Combat Action Ribbon

Combat Action Ribbon
Top: Navy Combat Action Ribbon Bottom: Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon
Awarded by United States Navy United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard
Type	Service ribbon (No medal; decoration)
Eligibility	Satisfactory performance under enemy fire while actively participating in a ground or maritime engagement.
Awarded for	Active participation in ground or surface combat on or after December 7, 1941.
Status	Current issue
Statistics
Established	Navy Combat Action Ribbon (U.S. Department of the Navy): February 17, 1969 Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon (U.S. Department of Homeland Security): July 16, 2008
First awarded	Navy Combat Action Ribbon: 1969 (retroactive to March 1961)
Precedence
Next (higher)	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Coast Guard Commandant's Letter of Commendation
Equivalent	Air Force Combat Action Medal
Related	The Army Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Medical Badge, and Combat Action Badge.

The Combat Action Ribbon or "CAR", is a United States Navy and United States Coast Guard military decoration. The Navy CAR was authorized on 17 February 1969 and may be awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps in the grade of captain/colonel and below, "who have actively participated in ground or surface combat". The Coast Guard CAR was authorized on 16 July 2008 and may be awarded to members of the Coast Guard in the grade of captain and below, "who have actively participated in ground or maritime combat".

The Navy Combat Action Ribbon is retroactive to 7 December 1941 and the Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon is retroactive to 1 May 1975.

To be considered for a Combat Action Ribbon evidence must establish the military member engaged the enemy, and was under hostile fire or attacked by the enemy. Significant Limitation: A member's mere presence in an area where combat is occurring or in a designated combat zone does NOT qualify the member for the award.

The Combat Action Ribbon is awarded only to individual members. The CAR is not awarded to a military unit, station, or group.

The Combat Action Ribbon is a ribbon-only award; unlike other services, no medal or metal badge is awarded. Compare: The U.S. Army equivalent to the Combat Action Ribbon is the Combat Action Badge ("CAB"), Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Combat Medical Badge. A U.S. Air Force combat participant is awarded the Air Force Combat Action Medal (AFCAM).

Private Party Vendors: Some private companies selling replacement decorations or awards also advertise for sale, e.g., a commemorative combat action medal, combat tribute, or combat certificate. Some medallions are stylized from elements of various military combat action awards. Such medallions are considered merely decorative, have no military significance or recognition, and are not authorized for wear by an active duty member, on the uniform or otherwise.

The Combat Action Ribbon is worn in order of precedence on a member's "ribbon rack" displayed on the left side of a member's uniform. Only one Combat Action Ribbon is authorized. Additional combat action awards are signified with appropriate star award device attached to the member's Combat Action Ribbon (e.g. a small bronze colored star to signify an additional CAR award).