How to Set Up Your Army Ribbon Rack the Right Way (2025 Guide)

Your ribbon rack tells your story — your service, your sacrifice, and the moments you earned recognition for doing something that mattered. Whether you're prepping for inspection, getting ready for a ceremony, or building a shadow box, it's important to lay out your rack the right way.

This guide will walk you through how to set up your Army ribbon rack using the official order of precedence, how to place it on your uniform, and how to mount it with gear you can trust.

Why Ribbon Order Really Matters

In the Army, the details matter. Wearing your ribbons in the wrong order isn’t just a small mistake — it can be seen as careless or even disrespectful. The good news? Once you know the basics, it’s simple to get it right.

Step 1: Follow the Official Army Ribbon Order

Army ribbons are placed in order of precedence, starting from the top left (your left when wearing it), in rows of three.

Here’s the correct order for the first 20 ribbons:

1. Medal of Honor
2. Distinguished Service Cross
3. Defense Distinguished Service Medal
4. Army Distinguished Service Medal
5. Silver Star
6. Defense Superior Service Medal
7. Legion of Merit
8. Distinguished Flying Cross
9. Soldier’s Medal
10. Bronze Star Medal
11. Purple Heart
12. Defense Meritorious Service Medal
13. Meritorious Service Medal
14. Air Medal
15. Army Commendation Medal
16. Joint Service Commendation Medal
17. Army Achievement Medal
18. Army Good Conduct Medal
19. Reserve Components Achievement Medal
20. National Defense Service Medal

There are many more beyond this — you can find the full list here: View the complete Army ribbon chart.

Step 2: Mount Your Ribbons with a Reliable Rack

Once you know the correct order, the next step is getting your ribbons mounted.

We don’t do custom mounting at Military Depot — but we do carry regulation Army ribbon racks that make it easy to build your own. These are the same styles soldiers trust for inspections and boards.

• Built for Army-standard spacing
• Easy to snap ribbons into place
• Strong enough for wear or display

Shop regulation ribbon racks here →

Step 3: Placing Your Ribbon Rack on the Uniform

Your ribbon rack should go centered above the left breast pocket on the Army Service Uniform (ASU) or Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU).

Stick to rows of three, and if you only have one or two ribbons, place them in the top row — never centered vertically.

If in doubt, refer to AR 670-1 or check with your unit.

Common Ribbon Rack Mistakes

• Ribbons out of order
• Crooked or uneven rows
• Missing earned ribbons
• Using unofficial ribbons on a uniform
• Placing four ribbons in a row

Final Thoughts

Your ribbon rack is personal — and getting it right is a matter of pride and respect. Whether you're active duty, a veteran, or helping someone honor their service, we’ve got the gear to help you do it right.

Shop Army ribbons and racks →
View the full Army ribbon chart →

Have questions about placement or how to find a specific ribbon? Just reach out — we’re happy to help.