oak leaf cluster

United States Oak Leaf Clusters
U.S. Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster U.S. Silver Oak Leaf Cluster
Awarded by United States Military
Type	Service Ribbon Accoutrement
Eligibility	Subsequent Award
Awarded for	"Exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions."
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
Last awarded	Ongoing

An oak leaf cluster or oakleaves is a common device which is placed on U.S. military awards and decorations (and those of some other nations) to denote those who have received more than one bestowal of a particular decoration.^[1] The number of oak leaf clusters typically indicates the number of subsequent awards of the decoration.

Configurations

A bronze oak leaf cluster is worn to denote award of the second and subsequent awards of the same decoration.

A silver oak leaf cluster is worn instead of five bronze oak leaf clusters.

Both oak leaf clusters, regardless of medal material, come in two sizes: 13/32 inch (1.03cm) long for the full size suspension ribbon, and 5/16 inch (.79cm) long for the service ribbon bar.

The design for each size and material is the same -- a twig of four oak leaves with three acorns on the stem

The 5/16 inch (.79cm) oak leaf clusters joined together in series of 2, 3, and 4 clusters (sometimes referred to as "single constructed") are authorized for optional purchase and wear of service ribbons and unit award emblems.

Awards

While the Navy and Marine Corps award service stars for subsequent awards, all services wear the oak leaf cluster for subsequent awards of the following Department of Defense and joint service awards:

• Defense Distinguished Service Medal
• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Joint Service Achievement Medal
• Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Oak leaf clusters are not issued for the Legion of Merit awarded in degrees to foreign nationals.

Gold oak leaf cluster

Proposed U.S. Gold Oak Leaf Cluster

The United States military issues only bronze and silver oak leaf clusters. Gold oak leaf clusters were briefly considered as a device for the Air Medal, but this was not adopted by any of the services.

Other nations

Commonwealth of Nations

In Commonwealth countries, a bronze oak leaf signifies a Mention in Despatches, and is worn as an award in its own right, rather than to signify multiple instances of another decoration. The Commonwealth equivalent of US oak leaves is a bar worn with the medal.

Germany

Kingdom of Prussia

The Pour le Mérite, the highest military order in the Kingdom of Prussia, could be awarded with oak leaves. A civil version of the order, for accomplishments in the arts and sciences, still exists in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Third Reich

In the Second World War, the Knight's Cross of the German Iron Cross could be awarded with the additional distinction of oak leaves (mit Eichenlaub). Of the 7,313 awards of the Knight's Cross, only 883 received oak leaves.

Federal Republic of Germany

The Bundeswehr awards the Cross of Honour for Bravery for extraordinary bravery. The Cross of Honour for Bravery differs from the Badge of Honour by an andornment in the shape of stylized double oak leaves.^[2]

Further it was featured on the Pfennig in Germany and since the introduction of the Euro in 2001 it is used on the obverse side of the German euro coinage.

References

See also

• Award star
• Bundesverdienstkreuz
• Awards and decorations of the United States military
• German Armed Forces Service Medal
• German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship