4.1. Wear Instructions. Wear regular or miniature size medals and ribbons, except for the Medal of Honor (neck decoration). Do not mix sizes. Do not wear medals and ribbons on outergarments such as raincoat, all-weather coat, overcoat, and lightweight blue jacket. For order of precedence for awards and decorations, see figure 4.1. For Arrangement of ribbons and devices, see figures 4.2 and 4.3. For arrangement of medals by rows, see table 4.1. For arrangement of ribbons on service uniforms, see table 4.2. For placement of medals on dress coat or jacket, see table 4.3. Wear only authorized Air Force awards and devices when wearing ribbons and medals.
4.2. Foreign Decorations. Decorations proferred by foreign governments such as a ribbon, medal device, a badge, sash, sunburst, or neck-type decorations. Air Force Instruction 36-2803, The Air Force Awards and Decorations Program, specifies how to accept foreign decorations. Members may wear foreign decorations they accept with authority only. Wear criteria depends on the type of device the decoration represents.
4.2.1. Wear sash, sunburst, or neck-type foreign decorations with the formal dress uniform only, according to the customs of the awarding nation. Wear only one type at a time.
4.2.2. Wear medals and ribbons on the service uniform, ceremonial uniforms, and semi-formal uniforms when they are the same size as Air Force medals and ribbons.
4.2.3. Wear badges or miniature medals on the mess dress or formal dress uniform. Wear only one foreign badge. When wearing more than one foreign decoration (miniature medal), wear them in the order earned.
4.3. Non-Air Force Service Awards. Air National Guard (ANG) members wear state decorations when serving in state status but not while on federal active duty. Wear other military service department awards not included in figure 4.1 in the order the awarding Service prescribes. EXCEPTION: Air Force awards take precedence over equal awards. Wear awards for wars, campaigns, and expeditions in the order earned. The Army Valorous Unit and Meritorious Unit Commendation awards are larger than Air Force ribbons. When members wear these awards with their Air Force ribbons, they must purchase ribbons which are the same size as their Air Force ribbons.
4.4. Wear of Awards and Decorations by Retirees and Honorably Discharged Veterans. Honorably discharged and retired Air Force members may wear full-size or miniature medals on civilian suits on appropriate occasions such as Memorial Day and Armed Forces Day. Female members may wear full-size or miniature medals on equivalent dress.
4.5. Order of Precedence. Arrange ribbons and medals in the order shown in figure 4.1. Wear the medal with the highest precedence nearest the lapel on the top row.
4.6. Description of Ribbons. Regular-size ribbons are 1 3/8 x 3/8 inches and miniatures are 11/16 x 3/8 inches. Affix ribbons to the uniform using a detachable, metal and plastic clip-on device. Keep ribbons clean and unfrayed. Ribbons will not have a visible protective coating.
4.7. Description of Miniature Medals. Miniature medals are 1/2 the size of regular medals. The Medal of Honor is always full size.