In a corrections dress uniform, years of service ribbons are typically worn on the left side of the uniform, centered above the left pocket. If multiple ribbons are worn, they should be arranged in order of precedence from top to bottom, with the most prestigious or highest honor at the top. It's important to follow any specific guidelines provided by the agency or institution regarding placement and arrangement.
The proper order of Vietnam era ribbons on a Class A Army uniform is based on the precedence of the awards. Generally, the order begins with the top row featuring the Medal of Honor, followed by the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star. Subsequent rows include the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and various campaign or service ribbons. It's important to refer to Army regulations for specific guidelines regarding placement and spacing.
Facing the uniform, in order of precedence, from left to right, on the left breast, just above where a pocket would normally be. Ribbons go on the right breast. The easiest way to do it is to take them to the uniform shop and have them mount them properly and put them on your uniform. It's worth the money.
Medal ribbons worn by Royal Navy officers are positioned high on the left shoulder to ensure visibility and to signify the importance of their service and achievements. This placement allows for easy recognition during formal occasions and parades. Additionally, wearing the ribbons high aligns with traditional military standards and maintains a uniform appearance across personnel.
As per the new AFI 36-2903 4.9.1.3.3. Ribbons. All ribbons and devices will be worn on the men's service dress uniform. However, if the service coat is not worn then 4.9.2.3.2 states that all or no ribbons and devices will be worn on the shirt itself.
army service ribbon, national defense service metal (if serving during war), global war on terror service metal (if you are deployed you can wear the expeditionary metal).
If you are currently in the service (it would have helped if you listed which service you were concerned about), you should ask your immediate superior or Commanding Officer (CO) for assistance; the quartermaster (or similar) would also be able to help. If you are not in the service, then you should contact your service's local recruiting office, who would be more than happy to find the answer for you, or refer to the About.com link, below, which gives some information and many links, or enter the branch of service you are interested in, followed by the words "military ribbons precedence" (e.g., "army military ribbons precedence"), into your favorite search engine; click on the links that have ".mil" or ".gov" domain names.
You use a ribbon bar. These are thin frames of metal or plastic with pins. You slide the ribbons onto the frame work in the correct order and it pins onto the uniform with the standard sort of pin with cover. Ribbon bars come in metal for a specific number of ribbons, or you can get plastic ones that can be clipped to size. For a couple of ribbons, I prefer the metal frame, but once you get over a couple of rows, the plastic will provide some give and movement with the body.
Ribbons awarded by another country are typically worn on the right side of the uniform, separate from the ribbons of the recipient's own country. This distinction highlights the foreign awards and honors without conflating them with domestic accolades. In some military or formal contexts, specific guidelines may dictate the exact placement, but generally, the right side is the standard practice.
For service alphas, chevrons are typically worn on the sleeves of the uniform. The placement usually depends on the specific military branch and rank of the individual. Generally, chevrons are aligned with the bottom edge of the sleeve and oriented with the points facing upward. Always refer to the specific branch's uniform regulations for precise placement guidelines.
Any award with a ribbon can be worn on a different service uniform if it was earned while attached to a joint command, the person was involved in a joint mission, etc. The ribbon device is worn on the right breast over the pocket.
Just next to the heart
depends on your branch of service and the uniform type. The Navy for example can choose to wear their highest three awards on some uniforms and both the navy and Marines can choose to not wear any ribbons on the khaki shirt