Award Definitions

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to Young Marines, while serving in any capacity with the Young Marines, who distinguishes themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the Young Marines while serving in a position of great responsibility.

YOUNG MARINE OF THE YEAR RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to an outstanding Young Marine who has been in the program for more than one year, attained at least one promotion, has excellent attendance and outshines fellow Young Marines for the year.

PERSONAL COMMENDATION RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to Young Marines, who distinguish themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct, in performing outstanding service.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to Young Marines, serving in any capacity with the Young Marines, who distinguish themselves by heroic service or meritorious achievement/service.

LIFE SAVING RIBBON AWARD
     1ST DEGREE -
Save the life of another human with complete disregard for your own safety.
     2ND DEGREE -
Save the life of another human without immediate danger to your own safety.
     3RD DEGREE -
Perform a life saving deed or rescue. This includes animals or wildlife.

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to Young Marines, while serving in any capacity in the Young Marines, who distinguish themselves by meritorious achievement/service.

COMMENDATION OF MERIT AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine for long and valued service to the Young Marines program.

HONOR RECRUIT RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to the outstanding member of the recruit training platoon. Must have displayed exceptional leadership qualities, have 100% attendance and maintained a 4.0 average in all aspects of recruit training.

DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to a Young Marines Unit for outstanding, distinguished service or performance of duty.

MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION RIBBON AWARD/NAT./DIV./REG./UNIT
Awarded to any unit of Young Marines which has distinguished itself meritoriously in deeds of service, which rendered the Unit outstanding, when compared to other units performing similar deeds.

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE UNIT COMMENDATION RIBBON AWARD
Awarded by the National Commandant, Divisional Commandant, or any Department Commandant of the MCL to a Young Marines Unit/Battalion/Regiment/Division for outstanding performance of duty to the community, for any single outstanding act, or when the unit has performed under great competition with other units or organizations.

GOOD CONDUCT RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any enlisted Young Marine who by their performance of duty over a period of two years, maintained an average of 4.0 in proficiency and 4.0 in personal conduct with no disciplinary actions recorded during this period.

COLOR GUARD RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who has participated in the Unit's color guard for a period of one year and has participated in five public functions.

ATTENDANCE RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who has 100% attendance at all regularly scheduled drills and activities of the unit for a period of one year.

DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who has displayed leadership, perseverance, visibility and courage in their community, and has either attended 8 prescribed drug reduction lectures or completed a school-based Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) course, given on civic/community presentation on drug demand reduction, and successfully displayed the ideals of a drug-free life-style in a newsletter, newspaper or other public media.

LEADERSHIP RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine noncommissioned officer who has displayed superior performance of duty, when compared with other NCO's of same rank and excelled in all phases of leadership for a period of not less than one year. It can also be awarded for attendance and completion of at least one school for NCO leadership.

ACADEMIC RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who maintains a 3.0 grade point average or the equivalent for period of one school year. A "gold lamp" is awarded to any Young Marine who maintains a 3.5 or higher grade point average for a period of one school year.

OUTSTANDING SALESMANSHIP RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who has demonstrated their outstanding salesmanship ability by placing first in any unit fund raising event.

PHYSICAL FITNESS RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who scores a minimum of 250 points for their age group on four consecutive testing's. The test must be in accordance with the criteria established by the Marine Corps League Youth Physical Fitness program.

SPORTSMANSHIP RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who actively participates in any recognized sport, individual or team sport, and displays outstanding sportsmanship qualities. Additionally, a gold "V" device is awarded to any Young Marine who places first in individual or team competition sports activities. You must have written verification from your coach.

MUSICIANS RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who participates as a regular member of a unit band, drum & bugle corps, school band or orchestra and shows outstanding achievement in the field of music. School participation must be verified in writing by the school music director.

ADVANCED FIRST AID RIBBON
Awarded to any Young Marine who completed the Advanced First Aid Course as prescribed by the American Red Cross (ARC). A copy of the ARC certification card is required for inclusion in your SRB.

QUALIFIED CORPSMAN RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who has received certification of passing the prescribed course of instruction for their age in basic first aid given by the American Red Cross. A copy of the ARC certification card is required for inclusion in your SRB.

CPR RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who receives a certification for completion of a CPR course conducted by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association or an accredited hospital. A copy of the certification is required for inclusion in your SRB.

SWIMMING RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who completes the prescribed course for the American Red Cross standards of their state. To receive a ribbon the Young Marine must pass the beginner swimming course and receive the Red Cross certification card. A copy of the ARC certification card is required for inclusion in your SRB.

SEAMANSHIP RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who completes a course prescribed by the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Power Squadron or America as well as similar organizations offering courses in boating safety or small boat handling. A copy of the course completion certificate is required for inclusion in your SRB.

SCUBA DIVING RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who receives certification by a national or international certifying organization. A copy of the certification is required for inclusion in your SRB.

ADVANCED FIELD RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who holds a qualified field ribbon award has a passing grade in map reading and compass use, and demonstrates mastery of the following skills: can locate north three ways without a compass, can demonstrate how to give rescue signals, can locate water suitable for drinking, can make a game trap, can catch a fish without the use of commercial tackle, is able to identify any poisonous snake in their area of the country, knows the nomenclature and use of the hand ax, 3/4 ax, sheath knife, pocket knife and camp saw, can make and explain the usage of the square knot, granny knot, slip knot, sheet bend, two half hitches, bowline, whip a rope end, and make a back splice, and explain the rules for fire and how to put them out, show how to make a lean-to fire, cooking fire, cross ditch fire, trench fire, and baking fire.

ORIENTEERING RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine, or team, who completes an orienteering run and places first in competition.

QUALIFIED FIELD RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who can erect a shelter with one piece of canvas and one piece of line and local materials, build a fire to warm the shelter and cook three meals from scratch. Minimum test period is 24 hours.

COMMUNICATIONS RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who completes a basic communication school and passes a written, oral, and practical examination.

CONSERVATION RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who completes the requirements for the ribbon award as outlined in the Young Marines Award Manual, including writing summaries of selected magazine articles, on six non-domestic animals and park in state, and identification of various animals, reptiles, rocks and fish.

MARKSMANSHIP RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine qualifying for small bore firing as prescribed by the National Rifle Association. A copy of the certification is required for inclusion in your SRB.

ACHIEVEMENT RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to a Young Marine for demonstrated excellence in any of the following: engineering, design or construction, Marine Corps history, military police (Interior Guard, i.e. know the general orders), company clerk, and food services.

COMMUNITY SERVICE RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who performs a service that is beneficial to a community, veteran's organization, military unit, service organization, youth group, or school. The service must be at least 50 hours in one year. A copy of the verification of the hours worked is required for inclusion in your SRB.

BASIC RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to Young Marines who complete Recruit training with no more than 3 excused absences.

DRILL COMPETITION RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who competes in the actual drill competition against other units or organizations and the performance is judged by other officials.

DRILL TEAM RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who has been accepted by the Commanding Officer as a member of the drill team and who has participated in one public event.

NATIONAL/DIVISIONAL/REGIMENTAL/BATTALION/ENCAMPMENT RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine who attends and participates in all National/Divisional/Regimental/Battalion encampments for a period of one year.

ORGANIZED UNIT TRIP RIBBON AWARD
Awarded to any Young Marine for participation in a trip aboard a military installation or naval vessel for training for a minimum of five days.