Awards and decorations of the National Guard are presented to members of the National Guard and sometimes to members of the state defense forces in addition to regular United States military decorations. Each of the state governments of the United States maintains a series of military decorations for issuance to members of the National Guard, with such awards presented under the authority of the various state adjutants general.
Active or reserve federal forces veterans who subsequently serve in the National Guard wear all federal awards first, then state awards. Those National Guard soldiers and airmen who subsequently serve in the active or reserve federal forces of the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or United States Air Force (i.e., as active duty or reserve members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard) may not continue to wear and display such decorations on a military uniform, unless such activation is under Title 32 status. Active duty regulations allow federal soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines to accept but not to wear state awards.
Most states authorize the wear of other states' awards if a soldier or airman has earned awards from a state or territory to which they are not presently assigned. The order of precedence is typically the presently assigned state, followed by awards from the District of Columbia, then other states by their order of admission.
The following is a list of National Guard decorations, as issued by each of the fifty United States; Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.
Alabama Alabama National Guard State Awards:
Alabama Distinguished Service Medal Alabama Commendation Medal Alabama Phenix City Civil Disturbance Medal Alabama Operation Desert Storm Ribbon Alabama Veterans Service Medal Alabama National Emergency Service Medal Alabama Special Service Medal Alabama Faithful Service Medal Alabama Recruiting Ribbon Alabama Active Duty Basic Training Medal
Alaska Alaska National Guard State Awards:AKNGM 1616.01, enclosure G (14 Apr 17)
Alaska Decoration of Honor Alaska Heroism Medal Alaska Distinguished Service Medal Alaska Legion of Merit Alaska Meritorious Service Medal Alaska Air Medal Alaska Commendation Medal Alaska Achievement Medal Alaska Humanitarian Service Medal Alaska State Service Medal Alaska Community Service Medal Alaska Domestic Emergency Ribbon Alaska Marksmanship Medal Alaska Homeland Security Medal Alaska Recruiting Ribbon Alaska State Partnership Program Ribbon Alaska Cold War Victory Ribbon Alaska Territorial Guard Medal Alaska Governor's Distinguished Unit Citation Adjutant General's Marksmanship Proficiency Award (Badge) Governor's Twenty Award (Tab)
Arizona Arizona National Guard State Awards:
Arizona Medal of Valor Arizona Adjutant General's Medal Arizona Distinguished Service Medal Arizona Meritorious Service Medal Arizona Airman of the Year Ribbon Arizona Southwest Asia Service Support Ribbon Arizona Community Service Ribbon Arizona Exceptionally Long Service Medal Arizona Long Service Medal Arizona Service Ribbon Arizona State Active Duty Service Ribbon Arizona First Sergeant Ribbon Arizona Recruiting Ribbon Arizona Overseas Ribbon Arizona Military Academy Ribbon (OCS) Arizona Military Academy Ribbon (NCO) (No longer awarded) Arizona Re-enlistment Ribbon (No longer awarded) Arizona Initial Active Duty for Training Ribbon (No longer awarded) Arizona Honor Attendance Ribbon (No Longer Awarded)
Arkansas Arkansas National Guard State Awards: Arkansas Medal of Honor Arkansas Military Medal Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal Arkansas Exceptional Service Medal Arkansas Commendation Medal Arkansas Federal Service Ribbon Arkansas Service Ribbon Arkansas Emergency Service Ribbon Arkansas Homeland Defense Ribbon Arkansas Recruiting Ribbon Arkansas Military Funeral Honors Service Ribbon (Picture Unavailable)
California California National Guard State Awards:
California Medal of Valor California Military Cross Order of California CA Legion of Merit. California Medal of Merit California Commendation Medal CA Achievement Medal California Good Conduct Medal California Service Medal California Enlisted Trainers Excellence Ribbon California Enlisted Excellence Ribbon California Recruiting Achievement Ribbon California National Guard Federal Service Ribbon California State Service Ribbon California Senior Enlisted Leadership Ribbon California Counterdrug Service Ribbon California Drill Attendance Ribbon California Memorial Medal California Governor's Outstanding Unit Citation California Commanding General's Meritorious Unit Citation
Colorado Colorado National Guard State Awards:
Colorado Meritorious Conduct Medal Colorado Meritorious Service Medal Colorado Soldier/Airman of the Year Award Colorado Commendation Ribbon Colorado Achievement Ribbon Colorado NCO Command Tour Ribbon Colorado Active Service Medal Colorado Long Service Medal Colorado TAG Outstanding Unit Citation Colorado State Emergency Service Ribbon Colorado State Foreign Deployment Service Ribbon Colorado State Mobilization Support Ribbon Colorado Recruiting Ribbon
Connecticut Connecticut National Guard State Awards: Connecticut Medal of Valor - "The Adjutant General and two officers of field grade or above, detailed by the Adjutant General, shall act as a board to receive recommendations through military channels for the award of the medal of valor to any member of the armed forces of the state who, by reason of conspicuous gallantry, at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty, while on military service, is recommended for the award of such medal of valor, and to make such awards as the board finds suitable." Connecticut Medal of Merit - "The Adjutant General and two officers of field grade or above, appointed by the Adjutant General, shall constitute a board of officers to receive recommendations, through military channels, for the award of the medal of merit to any member of the armed forces of the state who has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding service while a member of the armed forces of the state and to make such awards as the board finds suitable." Connecticut Medal of Achievement - "The Adjutant General and two officers of field grade or above, appointed by the Adjutant General, shall constitute a board of officers to receive recommendations, through military channels, for the award, within available appropriations, of the medal of achievement to any member of the armed forces of the state, as defined in section 27-2, the armed forces of the United States or the armed forces of any other state, who has distinguished himself or herself through outstanding achievement or meritorious service during the performance of any state military service. A bronze oak leaf cluster shall be issued in lieu of succeeding awards and a silver oak leaf cluster shall be worn in lieu of five bronze oak leaf clusters." Connecticut Veteran Wartime Service Medal - "The Commissioner of Veterans Affairs in conjunction with the Adjutant General shall award a ribbon and medal to each veteran who served in time of war, as defined in subsection (a) of section 27-103, and who either (1) was a resident of this state at the time he or she was called to active duty for such service, or (2) is domiciled in this state on the date of such award. The commissioner in conjunction with the Adjutant General shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, setting forth the process for designing the ribbon and medal, identifying veterans who are eligible for the ribbon and medal under this section and establishing procedures for distributing the ribbon and medal to each eligible veteran. The cost of the ribbons and medals shall be paid from the funds appropriated to the military assistance account within the Military Department. Within existing budgetary resources, awards under this section may be made posthumously for veterans who died on or after November 12, 1918." Connecticut Long Service Medal - "The Adjutant General, upon receipt of an application, shall present the long service medal adopted by this state to each soldier or sailor who has completed ten years' faithful service in the armed forces of the state and for each additional five years' service therein the adopted clasp in exchange. In the determination of length of service, the term of service of any member of the armed forces of the state with the military or naval forces of the United States in time of war since April 21, 1898, upon proof of honorable discharge from the same, may be added to the number of years served with the armed forces of the state." Connecticut Mobilization Service Ribbon (Formerly the Connecticut Desert Storm Campaign Ribbon) - "The Adjutant General may issue an appropriate service ribbon to members of the National Guard or organized militia who were called to active service in the armed forces of the state or United States for at least thirty consecutive days in support of any military operation commencing after September 11, 2001, during a time of war, as defined in section 27-103. A bronze service star shall be issued in lieu of succeeding awards and a silver service star shall be worn in lieu of five bronze stars. The ribbon may be awarded posthumously." Connecticut Emergency Service Ribbon - "The Adjutant General, at his or her discretion, may issue an appropriate service ribbon to all members of the armed forces of the state ordered to active duty in time of emergency for upholding the law and preserving order, protecting lives and property, assisting civil authorities, providing aid and relief to civilians in disaster or similar service ordered by the Governor. A bronze oak leaf cluster shall be issued in lieu of succeeding awards and a silver oak leaf cluster shall be worn in lieu of five bronze oak leaf clusters." Connecticut Selected Reserve Force Medal - "The Adjutant General may issue the selected reserve force ribbon to members of the armed forces of the state who have served honorably in a selected reserve force unit designated by the United States Army for a period of at least one year from October 1, 1965, to September 3, 1969, inclusive. The award may be issued to current, retired or separated members of the armed forces of the state, and may be awarded posthumously." Connecticut Outstanding Unit Award - "The Adjutant General shall issue an appropriate service ribbon to all members of the unit declared to be the outstanding company-size unit in the Connecticut National Guard in accordance with National Guard regulations, provided such members participated in at least fifty per cent of the unit's training activities during the period covered by the award. A bronze oak leaf cluster shall be issued in lieu of succeeding awards and a silver oak leaf cluster shall be worn in lieu of five bronze oak leaf clusters." Connecticut Soldier/Airman/NCO of the Year Ribbon - "The Adjutant General shall issue an achievement ribbon to the soldier, airman and noncommissioned officer of the year in the Connecticut National Guard."