Service star A service star is a miniature metal device worn by members of the seven uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons issued by the uniformed services to denote additional awards or periods of service . Depending on the circumstances , they may also be referred to as campaign stars or battle stars , depending on the award and the manner in which they are used . Service , campaign , and battle stars are bronze or silver in appearance , 3 / 16 inches in height , and worn with one point of the star pointing up on the suspension ribbons of medals and on service ribbon s . A silver service star is worn in lieu of five bronze stars . Bronze and silver 3 / 16 inch stars are sometimes confused with individual decorations such as the Silver Star medal and the Bronze Star Medal . The silver 3 / 16 inch star is also similar to the silver 5 / 16 inch star , which is issued for subsequent awards of other individual decorations . Service stars . For United States service medals such as the Prisoner of War Medal , National Defense Service Medal , Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal , Navy Expeditionary Medal , Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal , Humanitarian Service Medal , Air and Space Campaign Medal , and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal , bronze and silver service stars are used to indicate additional awards . The service ribbon itself indicates the first award , with a bronze service star being added to indicate the second award . If applicable , a silver service star is worn in lieu of five bronze stars . For example , when a service member is authorized to wear the National Defense Service Medal , the potential addition of service stars for participation in up to four of the designated wartime conflicts would be : Campaign stars . For United States campaign medal s such as the Korean Service Medal , Vietnam Service Medal , Southwest Asia Service Medal , Kosovo Campaign Medal , Afghanistan Campaign Medal , and Iraq Campaign Medal , bronze and silver campaign stars are worn to indicate the total number of campaign phases or periods an individual participated in . As a result , at least one campaign star will be worn on the ribbon . For example , when a service member is authorized to wear the Iraq Campaign Medal , the potential addition of bronze and silver service stars for the seven designated Iraq Campaign phases would be : Battle stars . Currently , the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal are authorized to be awarded with bronze and silver battle stars for personnel who were engaged in specific battles in combat under circumstances involving grave danger of death or serious bodily injury from enemy action . Only a combatant commander can initiate a request for a battle star . The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the approving authority . Only one award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Service Medal may be authorized for any individual ; therefore , no service stars are used . Historically , during World War II and the Korean War , commendations called " battle stars " were also issued to United States Navy warships for meritorious participation in battle , or for having suffered damage during battle conditions . Similarly , during the Vietnam War and afterwards , The Battle Effectiveness Award ( " Battle E " ) took the place of receiving battle stars for superior battle efficiency in place of combat operations . Obsolete awards . Although considered obsolete , service stars and campaign stars were also authorized for the World War I Victory Medal , American Defense Service Medal , American Campaign Medal , European - African - Middle Eastern Campaign Medal , and Asiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal . The specific manner of wear and symbolism of the stars varied from medal to medal . For example , a star on the American Campaign Medal indicated the service member had participated in an antisubmarine campaign . On others , stars were used on the medal ' s service ribbon in lieu of campaign claps worn on the suspension ribbon of the medal itself .