For several awards, the Army and the Department of Defense employ Arabic numerals to indicate how many times the wearer has received a particular medal or ribbon. In these cases, the ribbon or medal counts as the first award, with the next award being indicated with the Arabic numeral “2.” These numerals are colored bronze or gold and are 3/16-inch in height.
Arabic numerals are authorized for wear with the
Air Medal,
Multinational Force and Observers Medal,
Overseas Service Ribbon,
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (NCOPDR),
Armed Forces Reserve Medal,
Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon, and the
Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon. They are to be centered on the ribbon bar or the suspension ribbon of the medal except when worn with the Armed Forces Reserve Medal when the wearer has earned the “M” device (for Mobilizations). In this case, the numeral refers to the number of mobilizations rather than awarding of the AFRM, which is given for every ten years of service and is indicated by the 10-year (“hourglass”) device. Numerals are worn on the AFRM ribbon to the left of the “M” device and the hourglass, if applicable, is worn to the left of the “M” device.
Arabic numeral devices worn on the NCOPDR reflect the highest completed level of NCO development. Only the numerals 2, 3, and 4 are now authorized for wear on this ribbon.