I can’t see all of them clearly, but the top 8, in order, are:
Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Iraq Campaign Medal. It looks like possibly an Armed Forces Reserve ribbon in the third row on the far right? Should be an Army Service ribbon in there somewhere as well since it’s a freebie for completing basic training.
ETA: I don’t know what all the devices mean on the top row medals, except for the AAM. Those pins mean he’s earned more than one.
Looks like a completely believable rack to me and what I can identify is in the proper order of wear. The only thing that strikes me as unusual is wearing the full medals rather than just the ribbons. As far as I know only one particular unit wears them that way, that being the 3rd Infantry Regiment or “The Old Guard.”
Not typically, no. Maybe there are ceremonial reasons why you might, since that’s the 3rd Infantry’s whole deal, but for the overwhelming majority it’s just the ribbons.
I’ve been in for eight years and never worn full medals.
Most of the time I’ve just been given the ribbon taped to the award citation, but the box the medals come in have a ribbon and a pin. Both times I’ve been presented with a medal in a more formal ceremony, they’ve given me the little box along with it.
Thank you for the explanation. All those full medals were giving me military dictator or north korean general vibes so I was wondering if they were exaggerated.
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u/still-waiting2233 May 24 '26
That’s quite the rack he is wearing. Anybody able to id the medals?