View source for Sea Service Ribbon

{{Short description|Award of the United States Navy}}
A '''Sea Service Ribbon''' is an award of the [[United States Navy]], [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]], [[United States Coast Guard|U.S. Coast Guard]], the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]], and the [[NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps]] which recognizes those service members who have performed military duty while stationed on a United States Navy, Coast Guard, Army, or NOAA vessel at sea and/or members of the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard who have been forward-deployed with their home unit.

Additional awards of the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon, Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, Army Sea Duty Ribbon, and NOAA Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon are denoted by [[service star|bronze and/or silver service stars]] on the ribbon.

==U.S. Army Sea Duty Ribbon==
[[File:U.S. Army Sea Duty Ribbon.svg|thumb|U.S. Army Sea Duty Ribbon. Next Higher: [[Recruiting Service Ribbon|Army Recruiting Ribbon]]. Next Lower: [[Armed Forces Reserve Medal]]]]
The '''U.S. Army Sea Duty Ribbon''' ('''ASDR''') was established on 17 April 2006 as the "Army Sea Duty Ribbon"; its name was changed to its current moniker on 30 June 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=275262|title=ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details|website=quicksearch.dla.mil}}</ref> It may be awarded to active duty soldiers who complete two cumulative years of sea duty on a Class A or B [[List of ships of the United States Army|U.S. Army vessel]].<ref name="AR 600-8-22">{{cite book|title=AR 600-8-22 Military Awards |year=2006 |publisher=Department of The Army |location=epubs |page=64 |url=https://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722181345/http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_22.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-22 }}</ref> Duty aboard U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy [[Military Sealift Command]], [[NOAA ships and aircraft|NOAA vessels]], or aboard Army leased or foreign and non–military vessels may also qualify if soldiers serving on those vessels have a formally assigned primary mission that is accomplished underway, are in an active status, and are approved for creditable sea service by the Career Sea Pay Office.  The Chief of the Marine Qualification Division is the approval authority for award of the ASDR to eligible service members.  The ASDR may be awarded retroactively to those personnel who were credited with qualifying service, as defined in regulations, after August 1, 1952.<ref name="Sea Duty">{{cite book|title=AR 600-88 Sea Duty|year=2017|publisher=Department of The Army|url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r600-88_Web_FINAL.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126172200/https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r600-88_Web_FINAL.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 26, 2019}}</ref>  Subsequent awards are authorized upon completion of an additional two years of cumulative sea duty under qualifying conditions.<ref name="AR 600-8-22"/>

[[United States Army Reserve|U.S. Army Reserve]] and [[Army National Guard|U.S. Army National Guard]] soldiers must have two creditable years in a U.S. Army watercraft unit, including a minimum of 25 days underway annually as well as two annual training exercises underway on a Class A or B army vessel; or a 90-day deployment aboard an army vessel underway. Subsequent awards are authorized upon the completion of additional qualifying periods of sea duty. For mobilized soldiers, one year of sea duty as a mobilized soldier will be credited toward one creditable year as long as minimum underway requirements are met.<ref name="AR 600-8-22"/>

The U.S. Army Sea Duty Ribbon is {{cvt|1+3/8|in}} wide, composed of vertical stripes. The edges are {{cvt|3/32|in}} in navy blue, bordered by {{cvt|5/32|in}} scarlet stripes, followed by {{cvt|5/32|in}} stripes of old gold, bordered by {{cvt|3/32|in}} stripes of teal blue, next to {{cvt|1/8|in}} stripes of grotto blue, bordered by {{cvt|3/64|in}} stripes of soldier red, and a {{cvt|1/32|in}} center stripe of old gold.<ref>{{cite web|title=Army Sea Duty Ribbon|url=http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/army_sea_duty.aspx|publisher=The Institute of Heraldry|access-date=18 January 2013}}</ref>  Subsequent awards are denoted by bronze and silver service stars.<ref name="AR 600-8-22"/>

==Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon==
[[File:Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|thumb|Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon  Next Higher: [[Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal]]. Next Lower: [[Navy Arctic Service Ribbon]]]]
The '''Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon''' ('''SSDR''')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=9175|title=ASSIST-QuickSearch Document Details|website=quicksearch.dla.mil}}</ref> is a service award of the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] and [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] which was authorized in May 1980<ref>{{cite web |url=https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webapp01.nsf/(vwAwardsDisp)/AW-10052085N4N9?OpenDocument |title=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (Sd) |website=awards.navy.mil |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918034925/https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webapp01.nsf/(vwAwardsDisp)/AW-10052085N4N9?OpenDocument |archive-date=18 September 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and retroactively authorized to 15 August 1974, coinciding with a temporary suspension in authority for award of the [[National Defense Service Medal]] between that date and 2 August 1990. It was the first type of sea service ribbon established in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is granted to any member of the [[U.S. Navy]] or [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] assigned to a deployable unit (e.g., a ship (including submarines), aircraft squadron, air wing or air group, detachment, battalion, Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Air Ground Task Force, or other unit type that operates away from its assigned homeport) and is [[Military deployment|forward-deployed]] for a period of either 90 consecutive days or two periods of at least 80 days each within a given 12-month period; or 6 months stationed overseas in a forward deployed location.  Staffs of embarked Destroyer Squadrons (DESRONs), Amphibious Squadrons (PHIBRONs), Amphibious Readiness Groups (ARG), Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs), Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) and similar units deployed within time period requirements are also eligible for award.  A {{convert|3/16|in|adj=on}} bronze star is awarded for the second through the fifth award of the ribbon; a {{convert|3/16|in|adj=on}} silver star would be worn in lieu of five {{frac|3|16}}-inch bronze stars.

When a ship's crew qualifies for the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the ship is authorized to paint and display the ribbon and award stars on the port and starboard side of the bulwark aft to designate the number of deployments conducted throughout the commissioned life of the ship since August 1974.

When a U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps aviation squadron qualifies for the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the squadron is authorized to paint and display the ribbon and award stars on the exterior or interior of their hangar or squadron spaces to designate the number of deployments conducted throughout the active life of that squadron since August 1974.

==Navy Reserve Sea Service Deployment Ribbon==
[[File:Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon.svg|thumb|Navy Reserve Sea Service Deployment Ribbon]]
The '''Navy Reserve Sea Service Deployment Ribbon''' (f/k/a Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon) was created in May 1986.  As of January 1, 2014, it is awarded to any member of the U.S. Navy Reserve who completes a cumulative total of 90 days of OCONUS or Underway Duty while assigned to a deployable Navy Reserve or Active-Duty unit.  Active-Duty members assigned to a deployable Navy Reserve unit are also eligible for the award under the same qualifying service requirements.  Qualifying service must be performed in an operational or operational support role with a deployable unit while operating underway or OCONUS, away from homeport or the permanent duty station.  A member is eligible for one award upon completing 90 cumulative days of qualifying service regardless of the length of time required to accumulate the qualifying days.  Additional restrictions apply to Inactive Duty Training (IDT) drill periods and travel days.  For Selected Reserve (SELRES) IDT drill periods, only one day of qualifying service is authorized per calendar day regardless of the number of drill periods performed. Each travel day between a Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC)/Permanent Duty Station and the qualifying duty location is considered .5 days for purposes of counting qualifying days.  Qualifying days applied to the Navy Reserve Sea Service Deployment Ribbon may not be credited towards the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon or the Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/ALNAVS/ALN2014/ALN14027.txt |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215143522/http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/ALNAVS/ALN2014/ALN14027.txt |archive-date=2017-02-15 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For service prior to January 1, 2014, the former requirements still apply.  Under those rules, the Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon was awarded to any member of the [[U.S. Navy Reserve]] (formerly [[U.S. Naval Reserve]]) who, while serving as a drilling Selected Reservist (SELRES) or a Training and Administration of the Reserve/Full Time Support (TAR/FTS) officer or sailor, completed twenty-four cumulative months of duty on board a U.S. Navy Reserve Force surface ship or assigned to a deployable/regularly deploying U.S. Navy Reserve Force Aviation Squadron (RESFORON).

The term "Navy Reserve Force Ship" refers to any U.S. Navy commissioned warship under the operational or administrative control of the Navy Reserve, or a self-propelled auxiliary, boat, or other surface craft operated under the operational control of fleet or type commanders.

The term "Navy Reserve Force Aviation Squadron" refers to any Navy Reserve flying squadron that operates naval aircraft, is considered a command at sea, routinely deploys or is capable of deploying overseas, and is considered a "hardware" unit under the operational control of Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (formerly Commander, Naval Air Reserve Force) or fleet or other type commanders.

The Navy Reserve Sea Service Ribbon is also granted to members of embarked Navy Reserve staffs, provided that at least half of the embarked reserve drills qualified as underway drills.

The Navy Reserve Sea Service Ribbon is not eligible for service performed by Marine Corps Forces Reserve members, or Navy Reservists who were called to active duty, but the service performed by those personnel would qualify towards the ''[[Sea Service Deployment Ribbon]]'' or the ''[[Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon]]'' as applicable.

==Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon==
[[File:U.S. Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon.svg|thumb|'''Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon'''  Next Higher: [[Special Operations Service Ribbon]]  Next Lower: [[Restricted Duty Ribbon]]]]
The '''Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon''' is a [[United States Coast Guard]] decoration that was created in 1984.  It is awarded to those members of the Coast Guard who serve more than twelve cumulative months of sea duty on board a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, attached to a Fleet Training Group, or on board certain other Coast Guard vessels and non-Coast Guard vessels (i.e., U.S. Navy warships with a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment [LEDET] embarked) that are under official Coast Guard orders.  Additional awards, displayed as service stars, may be awarded for a further three years of sea service.<ref name="Medals and Awards Manual">{{cite book|title=Medal and Awards manual|year=2008|publisher=Department of Homeland Security|pages=5–27|url=http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/1000-1999/CIM_1650_25D.pdf}}</ref>

==NOAA Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon==
[[File:NOAA Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|thumb|NOAA Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon]]
The '''NOAA Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon''' is a [[Awards and decorations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA Commissioned Corps award]] established retroactive to 1 January 2002. It is awarded to [[NOAA Commissioned Corps]] and [[United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps|Public Health Service]] Officers who have served twelve months accumulated sea duty, which may also include temporary duty at sea, that includes at least one 90 consecutive-day deployment. Subsequent awards may be earned for additional twelve-month accumulations of sea duty, so long as they also include an additional 90 consecutive-day deployment. Previously, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon was awarded.<ref>{{cite web|title=Part 7–Awards |url=http://www.corpscpc.noaa.gov/procedures/corps_directives/chapter_12/ncd_ch12part7.pdf |work=NOAA CORPS DIRECTIVES Chapter 12 |publisher=NOAA Corps Commissioned Personnel Center |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref> Those NOAA Corps members who previously earned the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon replace it with the NOAA version, unless they earned the Navy version while serving in the Navy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Q&A Session for 'Ask CPC' – Webinar|url=http://www.corpscpc.noaa.gov/cpchome/files/awards_qa.pdf|publisher=NOAA Corps Commissioned Personnel Center|access-date=10 April 2014|date=7 November 2013}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Awards and decorations of the United States Armed_Forces]]
*[[Awards and decorations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]

{{commons category|Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (United States)}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100918102328/https://awards.navy.mil/awards/webdoc01.nsf/(vwDocsByID)/DL060927142728/?OpenDocument Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST 1650.1H)]
*[https://www.marines.mil/news/messages/Pages/2003/Messages03top102.aspx]

{{USArmy decorations}}
{{US navy department decorations}}
{{USCG decorations}}

[[Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard]]
[[Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Awards and decorations of the United States Army]]
[[Category:Awards established in 2006]] <!-- Army -->
[[Category:Awards established in 1980]] <!-- Navy -->
[[Category:Awards established in 1986]] <!-- Navy Reserve -->
[[Category:Awards established in 1984]] <!-- Coast Guard -->
[[Category:Military ribbons of the United States]]
[[Category:US Coast Guard ribbon symbolism]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in the United States]]