A Marksmanship Ribbon device is primarily a miniature metal rifle, pistol, target,

service star A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or se ...

, or letter E or S which may be worn if authorized on a Marksmanship Ribbon awarded to members of the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, m ...

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Si ...

, and

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

Air Force

The Air Force use a bronze service star on top of their marksmanship ribbon to represent a qualification of expert in an additional weapon other than the one that originally earned the Airman the qualification ribbon. The Air Force's Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, as it is known, is awarded to those who qualify as expert with either the service rifle or service pistol.

Navy and Coast Guard

The Navy and Coast Guard present two marksmanship ribbon devices for scoring as a Sharpshooter or Expert on a pistol and rifle qualification course: the bronze colored ''S Device'' and ''E'' Device for the Navy and silver colored ''S'' Device and ''E Device'' for the Coast Guard. The Air Force uses a " bronze star to indicate expert qualification in both rifle and service pistol. The Coast Guard also has additional ribbon devices which represent accomplishments in

Civilian Marksmanship Program The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a U.S. government-chartered program intended to promote firearm safety training and rifle practice for all qualified U.S. citizens with a specific emphasis on youth. Any U.S. citizen not otherwise legall ...

(CMP) sanctioned competitions.U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, Chapter 5
, Department of the Navy, last accessed 12 July 2015U.S. Coast Guard Medals and Awards Manual COMDTINST M1650.25E

Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its stated missions involve anti-ter ...

, dated May 2008, last accessed 12 July 2015U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulations COMDTINST M1020.6J
, Department of Homeland Security, dated 2 August 2018, last accessed 10 September 2018 The Expert Marksmanship device should not be confused with the Battle E Device.U.S. Coast Guard Ribbons & Devices chart
dated 12 July 2015 The Navy and Coast Guard Expert Marksmanship device is worn on the Marksmanship Ribbon in lieu of the full sized

Marksmanship Medal The Marksmanship Medal is a United States Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard military award and is the highest award one may receive for weapons qualification. The Marksmanship Medal is the equivalent of the Expert Marksmanship Badge in the U.S. Arm ...

. When wearing the Marksmanship Medal, the Marksmanship Ribbon with the Expert device is not worn. For a period of time, the ''E Device'' was bronze until three consecutive expert qualifications were achieved, then the device would change to silver with a permanent award status. Coast Guardsman who have been awarded the bronze or silver Coast Guard Excellence-in-Competition (EIC) Pistol Shot or Rifleman Badge can wear a bronze or silver miniature replica of the

M1911 The M1911 (Colt 1911 or Colt Government) is a single-action, recoil-operated, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. The pistol's formal U.S. military designation as of 1940 was ''Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911'' for th ...

or M14 attached to the U.S. Coast Guard Pistol or Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon respectively in lieu of wearing the EIC badge(s). Likewise, those Coast Guardsman who have been awarded the Coast Guard Distinguished Pistol Shot or Marksman Badge can place a small gold metal replica of a pistol or rifle target, respectively, on the appropriate marksmanship ribbon vise having to wear the distinguished badge(s) on their dress uniforms.U.S. Coast Guard Competitive Marksmanship Program, COMDTINST 3590.1A
Department of Homeland Security, dated 23 April 2013, last accessed 10 September 2018 From 1942 to 1960, the Navy awarded unique

Distinguished Marksmanship Ribbon The Distinguished Marksmanship Ribbon was a United States Navy military award which was established in 1942 as the ''Distinguished Marksman and Pistol Shot Ribbon''. The ribbon recognized those who had been presented a Distinguished Marksman Badg ...

s vs. devices for their existing marksmanship ribbons. Today, only Distinguished Marksmanship Badges are authorized for wear on Navy uniforms.

National Guard

Some State National Guard organizations also award marksmanship ribbons to their top shooters. In the

Missouri National Guard The Missouri National Guard (MONG), commonly known as the Missouri Guard, is a component of the Army National Guard and Missouri State Department of the National Guard. It is composed of Army and Air National Guard units. The Department office is ...

, the top twelve guardsman selected to represent their state at the Winston P. Wilson Rifle and Pistol Championships are awarded a Governor's Twelve Ribbon. Any guardsman who earns the award more than once wear a bronze or silver Hawthorn Cluster device(s) on top of the ribbon. A bronze Hawthorn Cluster notes the award of a second and succeeding awards while a silver Hawthorn Cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze Hawthorn Clusters.National Guard Devices
by Eric Bush, last accessed 2 December 2014

References

{{USCG decorations Devices and accouterments of United States military awards

Air Force

Navy and Coast Guard

National Guard

See also

References