RIBBON APPURTENANCES
Representations and descriptions of the authorized device attachments for ribbon bars.
Ribbon appurtenances are devices affixed to award ribbons. They are worn to denote additional awards, participation in a specific event, or other distinguished characteristics of the award.
FIVE POINT STAR DEVICES
Five point stars are presented in blue, silver and gold and are shape of a five point star. The appurtenance measures 3/16 of an inch in diameter and shall be positioned beginning in the center of a ribbon award and then alternating from the right then to the left of the center star.
BLUE STAR DEVICE
Active Service Dates: c1962 - Present
Status: Active - Currently Issued
Description: Denotes the 2nd through the 5th reception of any Department award consisting of a ribbon bar, except for the Honorable Mention Ribbon Award and the Recognition / Outside Governmental Agency Award. will be represented by a 3/16" blue star centered on the ribbon bar. Multiple stars will be positioned alternating right then left from the center of the blue star, when applicable. A blue star also denotes the 6th through 9th reception of an award when used in combination with a silver or gold star.
Note: The first reception of an award is denoted by the ribbon only and will not use a single blue star. Exception to this rule include the Military Service Award and NATO Summit Service Award.
SILVER STAR DEVICE
Active Service Dates: c1962 - Present
Status: Active - Currently Issued
Description: Denotes the 6th reception of any Department Award, excluding the Honorable Mention Ribbon Award and the Military Deployment Award in which case a bronze oak leaf is used instead of a star. A silver star on the NATO Summit Service Award with Special Recognition ribbon bar identifies Department Members assigned or detailed to the Mobile Field Force, Intelligence Section and the Area Central Bicycle Patrol Unit during the NATO Summit.
GOLD STAR DEVICE
Active Service Dates: c1962 - Present
Status: Active - Currently Issued
Description: Denotes the 15th reception of any Department Award, excluding the Honorable Mention Ribbon Award in which case an oak leaf is used instead of a star when 90 Honorable Mention Certificates are received.
POSITIONING OF THE 5 POINT STAR DEVICE
Multiple stars are positioned alternating right then left from the center star, when applicable.
FOLDED FLAG DEVICE
The Folded Flag device is presented with the Honor Guard Award Ribbon. The appurtenance shall be positioned in the center of the Honor Guard Award Ribbon.
Active Service Dates: May 4, 2017 - Present
Status: Active - Currently Issued
Description: This appurtenance is dark blue in color, surrounded with a gold tone border, and features four white stars. It has one star positioned at the top and three additional stars positioned across the lower border. The appurtenance measures 49/200 of an inch high, 17/50 of an inch wide, and 11/200 of an inch thick and shall be positioned in the center of the Honor Guard Award Ribbon.
OAK LEAF CLUSTER DEVICESS
Oak leaf clusters are presented in bronze or silver and depict a twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem. The appurtenance measures 5/16 of an inch long and shall be positioned in the center of the Honorable Mention Award Ribbon or the Military Service Award.
BRONZE OAK LEAF DEVICE
Active Service Dates: c1962 - Present
Status: Active - Currently Issued
Description: Denotes the 90th through 149th reception of a Honorable Mention Ribbon Award. Also denotes the military deployment or activation of a Department member when worn on the Military Deployment Award, in which case the bronze oak leaf cluster also denotes the 1st through 4th deployment or activation within any branch of the United States Armed Services. In the case of the Military Service Award the oak leaf cluster replaces the use of a blue star.
For the Field Training Officer Service Award, denotes 6 to 8 years in grade for an FTO when worn on the Field Training Officer Service Award, This appurtenance is exclusive to the Field Training Officer Service Award, Honorable Mention Ribbon Award and Military Deployment Award.
SILVER OAK LEAF DEVICE
Active Service Dates: c1962 - Present
Status: Active - Currently Issued
Description: Denotes the 150th and greater reception of a Honorable Mention Ribbon Award. Also denotes the military deployment or activation of a Department member when worn on the Military Deployment Award, in which case the silver oak leaf cluster also denotes 5 deployments or activations within any branch of the United States Armed Services. In the case of the Military Service Award the oak leaf cluster is replaced by the use of a blue star.
For the Field Training Officer Service Award, denotes 9 or more years in grade for an FTO when worn on the Field Training Officer Service Award, This appurtenance is exclusive to the Field Training Officer Service Award, Honorable Mention Ribbon Award and Military Deployment Award.
2024 DEVICE
The 2024 device was presented with the Democratic Convention Award 2024 Ribbon. The appurtenance shall be positioned in the center of the Democratic Convention Award 2024 Ribbon.
Active Service Dates: March 27, 2025 (One Time Issue)
Status: Inactive - No Longer Issued
Description: This appurtenance is white in color, surrounded with a gold tone border and gold tone numbers. The appurtenance measures 0.41" (10.4 mm) wide, 0.18" (4.5 mm) high and 0.079" (2 mm) thick and shall be positioned in the center of the Honor Guard Award Ribbon.