5/16 inch star#Decorations and awards

{{distinguish|text=the Silver Star medal or service stars}}{{DISPLAYTITLE:5/16 inch star}}{{Infobox military award

|name={{Frac|5|16}} inch star

|image=Award-star-gold-3d.svg

|caption={{Frac|5|16}} Inch Star (gold)

|presenter=United States

|type=Ribbon device

|awarded_for=to denote a subsequent decoration.

|status=Currently in use

|image2=Award-star-silver-3d.png

|caption2={{Frac|5|16}} Inch Star (silver)

}}

A {{Frac|5|16}} inch star (9.7mm) is a miniature gold or silver five-pointed star that is authorized by the United States Armed Forces as a ribbon device to denote subsequent awards for specific decorations of the Department of the Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.{{cite web|title=Department of Defense Manual 1348.33 Volume 3 |url=http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833vol3.pdf |work=Defense Technical Information Center |publisher=Department of Defense |access-date=1 July 2012 |pages=16, 52–53 |date=23 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226205442/http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/134833vol3.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2013 }}{{cite web|title=Medals and Awards Manual COMDTINST M1650.25D |url=https://www.uscg.mil/history/people/awards/docs/2008_USCGMedals&Awards_1650_25D.pdf |work=United States Coast Guard CG-612 Directives and Publications Division |access-date=1 July 2012 |pages=1–16 |date=May 2008 }}{{cite web|title=Commissioned Corps Instruction CC26.3.3 Wear of Ribbons and Medals |url=http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/ccpm26_3_3.pdf |work=Commissioned Corps Management Information System website |publisher=United States Public Health Service |access-date=1 July 2012 |page=12 |date=28 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915073658/http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/CCPM26_3_3.pdf |archive-date=15 September 2012 }}{{cite web |title=NOAA Corps Directives, Chapter 12 PART 6 - Insignia, Medals, and Ribbon Bars |url=http://www.corpscpc.noaa.gov/procedures/corps_directives/chapter_12/ncd_ch12part6.pdf |work=Commissioned Corps Personnel Center |access-date=1 July 2012}} A gold star indicates a second or subsequent decoration, while a silver star is worn in lieu of five gold stars.

A ({{Frac|5|16}} inch) silver star is not to be confused with representing a Silver Star Medal (Silver Star).{{cite web|title=Department of Defense Manual 1348.33 Volume 3 |url=https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/134833_vol3.PDF?ver=2019-06-20-104936-377 |publisher=Department of Defense Technical Information Center |access-date=24 September 2020 |pages=11–13 |format=PDF |date=20 June 2019 |orig-year=21 December 2016}}

{{Frac|5|16|}} inch star usage

{{Frac|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 stars authorized after five silver stars. On miniature medals, a special star is worn on the medal's suspension ribbon in lieu of a star.Secretary of the Navy Instruction (SECNAVINST) 1650.1H, dated 22 August 2006, Subject: Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual, paragraph 123. If the number of authorized 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 stars being replaced by a silver star, the second service ribbon is removed and the appropriate number of star devices are placed on the first service ribbon. When bronze or gold stars or bronze oak leaf cluster attachments are worn in addition to a silver star or silver oak leaf attachment, the bronze or gold stars (bronze oak leaf clusters) are arranged symmetrically on the ribbon in relation to the centered silver device. For example: The first star (cluster) to the wearer's right of the centered silver device; the second to the wearer's left, etc.[https://timemilitary.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/unif-navy.pdf United States Navy Uniform Regulations Manual] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902184338/https://timemilitary.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/unif-navy.pdf |date=2018-09-02 }}, art. 5316.2.d.

= Examples =

The following are examples of the first through twenty-sixth awards of a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with the gold and silver {{Frac|5|16|}} inch stars:

class="wikitable"
First awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Second awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 2nd award.svg
Third awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 3rd award.svg
Fourth awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 4th award.svg
Fifth awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 5th award.svg
Sixth awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 6th award.svg
Seventh awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 7th award.svg
Eighth awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 8th award.svg
Ninth awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 9th award.svg
Tenth award{{ribbon devices|number=9|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Eleventh awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 11th award.svg
Twelfth awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 12th award.svg
Thirteenth awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 13th award.svg
Fourteenth award{{ribbon devices|number=13|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Fifteenth award{{ribbon devices|number=13|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Sixteenth awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 16th award.svg
Seventeenth award{{ribbon devices|number=16|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Eighteenth award{{ribbon devices|number=17|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Nineteenth award{{ribbon devices|number=17|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Twentieth award{{ribbon devices|number=17|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Twenty-first awardImage:Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon, 21st award.svg
Twenty-second award{{ribbon devices|number=21|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Twenty-third award{{ribbon devices|number=21|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Twenty-fourth award{{ribbon devices|number=21|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Twenty-fifth award{{ribbon devices|number=21|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
Twenty-sixth award{{ribbon devices|number=20|other_device=sas|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}

Authorized decorations

{{Frac|5|16}} inch stars are authorized for wear on the following United States Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration decorations ({{frac|5|16}} inch stars are not authorized for wear on non-decorations{{clarify|reason=What is a non-decoration? Use a term that is clearer to those not familiar with service-specific award lingo.|date=June 2022}} when a subsequent decoration is awarded to members of the seven uniformed services: the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The US Army and US Air Force use an oak leaf cluster to indicate a subsequent decoration (oak leaf clusters are also authorized for wear on some non-decorations{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}{{clarify|reason=What is a non-decoration? Use a clearer term or the correct term; this seems to be an error in terminology. How can a device be attached to a non-decoration?|date=June 2022}}); a bronze oak leaf cluster is equivalent to a gold star and a silver oak leaf cluster is equivalent to a silver star.

class="wikitable"
Navy and Marine Corps personnelCoast Guard personnelPublic Health Service personnelNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration personnel{{cite web|title=NOAA Corps Directives Chapter 12 Part 7-Awards|url=http://www.corpscpc.noaa.gov/procedures/corps_directives/chapter_12/ncd_ch12part7.pdf|work=Commissioned Corps Personnel Center|access-date=1 July 2012|archive-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227093149/http://www.corpscpc.noaa.gov/procedures/corps_directives/chapter_12/ncd_ch12part7.pdf|url-status=dead}}Army and Air Force personnel[http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf Army Regulation 600-8-22] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722181345/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf |date=2011-07-22 }}[http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/afi36-2803.pdf Air Force Instruction 36-2803] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216113644/http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI36-2803.pdf |date=2013-02-16 }}
Navy CrossCoast Guard Cross
Navy or Coast Guard Distinguished Service MedalNavy or Coast Guard Distinguished Service MedalNavy, Coast Guard, or PHS Distinguished Service MedalNavy, Coast Guard, or PHS Distinguished Service Medal; Commerce Gold MedalNavy or Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star MedalSilver StarSilver Star MedalSilver Star Medal
Commerce Silver Medal
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritLegion of MeritLegion of Merit
Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross
Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard MedalNavy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard MedalNavy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard MedalNavy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard MedalNavy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal
Bronze Star MedalBronze Star MedalBronze Star MedalBronze Star Medal
Purple Heart MedalPurple Heart MedalPurple HeartPurple Heart
Commerce Bronze Medal
Navy or Coast Guard Meritorious Service MedalNavy or Coast Guard Meritorious Service MedalNavy, Coast Guard, PHS, or NOAA Corps Meritorious Service MedalNavy, Coast Guard, PHS, or NOAA Corps Meritorious Service MedalNavy or Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal
Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal or NOAA Administrator's AwardNOAA Administrator's Award or Surgeon General's Exemplary Service Medal
Public Health Service Outstanding Service MedalPublic Health Service Outstanding Service Medal
Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Commendation MedalNavy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Commendation MedalNavy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Commendation MedalNavy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Commendation MedalNavy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Achievement MedalNavy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Achievement MedalNavy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Achievement MedalNavy and Marine Corps, Coast Guard, PHS, and NOAA Achievement MedalNavy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Achievement Medal
Combat Action RibbonCombat Action RibbonCombat Action RibbonCombat Action Ribbon
Commandant's Letter of Commendation RibbonPublic Health Service Citation, Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon, and NOAA Director's RibbonNOAA Director's Ribbon, Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon, and Public Health Service Citation

See also

References

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