Missing Medals, Ribbons, or Awards
Before you separate, look over your collection of military awards, medals, ribbons, badges,
and other distinguished insignia.
If awards you have earned are missing: Speak with your unit personnel officer
about obtaining replacements. You may also purchase lost ribbons and medals from the military
exchange.
Note: Once you have left the service you may request issuance or replacement
of military service medals, decorations, and awards through the specific branch of the military in
which you served. Use the
Standard Form (SF 180), "Request Pertaining to Military
Records," for requesting medals and awards. SF 180 can be downloaded from
http://www.vetrecs.archives.gov.
If you believe you are eligible for awards that you did not receive: Ask your unit
personnel office for the Service regulation outlining the eligibility requirements, or get the
number of the Service regulation and pursue it yourself. No one knows better than you when or
where you were assigned, what special training you took, or when you received special
recognition. Replacement medals and ribbons can be obtained for a small fee from:
National Personnel Records Center
Attention: Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5000
See
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/replacement-medals.html
for more information.
