Award stars
| 5⁄16 inch star | |
|---|---|
 
Gold and Silver 5⁄16 inch stars
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| Awarded by United States | |
| Type | Ribbon device |
| Awarded for | to denote a subsequent decoration. |
| Status | Currently in use |
A 5⁄16 inch star is a miniature gold or silver 5⁄16 inch star that is authorized by the United States Armed Forces as a ribbon device for a specific set of decorations of the Department of the Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to denote subsequent decorations. A gold star represents one additional award, while a silver star is worn in lieu of five gold stars.
A 5⁄16 inch "silver star" is not to be confused with representing a "Silver Star" medal.
5⁄16 inch stars are worn on a medal suspension and service ribbon with one point of the star pointing up. Up to five stars can be worn on a ribbon. There are no higher degrees of 5⁄16 inch stars authorized after five silver 5⁄16 inch stars. On miniature medals, a special 1⁄8 inch star is worn on the medal's suspension ribbon in lieu of a 5⁄16 inch star. If the number of authorized 5⁄16 inch stars exceeds five, a second service ribbon is worn after the first service ribbon. The second service ribbon counts as one additional personal award, after which more stars may be added to the second ribbon. If future awards reduce the number of stars worn on the first ribbon due to gold 5⁄16 inch stars being replaced by a silver 5⁄16 inch star, the second service ribbon is removed and the appropriate number of star devices are placed on the first service ribbon.
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Wikipedia