| Service Star | |
|---|---|
 Bronze and silver 3⁄16 inch stars | |
| Type | Ribbon device |
| Awarded for | Worn to denote subsequent awards or periods of service.[1] |
| Presented by | the United States |
| Status | Currently in use |
A service star is a miniature bronze or silver five-pointed star 3⁄16 inch (4.8 mm) in diameter that is authorized to be worn by members of the eight uniformed services of the United States on medals and ribbons to denote an additional award or service period.[1] The service star may also be referred to as a campaign star or battle star depending on which award the star is authorized for and the manner in which the device is used for the award.[2] "Battle star" is also the term used to refer to decorations issued by the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War to individual ships, recognizing a vessel's participation in a particular battle or operation.[3]
Service stars, campaign stars, and battle stars are worn with one point of the star pointing up on the suspension ribbon of a medal or service ribbon. A silver star is worn instead of five bronze stars.[1] A service star is sometimes mistaken for a Bronze Star (Bronze Star Medal) or Silver Star (Silver Star Medal). The service star is also similar to the gold and silver 5⁄16 -inch stars that may be authorized to be worn on specific individual decorations of certain services to denote additional decorations.
- ^ a b c "Manual of Military Decorations and Awards, Volume 3" (PDF). Department of Defense. Paragraph 15e (Page 67). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
DODM1348.33V3-CSwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Navy and Coast Guard (Battle/Efficiency) E Display Recognition Form". www.amervets.com. Retrieved 2023-09-15.