<P> The U.S. Army Sea Duty Ribbon is 1 3 / 8 inches wide, composed of vertical stripes . The edges are 3 / 32 inch in navy blue, bordered by 5 / 32 inch scarlet stripes, followed by 5 / 32 inch stripes of old gold, bordered by 3 / 32 inch stripes of teal blue, next to 1 / 8 inch stripes of grotto blue, bordered by 3 / 64 inch stripes of soldier red, and a 1 / 32 inch center stripe of old gold . Subsequent awards are denoted by bronze and silver service stars . </P> <P> The Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (SSDR) is a service award of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps which was authorized in May 1980 and retroactively authorized to 15 August 1974, coinciding with a temporary suspension in authority for award of the National Defense Service Medal between that date and 2 August 1990 . It was the first type of sea service ribbon established in the U.S. Armed Forces . </P> <P> The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is granted to any member of the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps assigned to a deployable unit (e.g., a ship (including submarines), aircraft squadron, air wing or air group, detachment, battalion, Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Air Ground Task Force, or other unit type that operates away from its assigned homeport) and is forward - deployed for a period of either 90 consecutive days or two periods of at least 80 days each within a given 12 - month period; or 6 months stationed overseas in a forward deployed location . Staffs of embarked Destroyer Squadrons (DESRONs), Amphibious Squadrons (PHIBRONs), Amphibious Readiness Groups (ARG), Expeditionary Strike Groups (ESGs), Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) and similar units deployed within time period requirements are also eligible for award . A 3 / 16 inch bronze star is awarded for the second through the fifth award of the ribbon; the 3 / 16 - inch silver star will be worn in lieu of five 3 / 16 - inch bronze stars . </P> <P> When a ship's crew qualifies for the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the ship is authorized to paint and display the ribbon and award stars on the port and starboard side of the bulwark aft to designate the number of deployments conducted throughout the commissioned life of the ship since August 1974 . </P>

Navy marine corps sea service deployment ribbon criteria