The British Armed Forces recognises service and personal accomplishments of individuals while a member of the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force with the awarding of various awards and decorations.

Together with rank and qualification badges, such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a serviceperson's career.

Order of wear All services use a common order of wear, in accordance with the 2019 order of wear: Guidance on the Order of Wear The Victoria Cross and the George Cross United Kingdom Orders United Kingdom Decorations Order of St John (all classes) United Kingdom Medals for Gallantry and for Distinguished Service United Kingdom Campaign and Operational Service Medals (including authorised United Nations medals and medals of other recognised international organisations). Worn in order of date of award United Kingdom Polar Medals United Kingdom Police Medals for Valuable Service United Kingdom Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar Medals Long Service and Efficiency Awards Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted by the Sovereign. Worn in order of date of award. Commonwealth Orders, Decorations and Medals instituted since 1949 otherwise than by the Sovereign (including those of the States of Malaysia and the State of Brunei). Worn in order of date of award. Foreign Orders. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award. Foreign Decorations. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award. Foreign Medals. If approved for wear, worn in order of date of award.

Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar medals were worn before campaign medals until November 1918, after which the order of wear was changed, with them now worn after campaign medals and before long service awards.

British military medals and ribbons

Military orders and decorations Emblem Description Postnom Established Eligibility Period Remarks Level 1 Decorations Victoria Cross VC 5 February 1856London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 5. January 1856 – present For valour in combat. George Cross GC 24 September 1940London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 3. 1940 – present For valour other than in combat. Orders – First Class Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) GCB 27 May 1725, Subjoined Statutes of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.Duckers, Peter, British Orders and Decorations, pp. 21–24. 27 May 1725 – present Prior to 2 January 1815, this grade was known as a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath. Member of the Order of Merit(Military Division) OM 23 June 1902Martin, Stanley, The Order of Merit, p. 31. 23 June 1902 – present Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire(Military Division) GBE 24 August 1917, Statutes of the Order of the British Empire.Duckers, Peter, British Orders and Decorations, pp. 30–32. 4 June 1917 – present Orders – Second Class Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath(Military Division) KCBDCB 2 January 1815 2 January 1815 – present Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire(Military Division) KBEDBE 24 August 1917 4 June 1917 – present Orders – Third Class Companion of the Order of the Bath(Military Division) CB 2 January 1815 1815 – present Commander of the Order of the British Empire(Military Division) CBE 24 August 1917 4 June 1917 – present Level 2A Decoration (Order) Companion of the Distinguished Service Order DSO 9 November 1886London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 2. 1885 – present, DSO Awards for the Battle of Ginnis and Third Anglo-Burmese War From October 1993 awarded for leadership only, replaced for gallantry by Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Orders – Fourth Class Officer of the Order of the British Empire(Military Division) OBE 24 August 1917 4 June 1917 – present Orders – Fifth Class Member of the Order of the British Empire(Military Division) MBE 24 August 1917 4 June 1917 – present Level 2A Indian Order (Decoration) Indian Order of Merit (1st Class)(Military Division) IOM 1837–1911 Replaced by the VC in 1911. Indian Order of Merit (2nd Class)(Military Division) IOM 1837–1947 Indian Order of Merit (3rd Class)(Military Division) IOM 1837–1947 Level 2A Decorations Conspicuous Gallantry Cross CGC October 1993 1993 – present Royal Red Cross (Class I) RRC 27 April 1883 1883 – present Level 3A Decorations Distinguished Service Cross DSC June 1901 1901 – present Awarded only to officers until 1993. Military Cross MC December 1914London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 4. 1914 – present Distinguished Flying Cross DFC June 1918 1918 – present Air Force Cross AFC 3 June 1918London Gazette, "Dates for the Introduction of Medals", p. 1. 1918 – present Royal Red Cross (Class II) ARRC 27 April 1883 1917 – present Order of British India (First Class) OBI 1837–1947 Order of British India (Second Class) OBI 1837–1947 Level 2B Medals Distinguished Conduct Medal DCM 1854 1854–1993 Replaced in October 1993 by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Conspicuous Gallantry Medal CGM 1874–1993 Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) CGM 1874 1874–1993 George Medal GM September 1940 1940 – present Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal 1907 1907–1942 King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal 1907 1907–1942 Level 3B Medals Indian Distinguished Service Medal IDSM June 1907 1907–1947 Distinguished Service Medal DSM October 1914 1914–1993 Equivalent awards for ORs to similarly named crosses for officers. Military Medal MM 25 March 1916 1916–1993 Distinguished Flying Medal DFM June 1918 1918–1993 Air Force Medal AFM 3 June 1918 1918–1993 Sea Gallantry Medal SGM 10 August 1854 1854 – present Burma Gallantry Medal BGM 10 May 1940Royal Warrant for the Burma Gallantry Medal, London Gazette, 4 September 1945, date accessed 6 April 2011. 1940–1948 King's Gallantry Medal KGM 20 June 1974 1974 – present British Empire Medal(Military Division) BEM 24 August 1917 4 June 1917 – 19932012–present King's Volunteer Reserves Medal KVRM 1999 1999 – present Level 4 Commendations Mentioned in Dispatches — 1919 1914 – present Insignia attached to appropriate campaign medal; if no campaign medal awarded, insignia attached after any medal ribbons King's/Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct — 1943 1939–1994 King's/Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air — 1942 1939–1994 King's Commendation for Bravery — 1994 1994 – present King's Commendation for Bravery in the Air — 1994 1994 – present King's Commendation for Valuable Service — 1994 1993 – present Note Eligibility period start dates reflect respective establishment dates, except where available evidence indicates otherwise.

Military campaign medals