Marksmanship Device

A Marksmanship Ribbon device is primarily a miniature metal rifle, pistol, target, service star, or letter E or S which may be worn if authorized on a Marksmanship Ribbon awarded to members of the United States Coast Guard, United States Air Force, and United States Navy.

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.[1]

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 ​3⁄16" 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 (CMP) sanctioned competitions.[2][3][4][5][6]

The Expert Marksmanship device should not be confused with the Battle E Device.[2][3][7] The Navy and Coast Guard Expert Marksmanship device is worn on the Marksmanship Ribbon in lieu of the full sized Marksmanship Medal. When wearing the Marksmanship Medal, the Marksmanship Ribbon with the Expert device is not worn.[2][3] 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.[8]

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 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.[4][7][9]

From 1942 to 1960, the Navy awarded unique Distinguished Marksmanship Ribbons vs. devices for their existing marksmanship ribbons. Today, only Distinguished Marksmanship Badges are authorized for wear on Navy uniforms.[2][10]

Governor's Twelve Ribbon with 3 bronze Hawthorn Clusters

Some State National Guard organizations also award marksmanship ribbons to their top shooters. In the Missouri National Guard, 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 seceding awards while a silver Hawthorn Cluster is worn in lieu of five bronze Hawthorn Clusters.[11][12]

See also

References
  1. Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Archived 2017-02-28 at the Wayback Machine, Air Force Personnel Center, dated 5 August 2010, last accessed 27 February 2017
  2. U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations, Chapter 5 Archived 2014-11-27 at the Wayback Machine, Department of the Navy, last accessed 12 July 2015
  3. U.S. Coast Guard Medals and Awards Manual COMDTINST M1650.25E, Department of Homeland Security, dated May 2008, last accessed 12 July 2015
  4. U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulations COMDTINST M1020.6J Archived 2018-09-10 at the Wayback Machine, Department of Homeland Security, dated 2 August 2018, last accessed 10 September 2018
  5. U.S. Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program Archived 2018-01-27 at the Wayback Machine, Department of the Air Force, dated 25 June 2015, last accessed 12 July 2015
  6. Air Force Personnel Center, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Archived 2011-09-14 at the Wayback Machine, Air Force Personnel Center, dated 5 August 2010, last accessed 12 July 2015
  7. U.S. Coast Guard Ribbons & Devices chart, dated 12 July 2015
  8. Navy Expert Pistol Medal, MilitaryVetsPX.com, last accessed 7 April 2013
  9. U.S. Coast Guard Competitive Marksmanship Program, COMDTINST 3590.1A, Department of Homeland Security, dated 23 April 2013, last accessed 10 September 2018
  10. A Short History of the Distinguished Shooter Program Archived 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine, by Hap Rocketto, dated 28 September 2010, last accessed 18 February 2013
  11. Tabs and Badges a Measure of Marksmanship Archived 2014-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, Missouri National Guard, dated 14 December 2010, last accessed 2 December 2014
  12. National Guard Devices, by Eric Bush, last accessed 2 December 2014
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