Looking for a comprehensive list of military medals from highest to lowest? The United States Armed Forces use a strict hierarchy of medals and ribbons to recognize the bravery, sacrifice, and exceptional service of military personnel. These decorations tell a powerful story about a service member's career and the incredible acts they have performed in the line of duty.
We created this list of military medals from highest to lowest to help you understand the official order of precedence. Please know that this list is not all inclusive, but rather it shows the top awards in the order of precedence. Knowing how these honors are ranked gives you a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform. Each medal carries its own rich history and strict criteria for earning it.
Read on to explore our full list of military medals from highest to lowest. We will cover everything from the legendary Medal of Honor to the Purple Heart, explaining exactly what each decoration represents and why it is awarded.
Military medals from Highest to Lowest
At the top of any list of military medals from highest to lowest sits the Medal of Honor. From there, the decorations follow a specific order based on the level of heroism, responsibility, or merit involved.
The Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the absolute highest military decoration in the United States. It is awarded by the President to service members who show conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty. Because the criteria for this award are so incredibly strict, it is frequently awarded posthumously to heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during combat operations.
The Service Crosses
As we move down the list of military medals from highest to lowest, we find the Service Crosses. These are the second-highest military decorations for valor, awarded for extraordinary heroism in combat that does not quite meet the criteria for the Medal of Honor.
Distinguished Service Cross: This military medal is awarded to members of the United States Army. It recognizes extreme acts of heroism during military operations against an armed enemy.
Navy Cross: This military medal is awarded to members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. It recognizes extraordinary heroism in combat and requires extreme bravery in the face of great danger.
Air Force Cross: This military medal is presented to members of the Air Force and Space Force. It acknowledges extraordinary heroism in military operations involving conflict with an opposing armed force.
Coast Guard Cross: This is the highest Coast Guard award for valor. It honors Coast Guard personnel for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy.
Distinguished Service Medals
These medals are awarded for exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. They typically recognize senior officers and those who have made significant, lasting impacts on the military operations of the United States.
Defense Distinguished Service Medal: This military medal honors exceptionally meritorious service in a joint duty capacity. It is usually awarded to high-ranking general and flag officers working with the Secretary of Defense or Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Army Distinguished Service Medal: This decoration is given to Army personnel for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility. The performance must clearly set the individual apart as exceptional.
Navy Distinguished Service Medal: This military medal honors Navy and Marine Corps members for outstanding achievement. It is reserved for those serving in a senior leadership role with immense responsibility.
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal: This military medal recognizes Air Force and Space Force personnel for highly distinguished service. It is awarded for holding a position of significant impact and demonstrating exceptional merit.
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal: This decoration is presented to Coast Guard members who show outstanding service in a senior capacity. It highlights exceptionally meritorious service to the government.
Silver Star
The middle section of the list of military medals from highest to lowest includes the Silver Star. This is the third-highest military combat decoration in the United States Armed Forces. It is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States, recognizing immense bravery that falls just short of the Service Crosses.
Defense Superior Service Medal and Legion of Merit
These two medals represent superior non-combat achievements. They highlight incredible leadership and outstanding services to the military.
Defense Superior Service Medal: This military medal is awarded to service members who render superior meritorious service in a joint position of significant responsibility. It recognizes long-lasting impacts made at the highest levels of the Department of Defense.
Legion of Merit: This prestigious decoration is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services. It is one of the highest non-combat military medals and can even be awarded to military personnel of foreign nations.
Distinguished Flying Cross
This specialized medal is awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the Armed Forces who distinguishes themselves by heroism or extraordinary achievement. The defining characteristic of this award is that the heroic act must take place while participating in aerial flight.
Non-Combat Heroism Medals
Continuing through this list of military medals from highest to lowest, we encounter the non-combat medals. These recognize extreme bravery that occurs outside of direct conflict with an enemy force.
Soldier's Medal: This military medal goes to Army personnel who distinguish themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The individual must voluntarily risk their own life to save another.
Navy and Marine Corps Medal: This military medal honors Navy or Marine Corps members for heroism outside of combat. The heroic act must involve personal hazard and a clear risk of life.
Airman's Medal: This decoration is awarded to Air Force or Space Force members for heroic acts outside of combat zones. It usually involves a voluntary risk of life and a high degree of bravery.
Coast Guard Medal: This award honors Coast Guard members who distinguish themselves through heroism not involving enemy conflict. The act of heroism must be performed at great personal risk.
Bronze Star and Purple Heart
These two highly recognizable medals honor the direct sacrifices made by personnel in combat zones.
Bronze Star Medal: This decoration is awarded for heroism in a combat zone or meritorious service in a war zone. It recognizes significant individual acts of bravery and important contributions to military operations.
Purple Heart: This deeply respected military medal is awarded to service members who have been wounded or killed in action. It stands as a powerful symbol of the blood spilled and the personal sacrifices endured for the nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviewing a list of military medals from highest to lowest often raises questions about how these honors are worn and regulated. Here are a few common questions.
How do service members wear these medals?
Service members must wear their ribbons and medals in the exact order of precedence outlined by their specific military branch. The highest-ranking award is worn at the top and closest to the wearer's heart. Some uniforms require ribbons while other uniforms require full-sized or miniature medals.
Can a service member earn the same medal multiple times?
Yes, military personnel can earn the same decoration more than once. When this happens, they wear a small attachment on the ribbon or military medal, such as an oak leaf cluster or a service star, to indicate multiple military medals.
Honoring the Bravery of Our Service Members
We hope this list of military medals from highest to lowest gave you valuable insights into the military's system of honors. From the Medal of Honor down to the Purple Heart, each decoration represents a unique story of bravery, sacrifice, and dedication to the United States.
If you want to learn more about military history or verify a family member's service records, consider reaching out to the National Archives. You can request official military service records and learn the incredible stories behind the military medals your loved ones earned.
Lastly, given this list we've provided is not a full list, check out our order of precedence page that has a complete list of all medals and ribbons of the U.S. Armed Forces.