5105. DECORATIONS, MEDALS, RIBBON BARS, AND
LAPEL BUTTONS WORN ON CIVILIAN CLOTHING
1. Decorations, medals, appropriate ribbon bars, or lapel buttons may
be worn on civilian clothes at the individual's discretion. Individuals
should ensure that the occasion and the manner of wearing will not
reflect discredit on the award.
2. Miniature medals may be worn with civilian evening dress (See
paragraph 5203).
3. The Medal of Honor may be worn with civilian evening dress. It
will be worn around the neck with the ribbon under the coat jacket and
the medallion hanging one inch below the bow tie.
4. Miniature replicas of ribbons made in the form of enameled lapel
buttons, or ribbons made in rosette form, may be worn on the left lapel
of civilian clothes except civilian evening dress.
5. Honorable discharge, retirement, and FMCR buttons may be worn on
the left lapel of civilian clothes except civilian evening dress. Those
buttons manufactured with prong and clutch fasteners may be worn as tie
tacs.
SECTION 2: LARGE AND MINIATURE MEDALS
5200. GENERAL
1. With the exception of those decorations worn pendent from the neck,
medals will be arranged in a horizontal line in order of precedence from
the wearer's right. The bottom edge of all medallions will be aligned.
2. Hamilton Wash large and miniature medals, also known as
"anodized," may be worn at the individual's option. Marines
who exercise this option will have their own medals anodized at the
individual's expense. Anodized medals will not be worn together with
nonanodized medals by the same individual; however, Marines with
anodized medals may wear them in formation with Marines who have
standard nonanodized medals.
3. Medals with suspension ribbons bonded to a plastic backing instead
of a metal bar are approved for wear at the option of the individual.
These medals lie flatter than the standard medals and may include
magnetic fasteners in lieu of clutches for attaching to the uniform.
These medals will bear Marine Corps approval identification.
4. Marines will wear all large medals to which they are entitled on
dress "A" coats.
5. Miniatures of all medals entitled are required for officers/SNCO's
when evening dress uniforms are worn. The Medal of Honor will NOT be
mounted nor reproduced in miniature.
6. A person in receipt of an award from a foreign government which
includes stars, sashes, orders, or devices (except the fourragere)
dissimilar to, or required to be worn differently than United States
awards, may wear the medal or ribbon bar as a courtesy to that country
only when attending a public function in the country, or in the house of
or in honor of a public official or other distinguished citizen of that
foreign country. Foreign medals and ribbon bars will be worn as similar
to the foreign country's regulations as is practicable; however, at
least one U.S. award must be worn when a foreign award is worn. Marines
awarded a foreign medal which, under the rules of the country concerned,
is required to be worn at the neck will so wear it. A Marine awarded
both the Medal of Honor and a foreign medal worn at the neck, will wear
the foreign award so that it shows below the Medal of Honor.
5201. MOUNTED MEDALS (See figs. 5-1
and 5-2)
1. When only one medal is worn, it will be worn as issued through
the Supply System, or purchased in miniature.
2. When more than one medal is worn, they will be suspended from a
holding bar of sufficient stiffness to support the weight of the medals.
3. When more than one row of medals is worn, the medals will be worn
overlapped and in rows arranged according to tables 5-1 and 5-2. Upper
or first row of medals will be mounted so that the medallions of the
upper row cover the holding bar and suspension ribbons of the medals
below.
4. For men, the maximum width of the holding bar for large medals
will be 5-1/2 inches, and the length of the medals from top of holding
bar to bottom of medallions will be 3-1/4 inches. A maximum of four
large medals side by side will fit on the maximum width of holding bar;
however, a maximum of seven medals will fit on the holding bar if
overlapped. The overlapping on each row will be equal (not to exceed 50
percent). The right or inboard medal will show in full.
5. Women will wear no more than three large medals side by side on a
single holding bar not to exceed 4-1/8 inches; however, a maximum of
five medals will fit on the holding bar if overlapped.
6. For men, the maximum width of the holding bar for miniature medals
will be 4 inches [corrected from previous typo], and the length of the medals from the top of the
holding bar to the bottom of medals will be 2-1/4 inches. A maximum of
five miniature medals side by side will fit on a 3-3/8 inch holding bar;
however, a maximum of ten medals will fit on the holding bar if
overlapped. The overlapping on each row will be equal (not to exceed 50
percent). The right or inboard medal will show in full.
7. For women, the holding bar for miniature medals will be no wider
than 3-1/4 inches [corrected from previous typo]. A maximum of four medals side by side will fit on
this width holding bar; however, a maximum of eight medals will fit on
the holding bar if overlapped.
5202. WEARING LARGE MEDALS. (See fig. 5-3.)
1. Medal of Honor. On the officer's evening dress and all other dress
"A" uniforms, the Medal of Honor will be worn around the neck
with the ribbon under the coat or jacket collar. The medallion will
emerge at the opening between the collar hook and the top button of the
coat or jacket, and hang one inch below the bottom edge of the collar.
On the SNCO evening dress uniform, the Medal of Honor will be worn
around the neck with the ribbon under the jacket collar. The medallion
will hang one inch below the men's bow tie.
2. Large Medals
a. On the men's blue and white dress coats, large medals will be
worn centered above the left breast pocket with the upper edge of the
holding bar on a line 
midway between the first and second buttons of
the coats.
b. On women's blue and white dress coats, one row of large medals
will be placed centered over the left breast pocket with the top of
the holding bar about one inch above a horizontal line tangent to the
highest part of the pocket. When two or more rows of medals are worn,
the top of the holding bars of the bottom row of the medals will be
approximately 1/4 to one inch above a horizontal line tangent to the
highest point of the pocket. The holding bars of the top row of medals
will be at least 1/8 of an inch below the collar. If necessary the
medals may be shifted from center towards the armhole seam between 1/4
and 1/2 inches so that no more than one-third of any medal is covered
by the coat lapel.
3. Wearing Ribbon Bars With Large Medals. When large medals are worn,
all unit citations and other ribbons with no medal authorized will be
worn centered over the right breast pocket, the bottom edge of the lower
row 1/8 inch above the top of the pocket. Women will wear these ribbons
on the right side of the coat front in about the same vertical position
as worn with dress "B" and service "A" uniforms.
Ribbon bars are normally worn in rows of three in the order of
precedence from the wearer's right to left and from top down (for
example: top row, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy
Unit Commendation; bottom row, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Korean
Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation). Marines
who have not been awarded large medals, but who are entitled to wear a
ribbon(s) for which no medal is authorized will wear such ribbon(s) over
the right breast pocket as described above.
5203. WEARING MINIATURE MEDALS (See fig.
5-4)
1. The Medal of Honor and miniature medals will be worn on all evening
dress uniforms. When miniature medals are worn, no ribbons will be worn.
2. On male officers' evening dress jackets, miniature medals will be
centered on the left front panel of the jacket midway between the inner
edge and the left armhole seam, with the top of the holding bar on line
with the second blind buttonhole.
3. On the male SNCO's evening dress jacket, the miniature medals will
be centered on the left lapel with the top of the holding bar
approximately one inch below the left lapel notch. If regulation size
holding bars will not fit on the lapel, medals may extend beyond the
lapel edge onto the jacket's left breast.
4. On the women's evening dress jacket, miniature medals will be
placed centered on the left lapel with the top of the holding bar at the
lapel's widest part. If regulation size holding bars will not fit
centered on the lapel, medals may extend beyond the lapel's edge onto
the jacket's left breast.
5. Wear on Civilian Evening Clothes
a. Men. Miniature medals may be worn on the left lapel of the
civilian evening coat on ceremonial occasions, but only when strictly
appropriate to the occasion. On the full dress and tuxedo coats,
miniatures will be worn centered on the wearer's left lapel, placed
horizontally and one inch below the end of the collar gorge. The top
edge of the holding bar will completely cover the buttonhole. If
current styles preclude wearing on the lapel, miniatures will be
placed in the same relative position as if there was a lapel.
b. Women. Miniature medals may be worn on civilian evening attire
on ceremonial occasions, but only when strictly appropriate to the
occasion. Miniatures will be worn in approximately the same position
where they would be worn on the uniform. If current styles preclude
the wearing of miniatures in a place approximating the position where
they would be worn on the uniform, miniatures will not be worn.
c. If a second row of miniatures is worn, it will be placed one
inch below the first row. In no case will more than two rows of
miniatures be worn on civilian attire.
SECTION 3: RIBBON BARS AND FOURRAGERE
5300. GENERAL
1. Ribbons for ribbon bars will be of the same material as the
medal's suspension ribbon. Ribbon bars authorized for awards that have
no medal such as the Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation,
etc., will be of the material prescribed in applicable military
specifications.
2. Each U.S. ribbon bar will be 3/8 inch high and 1-3/8 inch wide
(same as the width of the medal's suspension ribbon). Foreign ribbon
bars (including those with devices) which have been authorized by law
may be worn only if they can be adapted to meet regulation height
requirement and do not exceed twice the width of the standard U.S.
ribbon bar.
3. Ribbon bars will not be impregnated with preservatives which
change the appearance of the ribbon, nor will they be worn with any type
of transparent coverings.
4. Ribbons bonded to a plastic backing instead of a metal bar are
approved for wear at the option of the individual. These ribbon bars lie
flatter than the standard ribbon bars and may include magnetic fasteners
in lieu of clutches for attaching to the uniform. These ribbon bars will
bear Marine Corps approval identification.
5. Stars and other attachments will be worn as prescribed in section
4 of this chapter.
5301. WEARING RIBBONS. (See fig. 5-5)
1. Marines will wear all ribbons to which they are entitled on
service and dress "B" coats. Ribbons will be worn on the dress
"A" coats only as authorized in paragraph 5202.
2. When the blue dress "C"/"D" or service
"B"/"C" uniforms are worn the wearing of ribbons on
khaki shirts is at the individual's option unless the commander
prescribes that ribbons be worn. If ribbons are worn on these uniforms,
either all ribbons, or personal U.S. decorations with U.S. unit awards
and the Good Conduct Medal, may be worn at the individual's option.
3. Ribbon bars will be worn on a bar or bars and pinned to the coat
or shirt. No portion of the bar or pin will be visible.
4. Ribbon bars are normally worn in rows of three; however, rows of
four may be worn when displaying a large number of awards. Two-ribbon
rows may be worn when ribbon bars are worn in successively decreasing
rows per subparagraph 5301.5. Two-ribbon
rows may also be worn by female Marines when a three-
ribbon row would not lay flat or would extend too close to the armhole
seam.
5. When more than one row of ribbon bars is worn, all rows except the
uppermost will contain the same number of ribbons. If the number of
ribbons worn causes the ribbons to be concealed by the service coat
lapel (one-third or more of a ribbon concealed), ribbon bars will be
placed in successively decreasing rows; e.g., 4-ribbon rows, 3-ribbon
rows, 2-ribbon rows, single ribbon. The left (outer) edge of all
decreasing rows will be in line vertically; except that when the top row
presents an unsatisfactory appearance when so aligned, it will be placed
in the position presenting the neatest appearance (usually centered over
the row immediately below it).
6. Parallel rows of ribbon bars will either be spaced 1/8 inch apart
or placed together without spacing at the individual's option.
7. Ribbon bars will be centered 1/8 inch above and parallel to the
top edge of the upper left pocket of dress "B" coats, service
coats, and men's khaki shirts. When marksmanship badges are worn, ribbon
bars will be centered over the pocket with the bottom edge of the ribbon
bar 1/8 inch above the widest holding bar of the marksmanship badge(s).
8. On women's coats with horizontal pockets, ribbons will be worn as
prescribed above. On women's coats with slanted upper pockets, a
horizontal line tangent to the highest point of the pocket will be
considered the top of the pocket (See fig.
4-3). On women's khaki shirts, ribbon bars will be placed even with
or up to two inches above the first visible button and centered so that
they are in about the same position as when worn on the coat. On the
maternity tunic, ribbon bars will be placed so that they are in about
the same position as when worn on the service coats. On the khaki
maternity shirt, when worn as an outer garment, ribbon bars will be worn
in the same manner as on the standard khaki shirt, except they will be
placed 1/2 to one inch above the horizontal yoke seam stitching and may
be adjusted to the individual to present a military appearance.