Navy E Ribbon

Navy "E" Ribbon
Awarded by United States Navy and United States Marine Corps
Type	Ribbon
Eligibility	Military Unit
Awarded for	Battle efficiency competition, to members of ships, squadrons or units.
Status	Currently awarded
Statistics
First awarded	1976
Last awarded	Ongoing
Precedence
Next (higher)	Meritorious Unit Commendations Coast Guard - Meritorious Team Commendation
Equivalent	Army - Superior Unit Award Air Force - Outstanding Unit Award Coast Guard - Coast Guard "E" Ribbon
Next (lower)	Prisoner of War Medal

The Battle Efficiency Ribbon, Navy "E" Ribbon, or (informally) the Battle "E" ribbon was established in July 1976 by Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf. The Navy "E" Ribbon denotes permanent duty on U.S. Navy ships, squadrons, or units (including construction battalions) that have won a battle efficiency competition (Battle "E") after July 1, 1974. This ribbon replaces the "E" patch previously sewn on the right sleeve of the uniform. United States Marine Corps personnel assigned as ship's company are eligible; embarked personnel are not.^[1]

The Navy "E" is one of the very few Naval service awards that does not have a corresponding medal, meaning that when in full dress (when medals are worn), the Navy "E" is placed above the right breast pocket of the uniform instead of the left. However, when in standard uniform (no medals are worn), the ribbon is placed above the left breast pocket, along with all other citations and awards.^[2]

The "E" is also one of the few ribbons that is not an individual award. Instead, it is a unit award, issued to any U.S. serviceman or -woman that is stationed as ship's company with the unit when the award is earned.

The United States Coast Guard equivalent of the Navy "E" Ribbon is the Coast Guard "E" Ribbon.

Battle "E" device

E device, left, and E device w/ wreath, right

For each award of the Navy "E" Ribbon, one Battle "E" device is authorized for wear on the Navy "E" ribbon, up to the third award. When a service member receives a fourth Navy "E" award, a Wreathed Battle "E" device is bestowed. This replaces the first three devices and effectively "closes out" the award ribbon – no further devices are authorized for display of additional awards. While service members may receive more than four Navy "E"s only four can be displayed.^[3]

See also

• Awards and decorations of the United States military
• Army-Navy ‘E’ Award

Notes

1. ^ SECNAVINST 1650.1H 2006 3-9 page 104
2. ^ See Uniform Regulations, Ch. 5, Section 3, Article 5312-1: Manner of Wearing; also Article 5313-1: Manner of Wearing.
3. ^ See Uniform Regulations, Ch. 5, Section 3, Article 5319-13: Navy "E".

References

• "Chapter 5: Identification Badges/Awards/Insignia". United States Navy Uniform Regulations. Millington, TN: Navy Personnel Command. December 2008. http://www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/USNavyUniforms/UniformRegulations/Chapter5/default.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-21.