Combat Action Ribbon

CAR - USN/USMC CBT ACTION RIB 8455-00-411-0117

Eligibility Requirements

T he Combat Action Ribbon was authorized by the Secretary of Navy on SECNAVNOTE 1650 of 17 February 1969.. It is awarded in the name of the Secretary of Navy to an individual who, while serving in any capacity in or with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard (when the Coast Guard or units thereof operate under the control of the Navy) in the grade of captain/colonel (O-6) and below who have actively participated in ground or surface combat.

Upon submission of evidence to their commanding officer, personnel who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge while a member of the U.S. Army may be authorized to wear the CAR.

The principal eligibility criterion is that the individual must have participated in a bona fide ground or
surface combat fire-fight or action during which he/she was under enemy fire and his/her performance while under fire was satisfactory. Service in a combat area does not automatically entitle a service member to the CAR. The following amplifyingremarks are furnished as guidance.

• Personnel in riverine and coastal operations, assaults, patrols, sweeps, ambushes, convoys, amphibious landings, and similar activities who have participated in fire fights are eligible.
• Personnel assigned to areas subjected to sustained mortar, missile, and artillery attacks actively participate in retaliatory or offensive actions are eligible.
• Personnel in clandestine or special operations such as reconnaissance, SEAL teams, EOD teams, and Mine Countermeasures operations are eligible when the risk of enemy fire was great and was expected to be encountered.
• Personnel aboard a ship are eligible when the safety of the ship and the crew were endangered by enemy
  attack, such as a ship hit by a mine or a ship engaged by shore, surface, air or sub-surface elements.
• Personnel eligible for the award of the Purple Heart would not necessarily qualify for the Combat Action
  Ribbon.
• Personnel serving in peacekeeping missions, if not eligible by the criteria cited above, are eligible to
  receive the award when all of the following criteria are met:
  - the member was subject to hostile, direct fire,
  - based on the mission and the tactical situation, not returning fire was the best course of action, and
  - the member was in compliance with the rules of engagement and his orders by not returning fire.
• The CAR will not be awarded to personnel for aerial combat since the Strike/Flight Air Medal provides
  recognition for aerial combat exposure; however, a pilot or crewmember forced to escape or evade after being forced down could be eligible for the award.

Medal

No medal for combat action

Ribbon

Device

Precedence

The Combat Action Ribbon shall be placed in precedence after Navy Achievement Medal and before Presidential Unit Citation." >

Sample Citation