Ribbon bar

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The Purple Heart ribbon bar matches the medal ribbon

Ribbon bars are small decorations that are worn by military, police, and fire service personnel or by civilians. Ribbon bars are mainly used when wearing either full decoration, or when wearing medals is considered inappropriate or impractical. Each military force has its own rules on what ribbons are worn in which order of precedence. Some awards are "ribbon only", having no associated medal.

[edit] Design

The ribbon bar for a particular medal usually matches the ribbon on the medal. For example, the ribbon for the Purple Heart medal is purple with a white bar down the two side edges, and its ribbon bar is similarly purple with a white bar at each end.

However, there are some awards that do not come on a ribbon, but still have a ribbon bar. The Soviet Order of Victory is a badge that is worn on the parade uniform. However, a ribbon is worn instead when wearing a field uniform. The ribbon was designed by combining various other ribbons from other Soviet orders.

[edit] Construction

Ribbon bars are today mounted on what is known as a pin backing, which can then be pushed through the fabric of a uniform shirt and secured, with fasteners, on the inside edge. Ribbons may either be individually secured, and then lined up on the shirt, or mass-mounted to a single fastener. Previously, ribbons were sewn to individual garments; individual militaries authorized the ribbons for wear on certain uniforms only; for example, on dress shirts but not on working clothing.

[edit] Display

Ribbon bars are normally not worn on utility or combat uniforms, but instead for office or dress occasions. Some countries (such as Cuba) maintain a standard practice of wearing full ribbon bars on combat utility clothing. In other militaries, this is strictly prohibited as the wear of ribbons on combat gear could make higher ranking officers more noticeable as targets, and also negate the effect of camouflage.

Ribbon bars are worn in rows on the chest. This collection of bars is collectively referred to as a "ribbon rack".