The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, and which is awarded to those who, in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy (or Colonel in the Marine Corps), have actively participated in ground or surface combat. The Combat Action Ribbon is also awarded to members of the United States Coast Guard when operating under the control of the Navy.

The Combat Action Ribbon was first created in February 1969 with SECNAVNOTE 1650 with retroactive presentation to March 01, 1961. However on October 5, 1999, by Presidential Order of Bill Clinton and under Public Law 106-65, the retroactive effective date of the Combat Action Ribbon was changed to December 07, 1941 which was the entry date of the United States of America into the Second World War.

To be awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the individual must have rendered satisfactory performance under enemy fire while actively participating in a ground or surface engagement.

Personnel who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge or Combat Medical Badge while a member of the United States Army may be authorized to wear the Combat Action Ribbon upon application to the Department of the Navy. As of May 2005, the United States Army has created a new decoration known as the Combat Action Badge (previously to be known as the Combat Recognition Ribbon) which is considered the direct Army equivalent to the Combat Action Ribbon.

Retroactive awards of the Combat Action Ribbon, for retired, deceased, or discharged personnel, are handled by the Navy Liaison Officer to the National Personnel Records Center.

Additional decorations of the Combat Action Ribbon are denoted by gold and silver award stars.

Authorized operations

While any eligible sailor or Marine may receive the ribbon, SECNAVINST 1650.1H lists several units and operations whose members or participants are authorized to wear it, including:

• Southeast Asia. From 1961-03-01 to 1973-08-15.
• Dominican Republic, from 1965-04-28 to 1966-09-21. (no ships qualified)
• , from 1967-06-08 to 1967-06-09; during USS Liberty incident.
• , 1968-01-23.
• Operation Frequent Wind (Saigon evacuation), from 1975-04-29 to 1975-04-30. (no ships qualified)
• Operation Mayaguez, 1975-05-15. (no ships qualified)
• Grenada, from 1983-10-24 to 1983-11-02. (no ships qualified)
• Lebanon, from 1982-08-20 to 1984-08-01. (no ships qualified)
• Persian Gulf operations, from 1987 to 1988:
• COMNAVSPECWAR Task Unit Tango, 1987-09-22.
• , 1988-04-14.
• Operation Praying Mantis, from 1988-04-18 to 1988-07-03.
• Surface Action Group Bravo:
• and embarked Comdesron Nine Staff;
• Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 35 (HSL-35), Detachment 1;
• ;
• ;
• Contingency MAGTF 2-88;
• Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 44 (HSL-44),, Detachment 5]]
• Surface Action Group Charlie:
• ;
• ;
• USS Simpson (FFG-56);
• Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 35 (HSL-35), Detachment 7;
• Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 42 (HSL-42), Detachment 10
• Commander, Naval Special Warfare Task Group Middle East Force;
• SEAL Team TWO, Third Platoon
• Surface Action Group Delta:
• Commander, Destroyer Squadron Twenty Two (COMDESRON 22)
• ;
• ;
• ;
• Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 32 (HSL-32), Detachment 2;
• Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 33 (HSL-33), Detachment 2;
• Co, Special Boat Unit Twelve;
• SEAL Team FIVE, Platoon C
• ;
• Persian Gulf MCM Operations. Specific Units, from 1987-11-19 to 1988-04-01; 1988-04-14 to 1988-04-20; 1988-04-20 to 1988-04-23; and 1990-08-02 to 1991-09-10.
• Operation Just Cause (Panama), from 1989-12-20 to 1990-01-31. (no ships qualified)
• Operation Sharp Edge, from 1990-08-05 to 1990-08-24. (no ships qualified)
• Operation Desert Storm, from 1991-01-17 to 1991-02-26.
• The Secretary of the Navy approved the CAR as an exception to policy for several ships that operated north Of 28.30N and west Of 49.30E from 1991-01-17 to 1991-02-28:
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• ,
• The following ships were approved for the dates indicated:
• , 1991-02-26;
• , from 1991-02-25 to 1991-02-26;
• , 1991-02-26;
• , from 1991-02-25 to 1991-02-26;
• , from 1991-02-12 to 1991-02-25;
• VC-6 Detachment.
• EODMU Detachments:
• , from 1991-02-19 to 1991-02-24;
• , from 1991-02-16 to 1991-02-28;
• , 1991-03-23.
• El Salvador, from 1981-01-01 to 1992-02-01.
• Operation Restore Hope (Somalia),from 1992-12-05 to 1995-03-01. (no ships qualified)
• Operation United Shield (Somalia), from 1995-02-01 to 1995-03-01. Seal Team Five Platoon C
• Cambodia, from 1992-06-01 to 1993-11-15.
• Operation Assured Response (Monrovia, Liberia), from 1996-04-07 to 1996-04-18. (no ships qualified).
• Kosovo Campaign. Specific units designated from 1999-03-24 to 2000-01-27.
• bombing, 2000-10-12.
• Operation Enduring Freedom, Personnel in direct combat and support roles. - Only one award of the CAR is authorized per operation, regardless of deployment times, and eligible combat actions.
• Operation Iraqi Freedom, Personnel in direct combat and support roles. - Only one award of the CAR is authorized per operation, regardless of deployment times, and eligible combat actions.
• Rocket attack in Aqaba, Jordan 19 August, 2005, Ship's crew only, not Marines.

References

See also