery look. USAMM uses archival grade, white-satin, 19mil canvas so that your artwork will always look as good as the day you open the package. These canvases are 12" x 16" x 1.5" and each is ready to hang and includes hanging hardware.

These make amazing gifts. Scroll down through our massive list of hundreds of graphics and find the one that you need. We have military badges, medals, logos, emblems, you name it. We likely have it, and remember, if we don’t, you can upload your own logo.

Even though we talked about uniformity earlier, if uniformity is your game, then we can certainly play. For example, maybe your unit or team wants to issue every member a customized water bottle for physical training. We can absolutely do that and if you wanted to upload a custom design, we can personalize the bottles for the unit, and even add personalization for each bottle, like, for example, adding a person’s name to it.

Or maybe you want custom physical training t-shirts. We can definitely do that. We can even make t-shirts for your unit bowling, golf, or softball team. Too easy.

Remember, we can print your personal photos or graphics on any USAMM military swag item. Simply upload the artwork, add any text if desired, and USAMM will print it on the military swag item. If you don’t have something you want to upload and use, our talented artists have created hundreds of graphics suited for military service pride, military family, and graphics for every branch of service.

A medal rack builder can help even the most seasoned veteran assemble their full or mini medals in just a few minutes. The best part about using a medal rack builder is that you won’t have to then assemble your medal rack on your own.

Using a medal rack builder enables you to avoid the frustration of assembling a medal rack on your own. No more trips to the first sergeant’s office, supply or your local military store where you have to painstakingly walk around, gather all your medals, your rack, and devices. Because once you are done collecting everything you need, then your fun really begins. You have to assemble the medal rack with the care of building a model.

If you use a medal rack builder like USAMM’s EZ Rack Builder, all you do is click on the medals you need and a USAMM veteran medal rack builder will ensure your medal rack is built according to your service’s regulations. They will also ensure that the medals are in order of precedence and spaced and aligned however you want them.

Whether you want mini medals or full-sized medals, using USAMM’s medal rack builder, EZ Rack Builder, is the way to go if you want to look your best. Remember, you also have a choice of selecting how many medals you want in a row; three or four.

How to Use USAMM’s Medal Rack Builder
Using USAMM’s EZ Rack Builder medal rack builder is simple. Simply navigate to the medal rack builder page, and then select the "Start a New Rack" button. Once you do that, the medal rack builder will take you to a landing page where you can select your service. USAMM’s medal rack builder has the ability to build racks for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Services and the Civil Air Patrol.

Once you select your service branch in the medal rack builder you will be asked to specify features of your medal rack. The medal rack builder allows you to choose if you want the medal rack to be three or four medals wide.

The EZ Rack Builder allows you to then move on and select your medals and accompanying devices. As the rack is built in the medal rack builder, you can see an image of the rack as you digitally build it. Once you are done adding medals and devices, review the rack, and then add it to your shopping basket. It is super easy to use USAMM’s EZ Rack Builder to build a medal rack. This great medal rack builder allows you to build a rack whenever you want, 24/7.

Helpful Tips
Preparation is the key to anything and using USAMM’s EZ Rack Builder is no different. If you are a veteran with just a handful of ribbons and medals, assembling your rack on the medal rack builder shouldn’t be too complicated. However, if you’re of the crusty veteran variety who has been around the world a few times, deployed multiple times and you’ve got more time in uniform than some people do on earth, then odds are, you might need to get organized before you visit the medal rack builder platform.

If you’ve got more than three or four rows of medals, there is a chance you might forget to add a medal to your rack while you’re building it using the medal rack builder (EZ Rack Builder) at USAMM. Ensure you have your DD Form 214 handy that includes all of your medals. If you don’t have a DD Form 214, then ensure that you have a copy of your personnel file that lists all of your awards. Following this list carefully will enable you to build the custom medal rack you’ve earned. Remember, if your records are wrong, then your rack will be wrong.

It is also important to remember that you should not buy anything that you have not earned. Life happens and while in most cases a little proactivity is a good thing, it can also create headaches. For example, let’s say you are deployed and your supervisor tells you they are recommending you for a commendation medal. At the end of your tour, you get excited and you order a new rack built on the medal rack builder at USAMM. It includes the commendation medal that your boss said you would earn. There’s only one problem. It was downgraded to an achievement medal and now you have the wrong rack with an award you did not earn. That’s a problem and it can be construed as Stolen Valor.

Patience can go a long way to ensure that your medal racks are correct and that you purchased what you have actually earned. Remember, in 1996 the chief of naval operations killed himself over ribbon devices that journalists discovered he was not authorized to wear. In the end, the admiral was supported by those who had told him he was authorized to wear the devices, but the Navy stated he was not authorized to wear them. There’s no need to get involved in a Stolen Valor situation. Ensure your records are up to date and then order your rack using the medal rack builder on USAAM’s website.

They will be assembled professionally and according to regulation and delivered to your door. Remember, purchase what you’ve earned and no more. If you don’t have an order for a medal in your personnel file, then you don’t have a medal.

The benefits of joining the military are many. There are many intangibles like the instillment of strong values, selfless service, and loyalty. Military service results in the acquisition of a number of skills, training, and experiences that help service members throughout life.

1. Intangible Benefits
Military service teaches and cultivates leadership skills. Some of the benefits of joining the military are that individuals learn to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. They make sound and timely decisions and have no problem setting an example.

Veterans of military service can easily understand and accomplish assigned tasks. They are dependable and cultivate abilities to meet a variety of challenges by being disciplined.

Some additional intangible benefits of joining the military are that military service can result in personal growth and positive emotional experiences, such as enhanced maturity, self-improvement, knowing oneself better (e.g., strengths, capabilities, areas for improvement), strengthening of resiliency, positive transformations following trauma or situations of extreme stress, improved coping skills, pride (e.g., in self, unit), enhanced interpersonal skills and relationships, and improved teamwork capacity.

2. Tangible Benefits
Some of the more popular tangible benefits of joining the military include 30 days of paid annual vacation. It’s important to note that just because your recruiter tells you that you are eligible for 30 days of leave, does not necessarily mean that you will get the chance to take 30 days of leave per year. The mission and needs of the service branch always come first, so if duty calls, then your leave will be placed on the backburner.

For those who are currently working several side hustles or gigs to make ends meet, one of the benefits of joining the military is a steady paycheck. One week you might work pretty lightly, and the following week might be horrifically busy. Much depends on your military occupational specialty (MOS) and your duty station.

Whether you work hard or are hardly working, those paychecks will keep coming in. And if you enlist for an in-demand MOS, you might get a bonus. Add to that, an attractive Thrift Savings Plan as a way to save extra for retirement and the steady financial pay and perks are great benefits of joining the military. Did we mention that if you come in right after high school and you serve for 20 years, you can retire at a young age, like 38, and start another entire career? Oh yeah, and you will receive a pension upon retirement; cha-ching!

Along those lines, one of the other major tangible benefits of joining the military is the health and dental insurance. This is a valuable benefit especially for those with a family. Add to that, the U.S. military offers low-cost life insurance for service members and educational benefits that can be used while you’re on active duty. If you opt to leave active duty, ensure you take advantage of your GI Bill benefits which differ depending on when you joined, and when you served.

One of the big benefits of joining the military is that you can serve either full-time on active duty, or part-time in the reserve or National Guard. The Army and Air Force have National Guard components and the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps have reserve components as well. The National Guard and reserve components also offer AGR, or active Guard and Reserve billets that are active duty positions supporting the reserve and National Guard components.

Whether you are choosing to serve on active duty or in the reserve or Guard components, you will have access to educational benefits, health and dental benefits, insurance and of course pay that is commensurate with your duty status.

Some of the not-so-known-about benefits of joining the military is the use of post exchanges which offers goods at a tax-free rate. Products are sometimes sold at lower prices than on the civilian economy.

Veterans are also entitled to VA Home Loans which offer special financing opportunities for those who’ve served. One of the great benefits of joining the military is Space A travel which enables military personnel to travel anywhere in the world on a military aircraft. The process can be cumbersome.

Travelers have to put their names on a list for a particular flight, then depending on their category of travel they are prioritized on the flight. There is a very small fee, and of course there are no comforts onboard, but if you are looking to save money and do some traveling, this is a greatly underused benefit.

However, travelers be warned. Aircraft break down and sometimes you can also spend days waiting on a flight only to be left behind. And a seven-hour flight to a particular destination might take you two to three days because the aircraft’s mission has it transiting through different stops with layovers that can be hours, days, or weeks long. Imagine landing in a place like Korea and then not having accommodations for two days and your final stop is Japan? What do you do?

3. Lifelong Memories
Military service is an extraordinarily unique experience. There is nothing in the civilian world quite like it, so serving exposes you to a plethora of experiences and relationships that cannot happen anywhere else.

Where else would you and others help each other through an exhausting obstacle course? If it wasn’t for military service, how else would you know what it is like to build an ice shelter with you and your teammates so you do not freeze at night during an exercise?

Do most civilians know what it is like to spend weeks under water in a submarine? Does your civilian neighbor know what it is like to freefall from a C-130? Or to drive a tank? The service is a great place to experience many unique things and that is one of the many benefits of joining the military.