The Complete List of Military Awards: Highest to Lowest
Curious about military decorations? Explore our comprehensive list of military medals from highest to lowest, detailing the medals with highest precedence for valor and merit.
Jared Zabaldo |
The Depot
The Complete List of Military Awards: Highest to Lowest
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Tiger Stripe Camo: Does It Hold Any Significance?Tiger Stripe Camo: Does It Hold Any Significance?
Tiger stripe camo. If you’ve been around the military for any length of time the mention of the tiger stripe camouflage pattern, also known as tiger stripe camo, conjures images...
Blog Staff |
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Thin Green Line: What Is It and What Does It Mean?Thin Green Line: What Is It and What Does It Mean?
In recent years, the meaning of thin lines with distinct colors have taken on special meanings for those in certain professions. We’ve all heard of the thin blue line which...
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What Is Protected Veteran Status And How To Get ItWhat Is Protected Veteran Status And How To Get It
Protected veteran is a term defined by the U.S. government as someone who is disabled, recently separated from the military, served in wartime or during a campaign, or earned the...
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PTSD Month: How You Can Raise PTSD AwarenessPTSD Month: How You Can Raise PTSD Awareness
There was a time when post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) wasn’t well-understood and there were stigmas attached to those who suffered from it. Once known as battle fatigue and shell shock,...
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11 General Military Orders Broken Down One-By-One11 General Military Orders Broken Down One-By-One
General orders in the U.S. military are the most basic responsibility given to a service member. They are a framework on which the entirety of their service is constructed and...
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Army Cadences for Marching and RunningArmy Cadences for Marching and Running
A cadence is defined as an inflection of the voice, but it can also be a rhythm or a beat. An Army cadence is actually both; an inflection of the...
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Military Separation CodesMilitary Separation Codes
Any individual who has served on active duty since 1950 knows the DD Form 214. It is the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and it is issued...
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45th Infantry Division: Who Were They?45th Infantry Division: Who Were They?
The original 45th Infantry Division insignia was, ironically enough, the swastika until 1933. As the Nazis took control in Germany, the swastika insignia was dropped and eventually it was replaced...
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Marines vs Navy: Which Military Branch is Better?Marines vs Navy: Which Military Branch is Better?
The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps are very unique branches of service and while they both involve maritime service and both are separate branches of the military, they...
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Marines Basic Training: Can You Make the Cut?Marines Basic Training: Can You Make the Cut?
Talk to any recruit who has just enlisted and you likely will hear them say something like “I hope I make it through basic training.” Hearing that comment, the old...
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The Navy's Official Account of Operation Red WingsThe Navy's Official Account of Operation Red Wings
On June 28, 2005, U.S. Navy SEALs, Michael Murphy, Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson and Marcus Luttrell were scouting Ahmad Shah, a terrorist who grew up in the mountains near where...
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Navy vs Air Force: Which branch should you join?
Navy vs Air Force: Which branch should you join?
Navy vs Air Force? They are both exceptional places to work, but how and where, depends on the individual and as mentioned before, the needs of the military.
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Military TacticsMilitary Tactics
Military tactics and military strategies are sometimes used interchangeably and mostly incorrectly. And while there are many military strategies and just as many military tactics, we will only focus on...
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The U.S. Military's Code of ConductThe U.S. Military's Code of Conduct
The U.S. military Code of Conduct is comprised of six articles that set behavioral obligations for U.S. military service members who are in combat or held in captivity as prisoners...
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An Oasis in ParadiseAn Oasis in Paradise
Many service personnel do not realize that the U.S. military operates Armed Forces Recreation Centers located in Florida, Hawaii, Korea and Germany. I’ve been to all four and each of...
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The Capture of U-505 Lives OnThe Capture of U-505 Lives On
In May 1944 a U.S. Navy hunter-killer task force sailed from Norfolk, Virginia across the Atlantic to the Canary Islands to conduct anti-submarine patrols. For weeks the group searched with...
Steven Alvarez |
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Grissom Air Museum Worth the TripGrissom Air Museum Worth the Trip
Just outside of Grissom Joint Reserve Base in Indiana is the Grissom Air Museum and if you’re in the area or just passing through, this is a great place to...
Steven Alvarez |
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Shape Your Beret in Five Easy Steps
Shape Your Beret in Five Easy Steps
Let me start off by saying, I’m not a fan of berets, at least not in the way some of the military uses them. They’re hot, impractical, but if you’ve...
Steven Alvarez |
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Freedom Fighter: Capt. Francisco MenéndezFreedom Fighter: Capt. Francisco Menéndez
In 1738, Spanish militia Capt. Francisco Menéndez was the commander of a North Florida military garrison in St. Augustine known as Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose. The area...
Steven Alvarez |
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Nemo's LegacyNemo's Legacy
In December 1966, 22-year-old U.S. Air Force Airman Bob Throneburg was on patrol with his K-9 Nemo at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Vietnam. The base had been attacked...
Steven Alvarez |
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Fort Hood's Remembrance DisplayFort Hood's Remembrance Display
It hits you. It's not something you can really put into words, but when you come walking up to the III Corps and Fort Hood Remembrance Display sprawled across solemnly...
Steven Alvarez |
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The Accidental AviatorThe Accidental Aviator
Aircraft contrails in the sky are usually indicators of where an aircraft has come from and where it is heading. If the life of retired U.S. Army Maj. Robert F....
Steven Alvarez |
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Cybersecurity Nonprofit Offers Female Veterans Apprenticeship ProgramCybersecurity Nonprofit Offers Female Veterans Apprenticeship Program
A national nonprofit organization has launched a female veteran apprenticeship program to help members bridge the gap from military career experience to cybersecurity careers. Women In Cybersecurity, known as WiCyS,...
DK McDonald |
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VA Launches Rapid Retraining Assistance ProgramVA Launches Rapid Retraining Assistance Program
Job losses due to COVID-19 have strongly affected veterans; the U.S. Department of Labor reported April’s veteran unemployment rate at 5.3 percent. To assist veterans to reemployment, U.S. Department of...
DK McDonald |
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JAVC Fills the Gaps for VeteransJAVC Fills the Gaps for Veterans
Over the past decade, giving a hand up and not a handout has assisted more than 3,000 veterans in a Northern Arizona county. Led by Dorn Patrick Farrell, the Jerry...
DK McDonald |
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Helping Veterans Avoid ScamsHelping Veterans Avoid Scams
U.S. Postal Inspection Service, AARP and Veterans Affairs Privacy Service have joined forces to help veterans avoid being scammed of their money, their identity or their benefits. Operation Protect Veterans...
DK McDonald |
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Honoring Vietnam VeteransHonoring Vietnam Veterans
John Podlaski originally intended his website to help market his fictionalized memoir, Cherries: A Vietnam War Story. It has since grown into an amplifier for stories that still need to...
DK McDonald |
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Book Chronicles Purple Heart Recipients of WWIIBook Chronicles Purple Heart Recipients of WWII
The book Sacrifice Remembered is the result of two years of research. Schwind brings together the stories of service members from the Army, Army Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast...
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Dan Kyle a Sailor Turned ActorDan Kyle a Sailor Turned Actor
Transitioning from military to civilian life often takes people in unexpected directions; for one former U.S. Navy aviation electronics technician, post-service life has included spending time as a zombie, an...
DK McDonald |
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VA Offers COVID Vaccines to all VetsVA Offers COVID Vaccines to all Vets
The Department of Veterans Affairs will soon provide COVID-19 vaccinations to all veterans, their spouses and caregivers regardless of whether or not they receive their healthcare through the VA.
DK McDonald |
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When Should I Wear My Army Ribbons and Medals?When Should I Wear My Army Ribbons and Medals?
How to wear military medals and ribbons while in uniform is ordinarily covered by the regulations of each branch of service. However, here are a few tips on what to...
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Why Are There Two Dog Tags?Why Are There Two Dog Tags?
According to the Defense Department, in July 1916, the U.S. Army required two dog tags be issued to all military personnel. The first tag was to remain with the body,...
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The History and Mysteries Behind Dog TagsThe History and Mysteries Behind Dog Tags
Everybody loves a good war story and for decades myths have revolved around how dog tags were shoved into soldiers' mouths to help gases escape from the dead body and...
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WWII Dog Tags ExplainedWWII Dog Tags Explained
Part of understanding how to read WWII dog tags is knowing that dog tags during this period evolved and had several iterations starting in 1940. The first edition of WWII...
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The Silver Star for Bravery in the MilitaryThe Silver Star for Bravery in the Military
The Silver Star is the third-highest award for valor in combat presented by the United States to members of the U.S. military. The award is given for gallantry in action against an...
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Everything You Need to Know About R.E.D. Friday
Everything You Need to Know About R.E.D. Friday
The e-mail also recommended to the recipient that they not only wear red for RED Fridays (RED is an acronym that means Remember Everyone Deployed), but that they circulate the e-mail and...
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Things to Consider When Choosing a Military Branch to Join
Things to Consider When Choosing a Military Branch to Join
As you pursue your military service don’t lose sight of the fact that your goals can complement your military service. Remember, being in the military is not about you. You...
Steven Alvarez |
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Providing Veterans Someone to Talk toProviding Veterans Someone to Talk to
Compassionate Contact Corps is a volunteer-driven program providing constructive engagement while keeping the veteran and the volunteers safely socially distanced.
DK McDonald |
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How to Make a Shadow BoxHow to Make a Shadow Box
Some people are good with their hands and some can barely use a screwdriver. There are those who are more comfortable than others when it comes to creating crafts or...
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What to Expect in Army Boot CampWhat to Expect in Army Boot Camp
For individuals who pursue military careers, basic training, known in the ranks by various unofficial titles such as boot camp, BMT, BCT, and basic, is the entry-level military training program...
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What Does A Purple Heart Mean? 5 Facts You Didn't KnowWhat Does A Purple Heart Mean? 5 Facts You Didn't Know
The Purple Heart is also an award that military personnel are automatically entitled to if they meet the criteria. A wounded or killed service member is not recommended for the...
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What is the Difference Between the Army and the Marines?What is the Difference Between the Army and the Marines?
Army vs Marines. The two branches have similar missions, but they are vastly different cultures. We take a look at how the size of these organizations can help you make...
Steven Alvarez |
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The Evolution of the Thin Ribbon RackThe Evolution of the Thin Ribbon Rack
In the early 1900s the U.S. military wanted to make it easier for their personnel to wear awards and decorations on their duty uniforms, so the ribbon rack was created....
Steven Alvarez |
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History of U.S. Military MedalsHistory of U.S. Military Medals
Many believe that the Badge of Military Merit, later known as the Purple Heart, was the first U.S. military medal ever awarded. Think again. Here's a brief history of U.S....
Steven Alvarez |
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The Stolen Valor Pandemic
The Stolen Valor Pandemic
What is stolen valor? The definition of stolen valor is when a person claims they have served in the military, or they embellish their rank or fraudulently claim that they were...
Steven Alvarez |
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Today in Military HistoryToday in Military History
There are 365 days in a year and every day is full of rich, American military history. There is a lot to choose from so USAMM has picked the beginning,...
Steven Alvarez |
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History of Women in the MilitaryHistory of Women in the Military
Women have served in the military since before their was a nation and that legacy paved the way for women today who serve proudly in all branches of the military...
Steven Alvarez |
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What is the most elite military unit in the U.S.?What is the most elite military unit in the U.S.?
Here’s USAMM’s list of elite military units that might help you decide what is the most elite military unit in the U.S.?
Steven Alvarez |
