Obsolete military awards of the United States are United States military awards which have been officially removed from U.S. military award precedence charts and are listed as "Obsolete Military Decorations" in military award publications and instructions.
Typically, the U.S. military will declare a decoration obsolete twenty to thirty years after its last issuance to an active duty member of the military or, in the case of medals designed for members of the reserve forces, a drilling reservist attending annual training. Medals for valor (such as the Medal of Honor and Silver Star) are rarely declared obsolete regardless of the amount of time which has passed since the last issuance. This is since such medals could be reinstated, on very short notice, in the event of an armed conflict in which the United States armed forces would be called to service.
Although United States service medals of the World Wars have also been declared obsolete by the U.S. military, many may still be found in various charts, publications, and instructions. This is since a large number of veterans still display such medals as retirement awards or through functions and ceremonies with various veteran groups such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
The following decorations have been declared obsolete with most such decorations indicating service in military operations prior to 1935.
Revolutionary War[]
| Badge of Military Merit | Fidelity Medallion |
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Inter-service[]
| The National Match Team ("Dogs of War") Medal |
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| Medal for Humane Action | Korean Service Medal |
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Army service[]
| Certificate of Merit Medal |
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| Civil War Campaign Medal | Indian Campaign Medal | Spanish Campaign Medal | Spanish War Service Medal |
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| Army of Cuban Occupation Medal | Army of Cuban Pacification Medal | Army of Puerto Rican Occupation Medal |
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| Philippine Campaign Medal | Philippine Congressional Medal | China Campaign Medal | Mexican Service Medal | Mexican Border Service Medal |
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| Army Wound Ribbon |
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| Army Marksmanship Prize Medals (multiple versions) | Army Team Marksmanship Medals (1st version) | Army Distinguished Aerial Gunner/Bomber Medals | Army Team Marksmanship Medals (2nd version) | Army Distinguished Automatic Rifleman Medal |
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| Marine Corps Brevet Medal | Specially Meritorious Service Medal |
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| Civil War Campaign Medal | Spanish Campaign Medal | Philippine Campaign Medal | Mexican Service Medal | West Indies Campaign Medal |
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| China Relief Expedition Medal | China Service Medal | Yangtze Service Medal | Dominican Campaign Medal | Cuban Pacification Medal |
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| Nicaraguan Campaign Medal | Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal | Haitian Campaign Medal (1917 & 1921) | Naval Reserve Medal |
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| Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon | Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon | Reserve Special Commendation Ribbon |
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| Distinguished Marksman and Pistol Shot Ribbon | Distinguished Marksman Ribbon | Distinguished Pistol Shot Ribbon | Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Medals (1st version) | Navy Expert Team Rifleman Medal |
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Coast Guard service[]
| Transportation Distinguished Service Medal |
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| Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award | Coast Guard Bicentennial Unit Commendation |
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Air Force service[]
| Air Force Recruiter Ribbon | Air Force Military Training Instructor Ribbon |
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| Air Force Gold & Silver Elementary Excellence-In-Competition Medals | Air Force Gold National Excellence-In-Competition Medals |
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See also[]
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The original article can be found at Obsolete military awards of the United States and the edit history here.