Military Awards
AR 600-8-22 governs decorations, service medals, badges, and the order of precedence. It sets who may approve what, what the criteria are, and how recommendations move. It is revised often -- the 11 May 2026 expedited revision is the third edition since January 2024.
Open the official record- Type
- AR
- Edition verified
- May 2026
What to take from it
- Prescribes the criteria and approval authorities for decorations, service medals, and badges.
- Establishes the order of precedence for wear of awards, which DA PAM 670-1 then illustrates.
- Award recommendations are subject to time limits from the act, achievement, or period of service.
- Covers combat and special skill badges, including the Expert Soldier Badge and Expert Infantryman Badge.
- Revised 11 May 2026, superseding the 30 July 2025 edition.
These points are our summary, written for recall. They are not a substitute for the publication and they will not cover everything a board can ask. Read the source.
Board questions from this publication
What regulation governs Army awards and decorations?
AR 600-8-22, Military Awards. It sets the criteria, the approval authorities, and the order of precedence. DA PAM 670-1 then shows how those awards are arranged and worn on the uniform.
AR 600-8-22, Military Awards
List the order of precedence of U.S. military decorations from the Medal of Honor down through the Army Achievement Medal.
Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal.
AR 600-8-22, Military Awards
What is the highest award for valor, and who awards it?
The Medal of Honor. It is awarded by the President in the name of Congress for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States.
AR 600-8-22, Military Awards
What is the second highest Army decoration for valor?
The Distinguished Service Cross. It is awarded for extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy of the United States where the action does not justify the Medal of Honor. The Navy Cross and the Air Force Cross are its equivalents in those services.
AR 600-8-22, Military Awards
Who is eligible for the Purple Heart?
A Soldier who is wounded or killed as a result of enemy action, or of an act of an international terrorist attack or friendly fire under the conditions the regulation specifies. The wound must have required treatment by a medical officer and the treatment must be documented in the Soldier's records. It is an entitlement based on the wound, not a recommendation weighed against other Soldiers.
AR 600-8-22, Military Awards
What is the Soldier's Medal awarded for?
Heroism not involving conflict with an armed enemy. The act must involve voluntary risk of life. It is a high decoration, and the standard is deliberately demanding: saving a life at genuine personal risk, not simply performing well in an emergency.
AR 600-8-22, Military Awards
What is the overall order of precedence for wearing awards on the uniform?
U.S. military decorations, U.S. unit awards, U.S. nonmilitary decorations, the Good Conduct Medal, U.S. campaign and service medals, U.S. service and training ribbons, U.S. Merchant Marine awards, foreign military decorations, foreign unit awards, and non-U.S. service awards.
AR 600-8-22, Military Awards
How are ribbons arranged on the service uniform?
Ribbons are worn in order of precedence, reading from the wearer's right to left and from the top row down. Rows are built so that no row contains more ribbons than the row beneath it. Placement measurements for the coat and shirt are in DA PAM 670-1.
AR 600-8-22 and DA PAM 670-1