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The Order in which to wear the ribbons

 

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​Background

The Israeli ministerial committee for symbols and ceremonies designated, in its meeting of Wednesday 28/08/02 (decision no. st/50) the order in which to wear the ribbons, the decorations and medals by civilians eligible for these symbols during Remembrance days, national ceremonies and in official gathering of the various organizations. The purpose of this order is to set up a uniformity for wearing the ribbons, the decorations and medals which were given to every citizen according to his military engagements.

The order in which to wear the insignia was determined according to the chronological order of the dates in which the operational/security engagement took place with the exception of the first three rows which include the citations and decorations of a different importance from the rest of the ribbons.

 

Guidelines for the order of wearing ribbons, decorations and medals:

A.  Civilians may wear the ribbons, decorations and medals for which they are eligible to according to the following proposed order. 

B.  The insignia should be worn above the left pocket of the shirt or on the parallel place for a shirt without such a pocket. 

C.  In no case should there be more than three ribbons or decorations in one row. 

D.  The following points out the optimum way of wearing ribbons and decorations (It is noteworthy that only a few citizens have been privileged with such a large number of ribbons and decorations). 

 

The ribbons should be worn in the following order:

Israel security prize

This is to be worn on the first row

Decorations: Medal of Valor, Medal of Courage, Medal of Distinguished Service

These are to be worn on the second row from left to right.

  * If two Israel security prizes and one decoration were to be awarded, the decoration should be worn on the first row on the right of the award for the security of Israel. 

  * If an Israel Security Prize and two decorations were to be awarded, the decorations are to be worn on the first row, on the right of the award for the security of Israel.

  * If two Israel Security Prizes and two or more decorations were to be awarded, they should be worn on separate rows one underneath the other according to the order specified above. 

 

Citations: Brigade Commander Citation, OC Command Citation and Chief of Staff Citation

are to be worn on the third row.

  * If two citations and one decoration have been awarded, they are to be worn on one row, right of the decoration.

  * If two citations and two decorations have been awarded, they are to be worn on separate rows, one underneath the other, based on the order specified above. 

  * If one citation and two decorations have been awarded, they are to be worn on the same row right of the decoration. 

  * If one award for the security of Israel, one decoration and one citation have been awarded, they are to be worn on one line - based on the order specified above. 

  * A citation which has been awarded during one of the Israeli wars, should be awarded on top of the relevant campaign ribbon and will not be worn on the row of citations.

 

Campaign Ribbons

These are to be worn on the forth row in the following order from left to right: The War of Independence Ribbon, The Sinai Campaign Ribbon, The Six Day War Ribbon. Mounted above will be worn from left to right: The War of Attrition Ribbon, The Yom Kippur War Ribbon and The "Peace for the Galilee" War Ribbon.

 

Ribbons awarded for security engagements up till the establishment of the State in 1948

These are to be worn on the fifth row, beginning with the HaShomer Ribbon which is to be worn on the let side, and then from left to right: Nili Ribbon and The Volunteer Ribbon. Mounted above will be worn from left to right Ribbon of The Haganah, Ribbon of Hamishmar and The Irgun (ETZEL) Ribbon. Mounted above will be worn The Nazi Fighter Ribbon and The Stern Gang (LEHI) Ribbon.

 

Operational service and unit insignia

These are to be worn on the sixth row, beginning with the Decoration of State Warriors (DSW) which is to be worn on the left side, and then from left to right: Mandate Prisoners Decoration (MPD), Operational Service badge, and other insignia which has been awarded to soldiers and people of the standing army for their services in operational units, for army service, for volunteer services and the medals of all the units of which they have served.

 

Medals and decorations of Foreign Armies

These are to be worn on the seventh row, based on the following order: war medals are the first to be worn from left to right and from top to bottom. Below medals and decorations are to be worn, and below that the medals are to be worn- all of which are to be worn according to the chronological order of the period of service. One has to make sure of the right order of wearing the ribbons and decorations while paying attention to reducing the rows.