[2] The Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard have no equivalent to the Army Service Ribbon.

Enlisted Soldiers are awarded the ribbon upon successful completion of their initial military occupational specialty (MOS)–producing course.

If a Soldier is assigned an MOS based on skills acquired as a civilian or member of a sister-service (e.g., USAF), the ribbon is awarded after completion of 4 months of honorable active service.

For those service-members who completed initial entry training prior to 1981, the Army Service Ribbon is retroactively awarded, provided the service-member was still on active duty after 1981.

The Army Service Ribbon is a multi-colored (red, orange, yellow, green, and blue) ribbon to represent the entire spectrum of military specialties in which officers and enlisted Soldiers may enter upon completion of their initial training.