Navy Unit Commendations

Navy Unit Commendation
(Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon)
Awarded by United States Secretary of the Navy
Type	Service ribbon (decoration)
Eligibility	U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard units; and friendly foreign armed forces units serving with the U.S. Armed Forces
Awarded for	Outstanding heroism in action against the enemy or extremely meritorious service (non-combat) in support of military operations.
Status	Currently awarded;
Statistics
Last awarded	On going
Precedence
Next (higher)	Presidential Unit Citation
Equivalent	DoD - Joint Meritorious Unit Award Army - Valorous Unit Award Air Force - Gallant Unit Citation Coast Guard - Coast Guard Unit Commendation
Next (lower)	Meritorious Unit Commendation
Streamer

The Navy Unit Commendation (NUC) is a United States Navy unit award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944.

Navy and U.S. Marine Corps commands may recommend any Navy or Marine Corps unit for the NUC that has distinguished itself by outstanding heroism in action against the enemy, but not sufficient to justify the award of the Presidential Unit Citation. A unit must have performed service of a character comparable to that which would merit the award of a Silver Star Medal for heroism, or a Legion of Merit for non-combat meritorious service to an individual. Normal performance of duty or participation in a large number of combat missions does not, in itself, justify the award. An award will not be made to a unit for actions of one or more of its component parts, unless the unit performed uniformly as a team, in a manner justifying collective recognition.

U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S Coast Guard units are also eligible to be awarded the NUC as long as they are directly attached or assigned to U.S. Navy or Marine Corps units during the time period or event for which the award is given. U.S. Army members of units awarded the NUC, wear the Navy Unit Commendation ribbon on the right side of the uniform jacket rather than left side along with any other unit award emblems which are authorized for wear. The NUC may be conferred upon the armed forces of friendly foreign nations serving with the U.S. Armed Forces, provided such units meet the standards established for Navy and Marine Corps units.

Additional awards of the Navy Unit Commendation are denoted by  ³⁄₁₆ inch bronze stars.

An official Navy Unit Commendation, 2004-2005: