DoD Ribbon Checker
Click the boxes next to the ribbons you are currently authorized to wear, then press the button below to get a graphical representation of them. This program does not currently take into account ribbon devices, including combat V's and stars for multiple awards.
At a glance
- Access
- Public
- Last updated
The "DoD Ribbon Checker" is an independent, personally-maintained web utility for laying out a service member's ribbons/medals in order of precedence: the visitor checks off the ribbons they hold and the page renders a graphical rack. It is hosted on a Duke University Pratt School of Engineering personal web space (kepler.pratt.duke.edu), not an official DoD, service branch, or Duke University resource, and the page itself does not serve as a reference for determining ribbon eligibility or award details.
What it is
A checkbox-driven ribbon/medal rack generator: users select the awards they are authorized to wear, and the tool orders and displays them for visual reference. The author states the ribbons are listed in the order of precedence as given by BUPERS (Navy Bureau of Personnel), and separate versions of the same tool exist for the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, NROTC, NJROTC, and NSCC. The tool explicitly does not account for ribbon devices such as stars, "V" devices, or other attachments for multiple awards.
Who operates it
The page is authored and maintained by Michael R. Gustafson II, an Associate Professor of the Practice of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering and a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. It is a personal project hosted on Duke Pratt engineering server space, not an official university publication or a DoD/service-branch system. The site's own footer credits the author and lists a last-updated date (May 31, 2024 as of this review).
Access
Fully public with no login, account, or CAC/PIV requirement — anyone can load the page and use the checker.
How logisticians use it
This is a personnel/uniform-wear convenience tool rather than a logistics system. Service members and unit administrative staff use it informally to double-check ribbon rack order before an inspection or official photo. Because it is unofficial and does not model devices (stars, "V"s) or the full current awards list, users should confirm entitlement and exact order against official service guidance (BUPERS/Navy Personnel Command precedence instructions, or the applicable service's uniform regulation) rather than relying on this page alone.
Related systems
For authoritative ribbon/medal precedence and entitlement, service members should consult official Navy Personnel Command awards precedence guidance and the applicable service uniform regulations; several commercial "rack builder" tools (e.g., uniformribbons.com, EZ Rack Builder) offer similar unofficial visualization aids for other branches.