Drill Instructor Ribbon A Drill Instructor Ribbon is a military award of the United States Armed Forces which is issued by the Navy , Air Force and United States Marine Corps . The Drill Instructor Ribbon recognizes those service members who are trained and qualified as military instructors to new recruits during initial basic training . Marine Corps . The Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon was created in July 1997 and recognizes those members of the United States Marine Corps who have successfully trained and qualified as Marine Corps Drill Instructors . To qualify , a Marine must hold the Military Occupational Specialty ( MOS ) of 0911 or must have served a successful tour of duty in one of the following positions : Furthermore , the duties of the Marine ' s billet must be executed satisfactorily for three years before the award is authorized . The Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon is retroactively authorized to October 6 , 1952 . Multiple awards of the ribbon are denoted by service star s . Navy . The Navy Recruit Training Service Ribbon was created in March 1998 by order of the Secretary of the Navy . The ribbon is retroactive to October 1995 and recognizes those enlisted members of the U . S . Navy who have served as RDC ( Recruit Division Commander ) s and have completed a successful basic training tour under the Navy Bureau of Education and Training . For the purposes of awarding the Navy Recruit Training Service Ribbon , a successful tour is deemed to be no less than three years of service , in command of no less than five divisions , free of disciplinary action or removal from authority for cause . Personnel assigned in a support capacity ( company assistants , echelon supervisors , liaison officers , instructors , or other personnel attached to the Recruit Training Command ) are not eligible for this ribbon . Additional awards of the Navy Recruit Training Service Ribbon are denoted by service star s . Air Force . The Air Force Military Training Instructor Ribbon is the United States Air Force equivalent of the Drill Instructor Ribbon . Created in December 1998 , the Basic Military Training Instructor Ribbon is awarded to any member of the Air Force who completes no less than twelve consecutive months of duty as a military training instructor attached to a U . S . Air Force training command . The Basic Military Training Instructor Ribbon may be awarded retroactively provided a service member was on active duty , or a member of a reserve component , as of December 1998 . Additional awards of the Military Training Instructor Ribbon are presented for each consecutive three year tour of duty as a military training instructor with such additional awards denoted by oak leaf clusters . The Air Force also presents the Air Education and Training Command Instructor Badge for those military instructors who so qualify . Both the instructor badge and the instructor ribbon may be awarded simultaneously for the same tour of service . Army and Coast Guard . The U . S . Army and United States Coast Guard do not issue a ribbon award for those who are qualified drill instructors . The Army provides the Drill Sergeant Identification Badge while the Coast Guard provides the Company Commander Insignia . External links .