page_title: Combat Action Ribbon
hierarchical_section_title: Combat Action Ribbon
context_page_description: The Combat Action Ribbon, is a United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States Marine Corps military decoration awarded to those U.S. sea service members "who have actively participated in ground or surface combat." Navy and Coast Guardsmen sailors, and Marines in clandestine, stealth, or special operations are deemed eligible for consideration of the award.
  The Navy Combat Action Ribbon was first authorized on 17 February 1969, and is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps with the ranks of or lower than captain and colonel respectively. Coast Guardsmen in Vietnam combat operations were deemed eligible for award of the Navy Combat Action Ribbon.
  Air combat does not meet the criteria for the Combat Action Ribbon; Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and enlisted Naval Air Crewman, while in the performance of aerial flight, are eligible for consideration for the Air Medal, although this award requires far more combat exposure over a prolonged period.
context_section_description: The Combat Action Ribbon (colloquially "CAR"), is a United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States Marine Corps military decoration awarded to those U.S. sea service members "who have actively participated in ground or surface combat." Navy and Coast Guardsmen sailors, and Marines in clandestine, stealth, or special operations are deemed eligible for consideration of the award. 
  The Navy Combat Action Ribbon was first authorized on 17 February 1969, and is awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps with the ranks of or lower than captain and colonel respectively. Coast Guardsmen in Vietnam combat operations were deemed eligible for award of the Navy Combat Action Ribbon (the Coast Guard did not have its own Combat Action Ribbon until 2008). 
  Air combat does not meet the criteria for the Combat Action Ribbon; Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and enlisted Naval Air Crewman, while in the performance of aerial flight, are eligible for consideration for the Air Medal, although this award requires far more combat exposure over a prolonged period.    
  The Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon was authorized on 16 July 2008, and may be awarded to members of the Coast Guard in the rank 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 (prior to 1975 Coast Guard members in Vietnam combat were awarded the Navy Combat Action ribbon).
caption: Top: Navy Combat Action Ribbon 
   Bottom: Coast Guard Combat Action Ribbon