Study guide
2.5 The Army Awards and Decorations System (AR 600-8-22)
Army Promotion Board SGT/SSG
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1 The Promotion Board Process, Eligibility, and Preparation
1.1 AR 600-8-19 Board Eligibility, TIS/TIG Zones, and PME Requirements 1.2 Board Proceedings, Protocol, Uniform Inspection, and Boardroom Bearing 1.3 Promotion Points, the AFT Conversion, IPPS-A, and Monthly Cutoff Scores 1.4 Board Preparation: Study Plan, Current Events, and World Affairs 1.5 Situational Questions, ICTL Proficiency, and Board Scenario Technique
2 Uniform Standards, Grooming, and Awards (AR 670-1, AD 2025-18, AR 600-8-22)
2.1 ASU and AGSU Configuration, Insignia, Badges, and Awards Placement 2.2 Hair, Cosmetics, Fingernails, and Jewelry Standards (AD 2025-18) 2.3 Wear of Combat Uniforms, Duty Accessories, and Body Modification & Tattoo Policies 2.4 Facial Hair, Medical Exceptions to Policy, and Religious Accommodation 2.5 The Army Awards and Decorations System (AR 600-8-22)
3 Army Leadership & Doctrine (ADP 6-22 & FM 6-22)
3.1 The Army Leadership Requirements Model: Attributes and Competencies 3.2 Leadership Levels, Dynamics, Command Climate, and the Warrior Ethos 3.3 The Counseling Process (ATP 6-22.1 & DA Form 4856) 3.4 The Evaluation Reporting System & NCOER (AR 623-3 & DA Form 2166-9 Series)
4 Customs, Courtesies, and Military Traditions (AR 600-25 & TC 3-21.5)
4.1 Saluting Protocols, Courtesies to Officers, and Hand Salute Standards 4.2 National Flag Etiquette, Colors, Reveille, Retreat, and Honors to the Nation 4.3 Drill and Ceremonies Fundamentals (TC 3-21.5) and Formations 4.4 Rank Structure, Chain of Command, the NCO Support Channel, and Unit Organization
5 Army History, Heritage, and Creeds
5.1 Army Birthday, Continental Army Foundations, and Historical Milestones 5.2 Evolution of the NCO Corps and the Sergeant Major of the Army 5.3 Major American Campaigns and Military Battle History 5.4 The Army Values, The Soldier's Creed, and The NCO Creed
6 Army Programs, Command Policy, and Soldier Readiness
6.1 SHARP Under AR 600-52: Reporting Options, Complaint Processing, and the OSTC 6.2 The Military Equal Opportunity and Harassment Prevention Program (AR 600-20, Chapter 6) 6.3 Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) and SUDCC (AR 600-85) 6.4 Soldier and Family Support Programs: AER, Red Cross, ACS, EFMP, and BOSS 6.5 Suicide Prevention, Behavioral Health, and Resilience 6.6 Prohibited Activities: Extremism, Retaliation, Prohibited Relationships, and Political Activity 6.7 Retention, Reenlistment, and the Career Counseling of Subordinates
7 Tactical Combat Casualty Care & First Aid (TC 4-02.1 & ATP 4-02.83)
7.1 TCCC Phases of Care: Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care, and TACEVAC 7.2 MARCH PAWS Assessment: Massive Hemorrhage and Airway Management 7.3 Respiration, Circulation, Shock, Burns, and Environmental Injuries 7.4 9-Line MEDEVAC Request Protocol and Tactical Evacuation Procedures
8 CBRN Defense & Force Protection (ATP 3-11.32 & AR 525-13)
8.1 CBRN Hazards, Chemical Agent Classifications, and Physiological Effects 8.2 MOPP Gear Levels, Protective Mask PMCS, and Decontamination 8.3 Antiterrorism, Physical Security, and Force Protection Conditions (AR 525-13)
9 Weapons, Land Navigation, and Physical Readiness
9.1 M4/M16 Rifle Characteristics, Clearing, Malfunctions, and Weapons Safety (TC 3-22.9) 9.2 Map Reading, Grid Coordinates, and Marginal Information (TC 3-25.26) 9.3 Land Navigation: Terrain Features, Azimuths, Intersection, and Resection 9.4 Holistic Health and Fitness, the Army Fitness Test, and the Combat Field Test 9.5 The Army Body Composition Program and the Waist-to-Height Standard (AD 2026-13) 9.6 Crew-Served Weapons, Sidearms, and Munitions
10 Military Justice, the Law of War, and Duty
10.1 The UCMJ, Article 15 Non-Judicial Punishment, and Courts-Martial 10.2 The Code of Conduct, the Law of War, and Rules of Engagement 10.3 Guard Duty, the Three General Orders, and Operations Security
11 Training Management and Unit Sustainment
11.1 Training Management: ICTL, the Digital Job Book, and Sergeant's Time Training 11.2 Maintenance, Supply Discipline, and Property Accountability
2.5 The Army Awards and Decorations System (AR 600-8-22)
Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI
AR 600-8-22 governs military awards; DA Form 638 is the recommendation form for most individual awards and DA Form 2442 is the Certificate of Achievement.
The U.S. order of precedence runs Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart.
The Purple Heart is the only Army award to which a Soldier is entitled rather than recommended, and it is awarded for wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States.
Ribbons are worn in order of precedence from the wearer's right to left and top to bottom, with U.S. decorations first, then U.S. unit awards, then U.S. service medals, then foreign awards.
Awards earn promotion points under AR 600-8-19 Table 3-5 and Table 3-6, where an Expert Infantryman, Expert Field Medical, or Expert Soldier Badge is worth 60 points and a combat badge is worth 30.
Last updated: September 2026
The Army Awards and Decorations System (AR 600-8-22)
Board Primer: Board members inspect your ribbons and then ask about them. AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards) is the governing regulation; the placement rules are in AR 670-1 and DA PAM 670-1; and the point values are in AR 600-8-19. A noncommissioned officer is expected to know how to recommend an award for a Soldier, not merely how to wear one.
1. Categories of Awards
Category Examples
Decorations (individual) Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal
Good conduct and reserve awards Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal
Campaign and service medals National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals, Korea Defense Service Medal
Service and training ribbons Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon
Unit awards Presidential Unit Citation, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Superior Unit Award
- Badges and tabs Combat and special skill badges, marksmanship badges, identification badges
- 2. Order of Precedence
Ribbons are worn in order of precedence from the wearer's right to left, and top to bottom — that is, the highest award is closest to the heart and highest on the rack. The categories run in this order:
- U.S. military decorations
- U.S. unit awards
- U.S. non-military decorations
- Good conduct and reserve component achievement medals
- U.S. campaign and service medals
- U.S. service and training ribbons
- Foreign and international awards
Within U.S. military decorations, the top of the order is: Medal of Honor; Distinguished Service Cross; Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross; Soldier's Medal; Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Joint Service Achievement Medal; Army Achievement Medal.
Two distinctions worth memorizing:
Soldier's Medal is awarded for heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy — for example, a rescue at grave personal risk. It outranks the Bronze Star Medal.
Purple Heart is the only award to which a Soldier is entitled , not recommended. It is awarded for wounds received in action against an enemy of the United States that required treatment by a medical officer and were recorded in the Soldier's medical record.
3. Devices
Device Meaning
Oak leaf cluster Second and subsequent awards of most Army decorations (bronze; a silver cluster represents five bronze)
- "V" device Acts of valor in direct contact with an enemy
- "C" device Meritorious service performed under combat conditions
"R" device Direct and immediate impact on combat operations from outside the combat zone (e.g., remotely piloted operations, cyber)
- Numerals Subsequent awards of certain awards, such as the Air Medal and Overseas Service Ribbon
- Service stars Participation in designated campaigns on a campaign medal
- 4. How an Award Is Recommended
The first-line leader identifies the act or the period of service. This is a squad leader responsibility, not a personnel-office function.
Prepare DA Form 638 (Recommendation for Award). Write achievement bullets in specific, quantified language — the same Action-Impact-Result discipline used for evaluations.
Route through the chain of command. Each level endorses, recommends a higher or lower award, or disapproves.
The approval authority acts. Approval authority rises with the level of the award; the regulation and local policy fix who may approve each one. A Certificate of Achievement (DA Form 2442) may be awarded by commanders or deputy commanders in positions authorized LTC or higher , by any general officer or GS-13-and-above civilian equivalent, and by brigade-level CSMs .
The award is announced in permanent orders and posted to the Soldier's record in IPPS-A. If it does not post, the promotion points do not exist.
Timeliness
Recommendations for achievement and service awards should be submitted so that the award can be presented at the time of the event or departure — commonly two to three months before a permanent change of station, retirement, or separation. Valor awards are submitted as soon as the facts can be established.
5. Awards and Promotion Points
Awards feed directly into the promotion score under AR 600-8-19, paragraph 3-16 , capped at 145 points for SGT and 165 for SSG :
- Award or badge Promotion points
- Soldier's Medal or higher; Bronze Star Medal with "V" 35
- Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart 30
- Defense MSM; MSM; Air Medal with "V"; ARCOM with "V" 25
- Air Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; ARCOM 20
- AAM; Joint Service Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Army Recruiting Ribbon 10
- Expert Infantryman / Expert Field Medical / Expert Soldier Badge 60
- Combat Infantryman / Combat Medical / Combat Action Badge 30
- Master Parachutist, Master EOD, Master Gunner, Master Recruiter 20
- Senior Parachutist, Drill Sergeant Badge 15
- Basic Parachutist, Air Assault, Pathfinder, Driver and Mechanic 10
- Certificate of Achievement 5 each, maximum 20
Two rules that catch candidates:
Badges are not cumulative. A higher badge only adds the difference , so a Master Recruiter Badge is worth 20 total, not 35.
The Army Recruiting Ribbon is capped at 40 points for four awards .
6. Common Board Questions
"What is the difference between the Bronze Star Medal and the Soldier's Medal?" The Bronze Star Medal is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement or service in connection with military operations against an armed enemy; the Soldier's Medal is awarded for heroism not involving conflict with an armed enemy, and outranks it in precedence.
"Which award is a Soldier entitled to?" The Purple Heart.
"What form do you use to recommend one of your Soldiers for an ARCOM?" DA Form 638.
"Who can give a Certificate of Achievement?" Commanders and deputy commanders in LTC-or-higher positions, general officers, GS-13-and-above equivalents, and brigade CSMs — worth 5 promotion points each, up to 20.
"Where do ribbons start?" Highest precedence at the wearer's right and top of the rack, worn 1/8 inch above the left breast pocket on the male service coat.