Awards and Decorations

Purpose of Awards

Awards and Decorations are more commonly referred to as Medals and Ribbons. They are one of the ways we recognize service and personal accomplishment while a member of the 7th Cavalry Gaming Regiment. Together with other badges of rank and insignia in the 7th Cavalry Gaming Regiment, they are an outward display highlighting the members achievements and contributions throughout their career with us.

Visual identification is something we naturally rely on, but largely take for granted. In a virtual community, this basic human ability is missing by default. We address this through forum avatars, forum signatures, and MILPACS service jackets to display each member's rank, billet, awards, and qualifications. It helps to fill the void of intuitive recognition that would otherwise be present in face to face interactions.

Award Categories

Category	Description
Discontinued	Previously awarded and discontinued. Still appears on uniforms.
Removed	Previously awarded and discontinued. Removed from uniforms.
Service	Awarded for service or contributions to the Regiment.
Operations	Awarded for actions in game-play/operations.
Statutory	Awarded for completion of courses, time in service or meeting certain criteria, i.e. participating in # operations.

Individual Medals and Ribbons

INDIVIDUAL MEDALS AND RIBBONS OF THE 7TH CAVALRY REGIMENT
Ribbon/Award	Name	Category	Description
	Medal of Honor	Not Awarded	The highest honor that can be awarded to a member of the United States armed forces. It is represented here out of respect for the award, its recipients, and its place in military history.
	Brigadier General Krazee Lifetime Achievement Medal	Service	By order of the Commander only, is awarded for overall career achievements within the 7th Cavalry. This includes service to the unit in and out of combat roles. This award is exclusive to the Officer ranks, and is awarded in Honor of BG.Krazee.
	Command Sergeant-Major Ronnie "Coldblud" Bussey Lifetime Achievement Medal	Service	By order of the Commander only, is awarded for overall career achievements within the 7th Cavalry. This includes service to the unit in and out of combat roles. This award exclusive to the NCO ranks, and is awarded in Honor of CSM.Ronnie "Coldblud" Bussey.
	Army Distinguished Service Cross	Operations	Awarded for actions, or a single act, demonstrating extraordinary heroism and skill under fire, which were unquestionably responsible for the successful outcome of the mission against a live enemy force including internal player versus player matches. The recipient must have survived to be eligible to receive this award.
	Defense Distinguished Service Medal	Service	Awarded to officers and non-commissioned officers for exceptionally meritorious leadership of a primary billet over the course of one year, or being selected as Non-Commissioned Officer or Officer of the Year.
	Army Distinguished Service Medal	Service	Awarded for distinguished service in a primary billet by any member. Can only be awarded once in any one year period. Does not apply to primary leadership billets.
	Silver Star	Operations	Awarded for actions demonstrating extraordinary heroism and skill, including leadership under fire and which were critical to the successful outcome of the mission.The recipient must have survived to be eligible to receive this award.
	Defense Superior Service Medal	Service	Awarded to officers and non-commissioned officers for exceptionally meritorious leadership of a secondary billet over the course of one year. Applies to sub-department NCOICs and Leads also. Can also be awarded for meritorious service to the Regiment in leadership in operations over a year. Can only be awarded once per person, per year.
	Legion of Merit	Service	Awarded to members for exceptional service in a secondary billet. Can only be awarded once in any one year period. Does not apply to secondary leadership billets.
	Distinguished Flying Cross	Operations	Awarded to pilots for a single act demonstrating extraordinary heroism and skill while under enemy fire. This award is the aviation equivalent of the Bronze Star with valor device. Air crew are not eligible for this award and pilots must have their flight wings. The recipient must have survived to be eligible to receive this award.
	Soldier's Medal	Service	Awarded for calling a Garry Owen on behalf of the 7th Cavalry or for taking the initiative to make critical decisions during time of lost communications with higher leadership
	Bronze Star with Valor	Operations	Awarded for a single act demonstrating extraordinary heroism and skill while under enemy fire. The recipient must have survived to be eligible to receive this award.
	Bronze Star Medal	Operations	Awarded for skillful or heroic actions over the entire operation where there was no one specific instance of heroism and the trooper's contribution was critical to the successful outcome of the operation. The recipient must have survived to be eligible to receive this award.
	Purple Heart	Operations	Awarded for a single act demonstrating extraordinary heroism and skill while under enemy fire, where the recipient was killed undertaking the act. This is awarded for actions that, should the recipient have survived, would have been awarded a bronze star or above.
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal	Service	Awarded for a single, significant and distinguished contribution to a secondary department by any member, whether serving in a secondary billet or not.
	Meritorious Service Medal	Service	Awarded to any member for exceptional service or contributions that significantly impact the health and morale of the unit in a positive manner. Can only be awarded once in any six month period.
	Army Air Medal	Operations	Awarded to any member of an aircrew for skillful or heroic actions over the entire operation where there was no one specific instance of heroism and the trooper's contribution was critical to the successful outcome of the operation. This award is the aviation equivalent to the Bronze Star without a valor device. The recipient must have survived to be eligible to receive this award.
	Joint Service Commendation Medal	Operations	Awarded for joint operations with an allied unit against a live enemy force. Can only be awarded once per person, per campaign.
	Army Commendation Medal With Valor	Operations	Awarded for a single act of heroism or skill under fire.
	Army Commendation Medal	Service/Operations	Awarded for distinguished contributions to any area of the Regiment. Awarded for skillful or heroic actions over an entire operation where there was no one specific instance of heroism or skill.
	Joint Service Achievement Medal	Service	For technical assistance, or assistance of a non combat nature to an allied Unit.
	Army Achievement Medal	Service	Awarded for contributions to any area of the Cav. Also awarded for Trooper and S1 Clerk of the Month.
	Prisoner of War Medal	Operations	Awarded for participating in 16 hours of an official 24 hour Operation or other significant and unusual circumstances.
	Army Good Conduct Medal 3rd Gold Knot	Statutory	Last award of GCM. Awarded after 10 years of total service.
	Army Good Conduct Medal 2nd Gold Knot	Statutory	Awarded after 9 years of total service.
	Army Good Conduct Medal 1st Gold Knot	Statutory	Awarded after 8 years of total service.
	Army Good Conduct Medal 3rd Silver Knot	Statutory	Awarded after 7 years of total service.
	Army Good Conduct Medal 2nd Silver Knot	Statutory	Awarded after 6 years of total service.
	Army Good Conduct Medal 1st Silver Knot	Statutory	Awarded after 5 years of total service.
	Army Good Conduct Medal 3rd Bronze Knot	Statutory	Awarded after 4 years of total service.
	Army Good Conduct Medal 2nd Bronze Knot	Statutory	Awarded after 3 years of total service.
	Army Good Conduct Medal 1st Bronze Knot	Statutory	Awarded after 2 years of total service.
	Army Good Conduct Medal First Award	Statutory	Awarded after 1 year of total service.
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal	Operations	Awarded for team participation in a league operation against live enemies. Can only be awarded once per season.
	Afghanistan Campaign Medal	Service	Awarded to members of the Regiment who have served their country's Armed Forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
	Iraq Campaign Medal	Service	Awarded to members that have served in Iraq during the present conflict.
	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	Service	Awarded to members of the 7th Cavalry who have been deployed and participate in a designated anti-terrorism operation for a period of either 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty.
	Armed Forces Service Medal	Service	Awarded to members of the 7th Cavalry that are assigned to non combat positions in addition to their combat billet for every consecutive year assigned to a billet. Awarded for each secondary department (not sub-department), per person, per 12 consecutive months of service. Capped at 11 awards.
	Humanitarian Service Medal	Service	Awarded to any 7th Cavalry member that helps out another whether financially, or for games or computer parts that are vital to their continued participation in their primary billet.
	Donation Ribbon	Service	Awarded to a member that donates money to the 7th Cavalry Cause or to pay for other essential services or software.
	7th Cavalry Server Upgrade Award	Service	Awarded to 7th Cavalry members that made a financial contribution to fund the project to upgrade the dedicated servers for the Regiment. A Silver Star Device denotes a total contribution of $50 or more, a Gold Star Device denotes $100.00 or more.
	Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal	Service	Awarded to members of the 7th Cavalry that provide outstanding service to a non combat department to which they are not assigned.
	NCO Professional Development Ribbon	Statutory	Awarded each time a member is promoted from sergeant and above with numeral device. Numeral indicates highest NCO rank ever attained.
	Honor Graduate Ribbon	Statutory	Awarded to a member for completion of various courses as the Honor Graduate.
	Army Service Ribbon	Statutory	Awarded after successful graduation from the 7th Cavalry Regiment Recruit Training Command.
	Cavalry Centurion Medal	Statutory	Awarded to a member that participates in one-hundred total operations. Multiple awards are possible.
	United Nations Service Medal	Statutory	Awarded to a trooper who participates in 3 or more operations during a campaign. Capped at 11 awards.
	Overseas Service Ribbon	Statutory	Awarded to a member that participates in five operations in the Arma 3 Area of Operations.
	Vietnam Service Ribbon	Statutory	Awarded to a member that participates in five operations in the Vietnam Area of Operations.
	Squad Service Ribbon	Statutory	Awarded to a member that participates in five operations in the Squad Area of Operations.
	World War II Service Ribbon	Statutory	Awarded to a member that participates in five operations in the Post Scriptum Area of Operations.
	Recruiting Service Ribbon	Service	Awarded for every 2 members that are recruited and graduate boot camp.
	Sniper Ribbon	Statutory	Awarded upon completion of the 7th Cavalry Sniper Scout Course.
	Basic Assault Course Ribbon	Statutory	The basic assault Course Ribbon is awarded to all those that graduate the Basic Assault and Movement Course (B.A.M.C.) course.

Unit Awards

UNIT CITATIONS OF THE 7TH CAVALRY REGIMENT
Ribbon/Award	Name	Category	Description
	Presidential Unit Citation	Statutory	Awarded to the 7th Cavalry Regiment for distinguished and heroic actions during combat operations as a Unit against hostile forces. All troopers receive this award upon graduating from the Recruit Training Command.
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award	Operations	Awarded to squad-sized units and up that display outstanding and exceptional valor and heroism as a whole during combat operations in cooperation with other units against an AI enemy.
	Army Valorous Unit Award	Operations	Awarded to squad-sized units and up that display outstanding and exceptional valor and heroism as a whole during combat operations against live hostile forces. Must have won the match(es).
	Meritorious Unit Commendation	Service	Awarded to members of a squad for meritorious service through superior attendance at operations, practices and FTX's and/or performance at squad competitions.
	Superior Unit Award	Service	Awarded to platoon-level units and higher for superior performance of their duties in attendance at operations, practices and FTX's.
	Black Ops Unit Citation	Service	Awarded for classified activities on behalf of the 7th Cavalry Regiment.

Special Skill Group 1 Awards

COMBAT INFANTRY BADGES
Ribbon/Award	Name	Category	Description
	Combat Infantry Badge 4	Statutory	Awarded for participation in combat operations after 20 operations in any area of operation.
	Combat Infantry Badge 3	Statutory	Awarded for participation in combat operations after 15 operationsin any area of operation.
	Combat Infantry Badge 2	Statutory	Awarded for participation in combat operations after 10 operationsin any area of operation.
	Combat Infantry Badge	Statutory	Awarded for participation in combat operations after 5 operations in any area of operation.
	Expert Infantry Badge	Statutory	Awarded for participation in combat operations after 1 operationin any area of operation.

Special Skill Group 2 Awards

MEDICAL QUALIFICATION BADGES
Ribbon/Award	Name	Category	Description
	Combat Medical Badge	Statutory	Awarded for sustained actions in combat while assigned as a combat medic. Must have Expert Field Medical Badge to qualify.
	Expert Field Medical Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the game's Combat Medic Course.

Special Skill Group 3 Awards

FLIGHT AND EOD QUALIFICATION BADGES
Ribbon/Award	Name	Category	Description
	Master Aviator Badge	Statutory	Must have senior aviator wings to qualify and be assigned to the flight school as a fully qualified instructor capable of teaching ground school, basic flight and advanced flight.
	Senior Aviator Badge	Statutory	Must have completed Advanced course in their specialty (Rotary or Fixed-Wing) and completing 10 operational sorties or 6 months as a qualified aviator.
	Army Aviator Badge	Statutory	Alpha Company - awarded upon successful completion of Advanced Flight Qualification Evaluation (Rotary or Fixed-Wing). Delta Company - awarded upon successful completion of Basic Flight Qualification Evaluation.
	Aircrew Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the Basic Rotary Aircrew Course.
	Flight Medic Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the Flight Medic Evaluation.
	Master EOD Badge	Statutory	Qualified as an EOD instructor in their game.
	Senior EOD Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of a game's Advanced Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course.
	Basic EOD Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of a game's Basic Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course.

Special Skill Group 4 Awards

SPECIALTY QUALIFICATION BADGES
Ribbon/Award	Name	Category	Description
	Ranger Tab	Statutory	Awarded for completing Ranger training and selection.
	Sapper Tab	Statutory	Awarded for completing Sapper training and selection.
	LRRP Tab	Statutory	Awarded for completing ACV Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol training and selection.
	Master Gunner Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completing the M1A2 Abrams Master Gunner Evaluation.
	Pathfinder Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completing Pathfinder training and selection.
	Air Assault Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the Air Assault Course.
	Master Parachutist Badge	Statutory	Awarded to fully qualified instructors of the Basic Airborne and Jumpmaster course. Up to 5 combat jump stars can be awarded.
	Senior Parachutist Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the Arma 3 Jumpmaster Course.Up to 5 combat jump stars can be awarded.
	Basic Parachutist Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the Basic Airborne Course. Up to 5 combat jump stars can be awarded.
	Master MFFP Badge	Statutory	Awarded to fully qualified instructors of the Military Freefall Parachutist Course. Up to 3 combat jump stars can be awarded.
	Basic MFFP Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the Arma 3 Military Freefall Parachutist Course. Up to 3 combat jump stars can be awarded.

Other Awards

OTHER QUALIFICATION BADGES
Ribbon/Award	Name	Category	Description
	Cavalry Spurs	Statutory	Awarded for completing Cavalry Scout training and selection.
	Best Ranger	Statutory	Awarded to the top scoring Ranger in the annual Best Ranger Competition.
	Rifle Qualification Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the weapons qualification course using a standard Rifle. Expert/Sharpshooter/Marksman.
	Grenade Qualification Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the weapons qualification course using grenades. Expert/Sharpshooter/Marksman.
	M-203 Qualification Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the weapons qualification course using a grenade launcher. Expert/Sharpshooter/Marksman.
	Machine Gun Qualification Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the weapons qualification course using a machine gun. Expert/Sharpshooter/Marksman.
	Recoilless Qualification Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the weapons qualification course using an anti-tank launcher. Expert/Sharpshooter/Marksman.
	Pistol Qualification Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the weapons qualification course using a pistol. Expert/Sharpshooter/Marksman.
	Aeroweapons Qualification Badge	Statutory	Awarded for completion of the weapons qualification course using the M134 Minigun. Expert/Sharpshooter/Marksman.

Discontinued Awards

DISCONTINUED MEDALS/RIBBONS/BADGES
Ribbon/Award	Name	Category	Description
	Special Forces Tab	Discontinued	Awarded upon selection to the Special Forces Unit of the 7th Cavalry.
	Ranger Selection Ribbon	Discontinued	Awarded to members that have completed Ranger School.
	American Defense Medal	Removed	Awarded for every year of service.
	Re-enlistment Ribbon	Removed	For former members of the 7th Cavalry that had at least 1 year Time in Service at the time of their Discharge who reenlist after having been discharged/retired for at least 6 months.
	Cadre Course Ribbon	Discontinued	Awarded for the completion of the 7th Cavalry Cadre Training Course.
	Women's Army Corps Medal	Discontinued	Awarded to all female members of the 7th Cavalry Regiment upon reaching the rank of Private First Class.