Kentucky's State Awards and Decorations

Reference: KYARNGR 600-8-22 (AR) as of 10-04-01

State military decorations are awarded in recognition of heroism, meritorious service or achievement. State military decorations recognize achievement, which have significantly contributed to the readiness or effectiveness of a unit or organization, or have made a notable contribution to the morale or esprit de corps of unit or organization. Exceptional command as leadership of crew, team, section, squad or similar awards must be based on specific achievement. The State Awards and Decorations are listed in order of precedence.

Download a PDF file of the artwork above of all Kentucky National Guard awards and decorations (PDF 72K)

The Medal for Valor may be awarded to a member of the Kentucky Army National Guard who has Distinguished himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while in the service of the State and/or United States.

No award of the Medal for Valor shall be made except upon clear and uncontested proof of at least one eyewitness or person having personal knowledge of the act or deed.

Recommendation for award of the Medal for Valor will include supporting documents, which will be attached to the recommendation.

Description: The Kentucky Medal for Valor is a gold medal with the Great Seal of Kentucky superimposed on a cross combined with crossed sabers with words "Medal for Valor" inscribed around the seal. The medal is suspended from a ribbon of navy blue background, with two wide, vertical white bands. The recipients name and rank are engraved in the reverse side of the medal. The ribbon carries the same colors as described for the medal.

The Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal may be awarded to Kentucky Army National Guardsmen for the following:

• Act heroism performed under circumstances, which are of a lesser degree than that required for the award of the Medal for Valor.
• For exceptionally meritorious service to the Kentucky Army National Guardsman in a position of responsibility to merit recognition where the performance is clearly exceptional.
• For many years of service in successive positions of responsibility where the performance of duties has been exceptional.
• Upon retirement for more than 20 years of service in the Kentucky Army National Guard.

Description: The Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal is a gold medal with the Great Seal of Kentucky superimposed on a round medal with a wreath in its outer edge and the word "Kentucky" at the top of the medal and the words "Distinguished Service" inscribed around the medal. The medal suspended from a ribbon of light blue background with one vertical band of red between two white bands. The recipient name and rank are engraved on the reverse side of the medal. The ribbon for this medal carries the same description as for the medal.

The Kentucky Merit Ribbon maybe awarded to Kentucky Army National Guardsman for the following:

• For heroism above and beyond the normal call of duty that does not merit the award of a higher medal.
• For exceptional and outstanding performance of assigned duties.
• For exceptional achievement.

Description: The Kentucky Merit Ribbon is medium blue in color, with four vertical gold stripes.

Presented to Soldiers and Airmen selected as being outstanding Guards-persons representing the state of Kentucky. The ribbon takes precedence immediately after the Kentucky Merit Ribbon. The ribbon is worn with the blue closest to the heart for the Air Guard and the green closest to the heart for the Army Guard.

The Kentucky Commendation Ribbon maybe awarded to members of the Kentucky Army National Guard for the following:

• Heroism above and beyond the normal call of duty that does not merit the award of a higher medal.
• Outstanding performance of duty.
• Meritorious achievement.
• Distinguished Kentucky National Guard graduates of Army resident courses of instruction.

Description: The Kentucky Commendation Ribbon has alternating maroon and white stripes of equal width.

The Berlin Crisis Service Ribbon maybe awarded to members of the Kentucky Army National Guard who served on active duty during the Berlin Crisis from October 1961 to August 1962.

Description: The Berlin Crisis Service Ribbon is dark red, white and blue. The edges are 1/16 inch blue bands. Remainder of the ribbon is divided into equal segments of red on either side of white, superimposed over the white band is three narrow blue bars. Centered both horizontally and vertically in bronze is a bar which reads -BERLIN CRISIS- preceded and followed by a five-point star.

The Kentucky Service Ribbon is awarded to members of the Kentucky Army National Guard who have completed five years of honorable service. The years of service need not have been performed consecutively, however, it must have been in an active status in any component of the Armed Forces of the United States, exclusive of service in an inactive status.

Succeeding Years of Service: Oak Leaf Cluster will be authorized to denote succeeding years of service, as follows:

• Ten Years One Bronze OLC
• Fifteen Years Two Bronze OLC
• Twenty Years Three Bronze OLC
• Twenty-Five Years Four Bronze OLC
• Thirty Years One Silver OLC
• Thirty-Five Years Two Silver OLC
• Forty Years Three Silver OLC

The Kentucky State Active Duty Ribbon may be awarded to members of the Kentucky Army National Guard who honorably served three or more consecutive days on state active duty during a disaster or civil disturbance. Second through fourth awards will be denoted by a bronze oak leaf cluster. A silver oak leaf cluster will be issued for the fifth award. No further awards will be made.

Description: The ribbon is a clutch back with navy blue bars on each end and a gold bar in the center of equal width.

Members of the Kentucky Army National Guard (except Full- Time Recruiting Force) who refer five (5) people that enlist, in the Kentucky Army National Guard will be awarded the ribbon.

The recruiter who receives the referrals will make a recommendation in writing to the Non Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC). The NCOIC and the Sergeant Major (SGM) will verify the enlistments for the award of the ribbon or bronze star.

Description: A red. white and blue ribbon 1/12 inches in length and 3/8 inches wide with three 3/8-inch horizontal stripes, 1/8 inch in width. The blue stripe will be worn on the top.

Subsequent Awards: One bronze star will be awarded for each additional five (5) enlistments, not to exceed four (4) stars.

The Kentucky National Guard Junior ROTC Distinguished Cadet Medal is awarded to the top Junior ROTC Cadet from each High School ROTC rogram within the Commonwealth of Kentucky each academic year.

Description: The Kentucky National Guard Junior ROTC Distinguished Cadet Medal is a pewter medal with the Minuteman superimposed on the raised image of the State of Kentucky with the words – Kentucky National Guard Achievement – inscribed around the medal. The ribbon is navy blue with five 1/8-inch vertical gold stripes.